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Thursday, April 16, 2015

30

UHeart Organizing: Bedside Organization Tips

Do you work from bed?  I have to admit that I do on occasion.  One thing I have realized is that having a work-from-home job can make it challenging to manage time efficiently and set "office hours".  I am completely guilty from working from bed on occasion, whether I am under the weather or checking in at the end of the day.  In fact, it is when I do a lot of my list making and planning for the following day and is a nice way to unwind and let go of thoughts before I head to sleep.

I toss many of work belongings in an open basket next to my bed, but I am swooning over Ursula's bedside office solution.  Ursula's blog, Home Made by Carmona, is jam packed with inspirational DIY's and organizational ideas.  I love seeing where many of those ideas are formed.  Here she is now!


Hello there IHeart Organizing Readers! It is lovely to be here again!

I'm so excited to share with you my latest project. I've decided to "treat" myself and give my master bedroom a makeover...finally! And boy was it a dramatic makeover! You know how it is, you leave the bedroom for last since no one else sees it. Well the reality is that my bedroom often acts as my office (because truly nothing is lovelier than blogging from a cozy bed), as well as a sanctuary. When you are a homeschooling mom to three energy filled girls, a getaway at the end of the day is mighty important! Now that my bedroom has gotten a makeover, it's time to move my work materials back in and make my side table function at peak capacity so I can stay on top of my work.

If you also like to handle work (or hobby) related tasks from your bed, here are a few tips to keep you on track and organized at your bed side.



DIY CALENDAR


Art is beautiful, but have you ever thought it could also be functional? To keep on track nothing is more helpful than a quick glance calendar. One you don't have to pull out of your purse, or a drawer to know what the big appointments/reminders are.


Because it is framed in glass, one option is to write notes on it with a dry erase marker, and the other is my favorite choice, sticking little post-it notes with reminders!

Making your own Simple Art Calendar is easy, but if you like mine, you can learn how to get these printables here, and find all the steps to make your own. Because it is not by day-of-the week, but rather by date, you never have to change it.



INSPIRATION BOARD
 
Maybe because my little world is driven by what inspires me, or maybe because I just like pretty things, I believe every work space (whether in the bedroom or office) should have an inspiration board. This is where you can pin the things that help define your style and motivate your vision. Or if that isn't your thing, it is really just a corkboard, so pin up your to-do lists, shopping lists, and more.



KNICK-KNACK & SUPPLY STORAGE

I confess, I'm only as organized as my knick-knacks! They happen...it is just inevitable. Some of them are necessary little office items I need for work and play, others are those random odds-and-ends from the last couple projects that I haven't yet figured out what to do with. Give them a nice little home...a limited time home, but an organized one!

Think outside the office supply store when seeking organizing solutions. I went digging in the kitchen supply department for my knick knack holder, a.k.a. wooden egg crate.



WRITING IMPLEMENT STORAGE

Again, it is helpful to think outside of the office department when searching for the perfect storage solutions. Bathroom tumblers make great writing implement storage. They have little rubber stops at the bottom, so if you wanted to place them inside a side table drawer they won't move around. I also love using sleek kitchen dishes as a catch-all for side table items such as change, keys, etc...



LETTER HOLDER/MAIL ORGANIZER

According to a survey I read recently, most people either do their bills from their office at work, or from their bedside. That means you will need a letter holder, something to help organize your mail and keep the bills from getting lost until they can be attended to. I made this wood cut mail organizer from a log... Simple, modern, chic, and effective!



HIDDEN STORAGE

Take a tip from my husbands bedside table. Sometimes you just need storage to be hidden behind closed doors... Well, closed drawers. Give up the top drawer of your bedside table for that magazine you haven't had a chance to read yet, your journal, and more. Before, his side of the bed would get very dusty (and he wasn't happy if I moved his stuff to dust), and now we keep his things in his top drawer and the bedside table top free... Well, minus a clock and a few dishes to collect his keys and change. It is a huge improvement!



I hope these tips help you craft your bedside into the perfect "work away from work" space, or at least help you get in perfect order to meet all your needs!




"Hi, I'm Ursula and I blog at Home Made by Carmona where there is always a fun DIY project in play. I've got expensive taste and no money, I'm a neat freak who's house didn't get that memo, and I firmly believe organization has the power to improve our homes, habits, and the members that abide there! I'm so thrilled to be here at IHeart Organizing, the blog that first inspired me to start my own blogging journey."



