Damask is a smart pattern for home office accessories because it’s graphic, classic, and coordinates easily with other accessories. It has a dramatic, lush look and isn’t so available that you’ll see it everywhere, but is easy enough to find that you won’t go crazy finding matching accessories!
Here are our favorite damask home office storage accessories:
Brown Damask Desk Accessories
This set from Etsy seller 4EyesAndEars offers a lovely selection of must-have office accessories including a journal, dry erase/cork board, and matching push pins. The board is small, so it wouldn’t do as your only inspiration pin board, but propped up on your desk, it has just enough space for the important notes without running the risk of getting messy.
File folders
This set of 9 file folders comes in a dramatic black and white damask pattern. While you’re checking out these folders, also take a look at the other file folder patterns offered by Charming Cards–they have a wonderful variety, and I’d mix the black and white damask with either the Scandinavian set or the Pink Bees (which would be a cute way to indicate an especially urgent file).
Damask 2010 Organizer
Have you picked up your planner for next year yet? I haven’t, but this one makes me ready to start 2010 already! It’s refillable and started July 2009 so you can even start using it now. It includes expense sheets, project sheets and more and is the perfect size to tuck in a purse.
Storage Box
At 4.5″ tall x 7.25″ wide x 11″ deep, this box is perfect for photos, CDs or other office knick-knacks. They’ll look classy stacked atop one another on bookshelves and at just $7 each, you can afford to pick up as many as you need (plus, the price drops the more you buy).
Damask Wrapping Paper
What about those desk accessories that you already have but would like to coordinate with your fresh new damask organization tools? How about covering those that can be covered in this gorgeous aqua and brown wrapping paper. For an extra-hard wearing surface, you can coat with Modge Podge.
What’s your favorite pattern for home office storage accessories? Is it damask or something else entirely?
You work hard in your home office and you deserve a treat that makes all that work a little bit more enjoyable. When it comes to rewards, there’s nothing quite like treating yourself to fresh flowers. The fragrance, the colors, the way they bring that beautiful spark of life into your workspace.
Big floral arrangements can be pricey, though, especially for what you’re getting. So, my preference is to buy wholesale fresh flowers, arrange them myself, and wind up with flowers for every room in the house. These days, you can find a lot of wholesale flower suppliers on the internet who mostly specialize in wedding flowers–that means they tend to have a wide selection of beautiful blooms that arrive fresh and ready for display.
Here are some great choices for your home office:
Fresh Tulips
If you have a modern home office, tulips have a clean shape that fits in beautifully. And, if you pick up 100 or more stems, you’ll be able to decorate your whole house with them. For the most modern look, tall clear glass vases let you see those dramatic green stems.
Ranunculus
Ranunculus are my favorite flowers–all those petals, the gorgeous, rich colors they come in, the way they’re a pretty easy bulb to grow. They’re also popular for weddings which means you can get great prices on them when you buy at least 100 stems. They look gorgeous in shapely white vases, and I think they look best when you mix colors together.
Roses
Roses are typically everyone’s first choice, and it’s no wonder. They’re dramatic and lush and long-lasting and they usually smell wonderfully. Move beyond the typical red or yellow roses you see so often with these fairytale pink apricot stems. Green roses are also gorgeous, especially in a shabby chic office, but they’re a little more expensive than more common colors.
What are your favorite fresh flowers for decorating a home office?
We asked, you answered–over 500 of you. Thank you!
Last month, we asked what you look for in a desk and, not surprisingly, the results were as varied as our readers:
- 23% of you said you like a large desk–in fact, you voted, “The Bigger, The Better!”
- 18% of you said you need something small and so you watch the measurements carefully to ensure a desk will fit your space.
- 37% of you crave a desk with plenty of smart storage
- 12% of you prioritize a desk’s style over all other details
- 11% of you look for uniqueness in a desk and care most about that
Note: Numbers add up to more than 100% because of rounding
What we enjoyed most around the office were the comments you left on the survey form. From several annonymous commenters, we heard:
I love a big desk I can spread out on. It’s important that there’s space for the computer, my project, and all the resource files. Plus, I usually have a magazine open and at least one “back-burner” project on my desk. The best desk I’ve found so far: a dining room table! Plenty of room, and you can sit along it anywhere.
I have a drafting table that I love working on–with the work I do, I don’t need to be able to keep it at a slope, but it’s nice to be able to stand up while I’m doing my work.
Lots of storage is a must! Otherwise, my office looks like a tornado swept through. I love my pedestal desk because of all the drawers.
Among the commentors who left their names, Jenny said:
Uniqueness!!! I will seriously gouge my eyes out if I see another of those “sawhorse” desks. Bah. It was a clever idea when the materials were cheap, sure. But have you seen the price tags on some of those desks??
Pam said:
Solid wood. I know that wasn’t one of the options but nothing’s so distasteful to me as working on one of those cardboard contraptions. Give me solid wood or give me the floor, I say.
Yolanda said:
I work in a corner of our guest bedroom, so size and storage are key. But, it’s also really important that the style go with the rest of the room–I didn’t want my workspace sticking out like a sore thumb.
Thanks so much to everyone who took the time to fill out the survey–it was awesome reading your responses and your feedback will definitely play a role in the desks we feature here.
Enjoy your copy of “Designing the Perfect Desk: Elements Every Home Office Needs” as our thanks for your participation.
Didn’t get a chance to participate this time? Never fear! We’re already planning our next survey so you can score a copy of our delicious book, too.
