This footprint redesign project came about as a byproduct of my April goal to create a sustainability video for YouTube, which I just could not seem to get started. I struggled to find a spot in my house where the background worked. Thus began the drive to redesign a space that would operate efficiently as an office, as well as serve as a “recording studio” for making content for my business, The Sustainable Organizer. Yes, even a professional organizer must stop, reflect, and redesign their own space in order to operate more efficiently, since taking over another room in the house or moving to a bigger house are not options.
My challenge was to transform my office area into a multi-use space that would operate efficiently on a daily basis with little to no investment.
There were some non-negotiables during this process:
1. A budget of fewer than one hundred dollars
2. Plants and plant lights must stay
3. Layout needed to be open and inviting for me, as well as guests
4. My fur baby’s dog bed needed to stay.
I believe this is a problem that many folks regularly face in their homes. That is, they need existing areas of their home to provide multiple functions, such as homeschooling, exercise, and entertainment. One of the first steps in doing this is to really examine what you need the new space to deliver, or what success looks like when you are done. I needed my space to operate as a home office, zoom conference room, and recording studio, without worrying about what was in the background. To do this, I cleared the entire space out and took measurements of all the items that needed to reenter the room, in order to make sure they would fit in the space that I was envisioning. Since I was doing this alone, it took a bit more time than I thought, but it all worked out, and I like the flow much better.
During the movement of my office “stuff”, I took the opportunity to reduce items that were not essential anymore. Perhaps they had served a purpose in the past, but not in the go forward. Since I had to empty the three-drawer lateral file cabinet, I took the time to shred and recycle paper that was not necessary to keep. The file drawers could still use more reduction, but I am saving that for another day. If you have paper issues, you can always read my paper blog that is loaded with tips to help you organize and reduce your paper problems. As the furniture was put back in place, I needed to keep checking that all of the spaces functioned as I intended. Did my standing desk still work without incident? Did I have space to lay projects out? Could I still operate efficiently from one task to another without spilling my coffee? The absolute best part is that I have more free room to stretch and walk around! I feel like I will be more active, and that was not even a reason for the new layout. Bonus!
This small project focus can be used for any space in your home or business. Take the time to imagine how you would like that space to function, as well as the energy you want to feel while you are in it. I think sometimes we all feel like a bigger house or a bigger space will deliver what we are looking for, but most times it is just reimagining the space you already have.
You may have furniture in another room that could solve your problem, or you may just need to take something away that will free up your space and make it more inviting. Sometimes it is as simple as adding a plant or a new light. If you need help reimagining your space and making it more functional, I’m here for you.
