Creating a Workspace that Inspires Creativity

When I redecorated my room last January, one of the things I wanted the most was a new desk and workspace.  I was intentional about separating my sleeping space from more of a "living" space (you can see an entire room tour here), and I wanted to keep my desk organized and free of clutter so it could be a place where I was able to work and write and be creative.

Sometimes, my desk fills up with plenty of papers and just junk, but I like to take time to organize it and keep it a tranquil space that I enjoy using.  Because I do a lot of design work and photo editing for work, this space needed to help inspire creativity.  I keep it filled with photos of family and friends and keep close any books that I'm reading.  I also try to keep the decorations on my desktop to a minimum.

I love lighting candles and keep a few on my desk to light when I'm working.  These white birch tealight holders were given to me by AJ's mom for my birthday...I love them!

When I redecorated, I got a large bulletin board and painted it white to match my decor.  I fill it with quotes and photos, and of course practical things like wedding invitations, gift cards, and notes.  It's a nice inspiration board while still providing functionality.

So here are a few tips for creating a workspace to inspire creativity:
1.  Make it you!  For me, muted colors, white, and neutrals create a tranquil, but inspiring, mood.
2.  Keep it simple.  Don't keep a lot of stuff on your desk.  Keep out only items that you use nearly every time you sit down (like a pencil cup).  Things like tape and a stapler can stay hidden in a desk drawer.
3.  Keep it clean.  Take a few minutes once in a while to straighten up, organize, and clean out.  I just went through my desk drawers and got rid of an entire bag of trash that was just taking up space!  And that only piled up since January.  It only takes a few minutes and will help you stay focused and make things easier to find.

CREATING A WORKSPACE THAT INSPIRES CREATIVITY

When I redecorated my room last January, one of the things I wanted the most was a new desk and workspace.  I was intentional about separating my sleeping space from more of a "living" space (you can see an entire room tour here), and I wanted to keep my desk organized and free of clutter so it could be a place where I was able to work and write and be creative.

Sometimes, my desk fills up with plenty of papers and just junk, but I like to take time to organize it and keep it a tranquil space that I enjoy using.  Because I do a lot of design work and photo editing for work, this space needed to help inspire creativity.  I keep it filled with photos of family and friends and keep close any books that I'm reading.  I also try to keep the decorations on my desktop to a minimum.

I love lighting candles and keep a few on my desk to light when I'm working.  These white birch tealight holders were given to me by AJ's mom for my birthday...I love them!

When I redecorated, I got a large bulletin board and painted it white to match my decor.  I fill it with quotes and photos, and of course practical things like wedding invitations, gift cards, and notes.  It's a nice inspiration board while still providing functionality.

So here are a few tips for creating a workspace to inspire creativity:
1.  Make it you!  For me, muted colors, white, and neutrals create a tranquil, but inspiring, mood.
2.  Keep it simple.  Don't keep a lot of stuff on your desk.  Keep out only items that you use nearly every time you sit down (like a pencil cup).  Things like tape and a stapler can stay hidden in a desk drawer.
3.  Keep it clean.  Take a few minutes once in a while to straighten up, organize, and clean out.  I just went through my desk drawers and got rid of an entire bag of trash that was just taking up space!  And that only piled up since January.  It only takes a few minutes and will help you stay focused and make things easier to find.

Antiquing

AJ and I are packing in little dates as our days living in the same town are coming to a close.  Last week, I surprised him by waking him up and taking him to breakfast, and then we spent the morning leisurely cruising around (in my mom's convertible bug, of course!), visiting farm stands and antique stores.  So much fun, and so many treasures to be found!

If this wasn't $50, it would have come home with me!

Rolling pins and old buttons.

I'm totally in love with old tin cans!  I especially love finding a brand or product that we still use today and getting to see how it was packaged years and years ago.

These were old advertisements and magazine articles dating all the way back to the 1910s!  I spent a significant of time looking at them...categories that ranged from neckties to movies to WWII home front propaganda....they were so cool!  I wanted to buy one for my room but I just couldn't choose!

ANTIQUING

AJ and I are packing in little dates as our days living in the same town are coming to a close.  Last week, I surprised him by waking him up and taking him to breakfast, and then we spent the morning leisurely cruising around (in my mom's convertible bug, of course!), visiting farm stands and antique stores.  So much fun, and so many treasures to be found!

If this wasn't $50, it would have come home with me!

Rolling pins and old buttons.

I'm totally in love with old tin cans!  I especially love finding a brand or product that we still use today and getting to see how it was packaged years and years ago.

These were old advertisements and magazine articles dating all the way back to the 1910s!  I spent a significant of time looking at them...categories that ranged from neckties to movies to WWII home front propaganda....they were so cool!  I wanted to buy one for my room but I just couldn't choose!

