Organization 201

...or 102...or 202...whatever comes after 101!

The other night, my mother-in-law came over to drop off a few things. Well, of course, we started talking and I had to show her my new, pretty organizational supplies. I was telling her how I couldn't wait to get my desk moved out of our "storage room" (our extra bedroom) and all set up with my new things, but that it would be awhile because I had to forge a path to the desk (which was against the far wall), put down a new floor in the kitchen, and move the refrigerator before I could move the desk in. Right then and there, she offered to help me move it. So together, we cleared out enough space to get the desk out. We were going to put it in a temporary location, but then we decided to move the fridge and put it where I wanted it, even though we didn't have our new floor down. To make a long story short(er), it was quite a process, but we got it all moved in.

I spent all the next morning setting up my beautiful trays, bins, and boxes. Then I got a brilliant idea to re-cover my desk chair. I asked my mother-in-law if it was possible and after she said yes, she again offered to come over and help me. So, I went to the fabric store, picked out a beautiful green on white damask, and we spent that evening reupholtering my chair.

I am normally terrible at anything involving fabric, but it turned out FANTASTIC! And my new "office" space looks great! I learned a lot during this process, too. First of all, there are a few tools you should have in your house (that I did not...): an iron, a glue gun (don't forget the glue sticks!), and a (loaded) staple gun. These last two in particular are a woman's duck tape. I also learned that it's not hard to reupholster a desk chair; and you can save about $75. It cost me $17 (for the batting and fabric) + the cost of a glue gun and glue sticks (approximately $10), and I borrowed a staple gun and staples. I spent a total of $27 and the cost of a similar chair, new, would have been $100+. And I don't think I would have liked a new one nearly as much as I like this one. That's the great thing about upholstering furniture yourself: it's unique!

It's no shiny sink, but still, every time I see my desk and/or my chair, it makes me smile.

Check it out:

And that's it for now! I have a few more ideas to make this area absolutely perfect, but after my crazed office supply shopping spree, I should probably save up the money first. ;)