30 comments:

  1. Great post! I am desperately trying to find a wooden egg holder like that -- but cant. Any suggestions??

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    1. Thank you! I found this one at Home Goods, and hit the sale jackpot at $4.99! Good luck!

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    2. I was also able to source one on Etsy for you: http://etsy.me/1Hcfmaw xoxo!

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    3. Thank you BOTH so much!! Ask and ye shall receive!

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    4. It looks like a mancala board....haha that's what I thought it was when I first saw it! So if you can't find an egg holder a mancala board would work too : ) They have really cute ones! Like this : http://www.noaliving.com/images/mancala_boards/mancala_02_large.png

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    5. I thought it was a mancala board too! haha

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  2. I love the egg crate as a knick knack holder idea. I always need something in my living room to collect the seemingly endless supply of hair ties/pins, paper clips and etc.

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  3. I love these ideas-- though I think I would relocate them to my desk. I don't love the idea of having bills be my first sight in the morning! :)

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  4. I LOVE that calendar idea! Very cute!

    Her Heartland Soul
    http://herheartlandsoul.com

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    1. I love the calender idea too!!! :-)

      Thank you Jen and Ursula for inspiring me to write about my own bedside organisation, at: organisingsmallspaces.blogspot.com

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  5. Love all these solutions! Where can I find the tumblers? Thanks!!

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  6. I love the art calendar and the inspiration board. Genius!

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  7. I love the idea of an inspiration board by the bed! You can wake up to your inspiration and go to sleep dreaming of it.

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  8. Darilyn, I'm almost positive they're from Target. I have the marching soap pump.

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  9. Small post-its or dry erase could also be used to put the day of the week at the top of calendar so that it would not have to be removed each month.

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  10. I love what you've done with the space, it looks lovely!
    I particularly like the calendar, but the egg holder is also genius!
    I really enjoy seeing how people decorate their bedrooms, it's such a personal space :)

    theeverydaylifeofrachel.blogspot.co.uk

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  11. Wow-who are these people that pay bills in bed! I go to bed to sleep, relax, read. Not to pay bills. I would never want that stuff on my nightstand staring at me. Nightmares would follow.

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    1. I thought it was just me! I can't imagine doing work in the bedroom!

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  12. Where did you find all those beautiful frames? I have been searching for a simple gold frame and have struck out. Thanks.

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  13. This is so functional and pretty!! I'm obsessed with the "egg holder" (it will always be a mini mancala board in my head)!! The idea of working from bed horrifies me though, we don't even allow electronics in our bedroom, just a small notebook for when thoughts hit. No wonder they say most people are sleep deprived.

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  14. I have a lot of clients with bedside tables that are piled high. I think it is nice to have attractive storage options in the bedroom, because it is supposed to be a place of sanctuary and refreshment. Every guy needs at least one dish!

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  15. Jen, as someone who has worked from home for 90% of my career, I love this idea if you need a "wind down" station. For me and my mind-racing-can't-make-the-hamster-get-off-the -wheel-to-go-to-sleep style, I had to consciously make my bedroom a haven where electronics, work, even a TV is banned. It tooka big effort to limit the room to sleeping, grooming and lovemaking (and sometimes it creeps in), but when I did this I slept better, my relationship with my husband improved (no more "You'd rather get on the internet than pay attention to me!"), and I was able to detox faster and easier. If you aren't sleeping enough or well, this is just a thought! Different strokes for different folks! Love your stuff! Connie

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  16. I love how you were able to put so much function in a small area without it looking cluttered. That's always my problem. Thanks- I'm definitely going to take some elements of this into my bedroom!

    -Melanie-
    http://www.theseblankwalls.com

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  17. i really like the idea of diy calendars but never thought to put it into a frame, great idea!

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  18. What gorgeous and practical organisation! I love the calendar, such a clever idea!!

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  19. I blog from bed too and I'm always fighting the urge to keep office supplies there...I should embrace it, organized them and make it beautiful! Love this idea!

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  20. I think I need to grab my egg holder and move it to my office. Thanks for sharing!

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  21. Wow Lovely blog and Great tips, Thanks so much!

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  22. These tips are revolutionary!! The calendar idea is nothing short of shear brilliance.

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