Perhaps the especially Christmas-y wrapping papers are best stowed for re-using on next year’s presents instead of using for decorations around the house (or recycling according to one of these ideas), but those gift wraps that don’t scream Holiday Paper can also find new life in your home office.
Something this cute gets stored for next year at my house. (From Paper-Source.com)
Wintery paper like this one (from PaperMojo.com) would make a lovely background on a bookshelf.
You can also paper the inside of an armoire or hutch, or the inside of your desk drawers (my second-hand desk had been well used and the drawers were full of pencil scribbles–I used Modge Podge to glue in and protect some lovely patterned wrapping paper and now opening the drawer is a delight).
Whether you apply a top coat of Modge Podge (or other protectant) is up to you. The way I make the decision in my office is whether or not the paper’s likely to wear out quickly where it is. In a desk drawer, I always protect it. On the back of a bookshelf, I figure I’m likely to tire of it long before it starts to look dingy.
This one's so cute I might just have to display it all year! (From HelloLucky.com)
You can also frame pieces of especially pretty paper, or use the leftovers to wrap mats for photos and artwork–this is a project that’s high on my list as I haven’t started to hang *anything* on my office walls yet…
Do you have an fun plans for this year’s wrapping paper?
Eek! We’re not talking about computer mice today–rather rodents of the furry, long-tailed kind.
I got an email yesterday from faithful reader Amanda who wrote:
Hey Jess–I have a detached garden office that could be insulated a bit better (it’s on the list of home improvements) and just discovered I need to move insulating to the top of the list pronto–we have mice! They actually shredded one of my client reports for a nest in the wall, and have been sneaking in after hours looking for food. Any suggestions for getting rid of them?
Fortunately (well, more truthfully, unfortunately 
) I’ve had a few run ins with the little guys myself and though I used to use sticky traps, I finally found something that seems to work without needing to kill the pests. I installed multiple ultrasonic rodent repellers according to the directions (which help you locate them strategically. I haven’t had a problem since.
If you’ve had an unwanted officemate, how did you uninvite the little guy?
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When you work from home, you have a lot to store–even if most of your work is done digitally (and, personally, I still think the paperless office is ages away), there are still office supplies, shipping supplies, electronic equipment (oh! the cords! battery rechargers! etc), manuals, reference books… It’s making me mildly dizzy just thinking about all the *stuff* that needs a home.
Custom-built cabinets by Direct Discount Cabinets
Office bookcases are one good storage solution, especially when you use coordinated boxes to wrangle the small stuff and keep it from looking messy. But, sometimes, you really need closed storage and that means home office cabinets.
Sure, you can go to your local home improvement store and pick up ready-made cabinets. But these are designed for kitchens which means their dimensions might not be right for your space.
Another option is to have the cabinets custom-built by a local carpenter. The great thing about this option is that then your cabinets will fit your space perfectly. Typically, kitchen cabinets are too deep for most home office needs, so having something shallower built will probably make for more convenient storage. This option will probably cost less than you’re expecting and will let you customize every last detail from the door style to wood choice to whether you have pull out shelves to how many drawers you have.
Your third option is to take a look at some of the gorgeous pre-built options on the market. There are some great home office cabinets available these days from retailers ranging from Pottery Barn to Ballard Designs. Of the three options, this is usually the priciest, but you’ll certainly get lots of use from the additional storage and it may be well worth it.
One consideration about either of the first two options is that, depending on your house, a built-in home office may increase your home’s value while the furniture styles of the third choice are best if, for instance, you’re using the third bedroom and plan to convert it back to a bedroom when you sell your home.
So, what do you think? Are home office cabinets right for your space? And which option sounds like the best fit?
