When you work from home, it can be hard to remember to take breaks–when you work in an office, breaks are easy. There’s the water cooler gossip you need to catch up on. The tasks that you’re procrastinating on (so you just have to stop by someone else’s workstation). Sure, now that you work alone, you probably enjoy the lack of office politics, but they did serve a purpose–they got you away from your desk for a few minutes at a time.

But, when you work from home, especially when you run your own business, you can feel glued to your desk. Not only does your energy flag, but your productivity and creativity can both suffer if you don’t take breaks.

So, today we’d love to hear your favorite break traditions. Do you enjoy breaking at 2 for tea and a magazine? Do you break when the kids come home for some milk and cookies? Does the dog demand a daily walk at 4 that gets you off the computer and out into the neighborhood?

Share what takes you away from your desk regularly–and if you aren’t taking enough breaks, why not share a new break-taking strategy you’ll be putting into place?

Today, I’d like you to take a look at an old office standby–the coat rack. If you entertain clients in your office, you probably have one. Or, if your office is like mine (entered through the back door of the house–so the door I use most often when I’m coming home even if I’m not going to work), you probably either have one or you have a pile of coats by the door (I have the pile of coats, myself).

With so many great choices, there’s really no excuse for my pile, so today I hunted around for a great coat rack that would suit my girly home office.

Chalk boards and hooks

From Wisteria, this chalkboard + hooks combination has room for 7 coats. We love the way that it’d also remind you of any other accessories you might need to bring along.

Twig Coat Rack

Sleek and stylish, this twig-style coat rack is from Pottery Barn. The dark bronze finish means it’ll stand out dramatically against white walls–just like leaf-less trees in the winter.

Choose Your Color Coat Rack

This Urban Outfitters coat rack comes in nine different colors so you can choose the one that looks best in your home office. Though some reviewers had trouble with assembly, it should be a sturdy piece once it’s together.

Hats and Umbrellas, Too

This vintage coat rack from Etsy stores your umbrellas and hats along with the coats. At six feet tall, it’ll keep even your longest coats off the floor. We’d spray paint this one a bright red or yellow to bring out its vintage shape.


Do you have a coat rack you love in your office? We’d love to hear all about it. Or is a coat rack just not practical for your office space?

In the world of office tools there are luxuries (for me, a spiral binding machine keeps me organized and my shelves neat) and there are necessities (stapler, anyone?).

So, today I’d love to know what your must-have office tool is. Is it a label maker? A favorite pen? A funny eraser?

Cast your vote below and check back to see if there are any great office tools you’ve been missing out on.