Today, I am showing you how I set-up and organize our desk area. When we did our kitchen renovation something I really, really wanted was a desk area for me. The kitchen really is the heart of the home and I knew I needed a centralized location for my desk. As you will see, this area is home to several different things besides just the basic office/desk supplies. We really try to keep our paper to a minimum, and besides one small tote in the basement that holds past tax documents this is it folks! Over the past couple years, we have really tried to pare down the amount of paper that stays in our house. Basically, if you can access it online it goes to the shredder. Also, I am someone that HATES, I repeat HATES stacks and piles of paper. With all that being said let me show you what I’m working with here.
The top right cabinet is mainly stuff I refer to often. The top shelf has binders that I use frequently, my goal planner, diabetes journal, Simplified Planner, planner pouch, and books that I am referencing or currently reading. Next, I have a little shelf that I can stash papers or documents that are not urgent but I need to address at some point. The envelope shelf is pretty self-explanatory. I have really been getting into using essential oils and I wanted my oil book and magazines to be easy accessible, so this fit the bill. The last shelf is Hank’s shelf. When we were pregnant with Hank, Sky’s parents gave us this awesome baby book that goes until he is 3. I like to keep up on it and I find having it right here helps me do just that. I also keep artwork he does, or print outs from the doctor that I want to reference later. On the door I mounted a piece of metal so the inside acts like a magnet board. I do not like things hanging on the fridge so this works perfect! Someday, I will do a separate blog post on the organization of inside cabinet doors. I truly think this is one of the most underutilized spaces in the house.
Moving on, to the drawer on the right. I have a container I am using for extra cords and headphones. Right next to it is a container that holds lotion, pencil sharpener, and a stand for my phone or tablet. These bins are actually old face wipe bins. Other than that, just the label maker and Hanks tablet. Also, we usually have an extra phone charger and the tablet charger in this drawer. However, they usually seem to drift all over the house.
For the bottom right cabinet, I found this file folder stand from Amazon and it worked perfectly in this space. Above, I have 2 plastic containers that hold batteries and command hooks/labels.
Alright! Onto the left side. This is where it gets really interesting! The top cabinet acts as a medicine cabinet. I used to keep our medicines in baskets, in the closet by the bathroom. I always felt like I could never find what I needed and could never see what we had and what we were almost out of so I decided this was a much better fit. Over the past couple of years we have went through every room, closet, drawer, and cabinet in our house and dramatically decreased the amount of objects in our house, I read the book “The Cozy Minimalist” about a year ago and she described herself as a “stuff manager”. Once I read that a light bulb went off and that was exactly how I felt! I felt like I was constantly moving stuff around that I never actually used, and trying to find new ways to get more objects into the same cabinet or drawer. After I dramatically de-cluttered my desk area and got rid of things I never used, I had the whole left side of my desk area empty. Once that happened, I thought this will be a perfect spot for medicines and extra diabetes supplies. The top shelf also has my diabetes travel bag, so it is nice and handy to grab when I need it. Bottom shelf houses Hank’s medicines and vitamins. I think these Paw Patrol vitamins are pretty much like candy gummies. They don’t hold much nutritional value, and are filled with junk that he doesn’t need but, he saw them at the store and to prevent a meltdown, I caved and bought them. I have been doing a ton of research to find good quality vitamins for toddlers. Anyone have any suggestions? I think I am going to try Young Living, I am a monthly rewards member and have been extremely happy with other things I have tried from them. Interested in signing up? Shoot me an email and I will let you know my favorite products! We also mounted metal on this door so I can store some markers, stamps, and address labels. These magnet pockets work perfect for these types of things! The markers used to be kept in the center drawer but since someone (Hank), became a toddler they need to be stored up a little higher. Maybe I should do a blog post on everything I have had to change, and lessons I have learned from having a very high energy, climbing, and constantly moving little boy.
The drawer on this side is where I keep my insulin and diabetes supplies that I access several times a day. In here I have my meter, both types of insulin, vitamins, extra needles, used/dirty needles, and both chargers for my regular meter and my continuous meter. Not too much to say about that drawer.
Right below that I store some craft supplies for Hank. We have one bin for all the coloring things and another bin for Play-Doh. Through the winter months we reached for these almost daily so they were nice to have right here.
Last but certainly not least the center drawer. I have a love hate relationship with this drawer. On one hand it is really nice to have this here for pens, pencils, extra note pads, and miscellaneous items. On the other hand it is so dang shallow! It literally is an inch deep and not too much is able to be stored in this drawer. It is also a pain to access because I am either sitting right in front of it or the chair is pushed up to it. But, nonetheless, this is where I keep your typical “office” supplies and extra note pads.
As far as on top of the desk, the Alexa is pretty much the only permanent thing here. Usually you will see my computer, diabetes journal, and Simplified planner during the day. One thing I do want to mention is my mouse pad! It is a large note pad that I just use as a mouse pad. I am always needing to write quick bits of information so this is perfect! This note pad and mouse are usually tucked in the drawer though, unless I am using them. Hank loves to see a few pieces of his artwork on the fridge so I will hang 1 or 2 pictures here. Otherwise, this magnet holder that I keep my continuous meter and an essential oil roller is it! Well, there ya have it! My little office nook in the kitchen!
XOXO,
Krisa
I love your advice!! Everything has its place and you are so good at defining that spot! I’m learning a lot already! I can’t wait to see what is next! Keep it up sista?