Succulents

I have quite the project list for this summer.  Painting, sewing, framing, creating a headboard.  But one of the things thats the easiest to accomplish (and maybe one of the little things that I'm most excited about) is creating a succulent garden!  I've been drooling over some of the succulent arrangements I've been seeing on pinterest, in magazines, and elsewhere.

My mom taught me to appreciate having green in any room...she always says that having a plant brings life to a room.  And so, in every room I've lived in, I've had plants.  Ever since painting and redecorating back in January, I've had a lack of green in my room.  Except for one vine-y plant on a windowsill, I've got nothin.  And I've decided that a succulent garden would be perfect.

What do you think....succulents...love them or hate them or just indifferent?

SUCCULENTS

I have quite the project list for this summer.  Painting, sewing, framing, creating a headboard.  But one of the things thats the easiest to accomplish (and maybe one of the little things that I'm most excited about) is creating a succulent garden!  I've been drooling over some of the succulent arrangements I've been seeing on pinterest, in magazines, and elsewhere.

My mom taught me to appreciate having green in any room...she always says that having a plant brings life to a room.  And so, in every room I've lived in, I've had plants.  Ever since painting and redecorating back in January, I've had a lack of green in my room.  Except for one vine-y plant on a windowsill, I've got nothin.  And I've decided that a succulent garden would be perfect.

What do you think....succulents...love them or hate them or just indifferent?

DIY Wall Art

When I repainted my room about two months ago, I decided to go slow with the redecorating process, especially in terms of wall art.  I just wasn't sure what I wanted.  I looked around and found a few things I liked, but nothing I wanted to spend the money on.  So finally, I decided to create something for one of my walls that would be what I wanted and would also be special.  

I love the look of script on canvas, and had seen a few ideas on pinterest, but then of course, choosing what to put on it was the biggest challenge.  I wanted something that was unique but not corny.  I thought about song lyrics and Bible verses and sayings, and then finally, had the idea to use some of AJ's lyrics. (By the way, check out his website and listen to some of his stuff!) 

So I painted two of the canvasses with lyrics, just repeating the songs until the canvas was full.  Then, the second challenge came.  I couldn't figure out what to do with the other two.  I originally painted this water-colory design with the mint hue that's on my walls and the mustard that I've accented with, but it was just to bold a contrast alongside the lyrics.  I wanted something that was subtle in it's color but stood out, yet still complemented the lyric canvasses.  And so I chose to split the phrase "I love you to the moon and back" onto the two.  

I'm really happy with the way they turned out!  They're a fun piece of wall art that I created and they're both special and sentimental!  I love the way they fill the space on my wall.  

DIY WALL ART

When I repainted my room about two months ago, I decided to go slow with the redecorating process, especially in terms of wall art.  I just wasn't sure what I wanted.  I looked around and found a few things I liked, but nothing I wanted to spend the money on.  So finally, I decided to create something for one of my walls that would be what I wanted and would also be special.  

I love the look of script on canvas, and had seen a few ideas on pinterest, but then of course, choosing what to put on it was the biggest challenge.  I wanted something that was unique but not corny.  I thought about song lyrics and Bible verses and sayings, and then finally, had the idea to use some of AJ's lyrics. (By the way, check out his website and listen to some of his stuff!) 

So I painted two of the canvasses with lyrics, just repeating the songs until the canvas was full.  Then, the second challenge came.  I couldn't figure out what to do with the other two.  I originally painted this water-colory design with the mint hue that's on my walls and the mustard that I've accented with, but it was just to bold a contrast alongside the lyrics.  I wanted something that was subtle in it's color but stood out, yet still complemented the lyric canvasses.  And so I chose to split the phrase "I love you to the moon and back" onto the two.  

I'm really happy with the way they turned out!  They're a fun piece of wall art that I created and they're both special and sentimental!  I love the way they fill the space on my wall.  

{Pin It} Decor

I'm still in the process of putting my room together.  I decided to go slow with this project, and make sure that I really like everything about my "new" space!  So, I'm fighting the person inside of me who craves instant gratification and just taking my time.  And spending plenty of time on pinterest looking at decor ideas and DIY projects, of course!  So I thought I'd share just a few with you today!

(couldn't find the original source on this, the link just took me to Nordstrom's site...)

via (this blog has the BEST DIY projects!)

via

via

via

via

I love some of these ideas, but not all will work in my room right now.  Have any suggestions for decor for me?  You can follow me on pinterest here.

{PIN IT} DECOR

I'm still in the process of putting my room together.  I decided to go slow with this project, and make sure that I really like everything about my "new" space!  So, I'm fighting the person inside of me who craves instant gratification and just taking my time.  And spending plenty of time on pinterest looking at decor ideas and DIY projects, of course!  So I thought I'd share just a few with you today!

(couldn't find the original source on this, the link just took me to Nordstrom's site...)

via (this blog has the BEST DIY projects!)

via

via

via

via

I love some of these ideas, but not all will work in my room right now.  Have any suggestions for decor for me?  You can follow me on pinterest here.