Bare Essentials: Sights and Sounds

Get a grip

My exterminator would cringe if he knew I was promoting spiders, but he’ll have to get a grip…actually a grip similar to the one the SpiderpodiumTablet® has on iPads and other Tablet PC’s. Sure, it’s creepy with its 8 legs that bend at all angles, but I always say that function (it can hold your tablet in place or let you view it at any angle) trumps beauty. The Spiderpodium Tablet, made from Advanced Tech “SoftTouch Rubber,” is available in black and graphite.

 


Put on the hog

Working from home can be lonely. Take a break from the silence with the iHog. This hog-shaped iPod/iPhone docking station has 4 speakers that deliver 360 degrees of sound…they’re loud!

Whether you choose the iHog in pink, white or black, consider sharing the iHog with your family. You don’t want them to think you’re a pig.

 

 

 


A functional skyline

Your home office may not overlook a city skyline, but you can get the next best thing with the Skyline Desk Organizer. This laser-cut wood holder has two spaces for mail or letters, and a space for pens and pencils.

This is one of the more interesting and creative supply organizers I’ve ever seen. Its neutral color will match any home office and its narrow design will leave you with plenty of desktop space to work.

 

Bare Essentials: Add a Touch of Color

File and fold

You may work in your home office day after day, but some days it’s better to mix it up and work somewhere else. When you need to take files with you, the Bungalow file tote can handle the job. It’s sturdy enough to hold plenty of letter-size hanging folders, yet folds up for easy storage. It also works well for storing files in your home office, but something this stylish deserves to be taken out once in a while.


Stick with it

One of the (many) things I don’t miss about my corporate days in a stuffy office is my old, grey desk accessories. I’ve done my best to make sure that my home office doesn’t resemble anything close to my old corporate office. Instead of bland accessories, I have colorful and functional ones. The Poppin tape dispenser definitely fits into that category with its selection of eight colors.


Stick ‘em up

There’s no doubt that a valuable photo or piece of art is worth framing. But when you have inexpensive art that you may change out soon anyway, why bother with frames? The Re-stickable Decal Photo Frame makes framing simple, and hanging even easier. The best part is that you can move the frames from room to room without putting any holes in your walls. Each pack comes with eight frames that stick to your walls or windows and won’t damage walls or paint.

 

Bare Essentials: File These Under Accessories

A whale of a holder

When you think of cute animals, you may not think of a whale, but when it’s the size of a pencil holder and is a pencil holder, it’s hard not to say, “ahhhh.” This handcrafted holder, made from white pine, beech or redwood, holds pencils and paper in the top and back and can grip something in its mouth, too.

Each Wood Whale is signed, numbered and “packed for migration.”


Fixing the filing blues


There’s nothing exciting about filing, but that doesn’t mean that your file cabinet has to be blah. This powder coated cabinet in a beautiful blue and cool green can brighten any home office. It has one letter-legal file drawer and two storage drawers (dog not included).

Bare Essentials: Hot Home Office Products


The writing is on the wall
Why use a boring white board for notes and reminders when you can use a peel and stick chalkboard? Each pack comes with four vinyl (9” x 12”) sheets that are removable (they won’t harm most surfaces) and you can reposition them if you need to. Another option is to buy chalkboard paint and paint it directly on your wall, but chalkboard sheets are easier and less messy to install.


Fish you could have this?
I like products that are functional and stylish, but now I’m into fun and functional products. This fully functional fish tank will add a little life and interest to your home office. Plus there’s a place to hold supplies, you’ll always know what time it is and you’ll have extra light in your home office. The low voltage pump and filtration system runs off of USB power. The fish run off of fish food.


Power on-the-go
In business, power is good. When you travel with a smart phone and other tech tools, power is everything. The USB Flexible Charging Station can charge up to four mobile devices at one time. Whether you want one place in your home office to power up or you want to avoid dealing with endless cords (who doesn’t?), this roll-out docking station can help you get all the power you need.

You CAN Take it With You, But What Would You Take?

In one of my favorite “brain candy” movies, The Jerk, Steve Martin leaves his house (with his pants around his ankles) upset and a broken man.  As he walks to the door, he picks up things to take with him. Each time he reaches for something he says, “All I need is my thermos…my lamp…my chair…” and so on.

If I had to leave my house (with my pants on, of course), there are a few things I couldn’t leave behind. Although a few would be physically impossible to take without a little help, I’d have to take my:

iPhone. I’m addicted to this second brain of mine that makes my life so much easier. Between the calendar — the alarm feature keeps me from missing [Read more...]

Making Old Furniture Serve New Purposes

We’ve all inherited furniture from family or friends.  Or we’ve had to make up an excuse for why we don’t need an ugly, scratched desk or a chair that isn’t nice enough for the Salvation Army. If you’re lucky, you can inherit a fabulous piece of furniture that serves several functions, especially within a home office, or you can make your existing furniture become more functional.

Interior Designer Melinda Miles and her husband inherited a pharmacy supply cabinet that had been in their family for years. The quarter-sawn oak cabinet started out in an old, turn-of-the-century drugstore and held pharmacy supplies.  Miles realized that these drawers, with the labels for the pharmaceutical products still attached, were the perfect size for DVD and supply storage within her home office. [Read more...]

Home Office Supplies to Inspire You

DesktopStationLgTranslucent_l

The Desktop Station keeps your supplies organized and in sight.

Do you remember the movie The Jerk and Steve Martin’s character yelling, “The new phonebook is here…I’m somebody now!” while dancing around?  I feel the same way about the new Container Store “Work Smart Office Sale” catalog…dancing around included. Now we can all get organized or at least have an office that looks amazing.  My three favorite products are:

Desktop Station. You Lookouts (who like to keep everything in sight) will love this product alone or paired with the Landscape Letter Tray and the Landscape Paper Drawer. Aside from holding pens, pencils, folders and other supplies, you can see clearly what’s inside.  No more hidden supplies. [Read more...]

Size Does Matter

This past week, furniture buyers flocked to the Las Vegas Market, a biannual furniture trade show. Furniture Today noted a few interesting trends from the show.

  • Executive desk groups (major office hogs) are being replaced by smaller groupings at lower price points. [Read more...]

Organizing products we’ll never see

Dan Brantley, a professional humorist and speaker, is one of the funniest people I know—aside from the salesperson at Nordstrom who asked if I wanted to try on swimsuits. So when he told me about some organizing products he knew would never be made, I was intrigued. After you read Dan’s descriptions, let me know which product is your favorite.


ACE “Always clean & empty” storage shed

This wonderful device is installed in your backyard and filled with all the stuff you want to keep, but don’t really need. At random intervals, a large dump truck comes along and empties your shed. The next time you go outside with Aunt Mabel’s Crock Pot, you’ll be amazed at how much space you have. Additionally the items are sold at local charity thrift stores. It’s recycling at its best!

“I’m not your mom” clothes organizer

This wonderful device looks complicated with its hooks and pockets, but each has a purpose. You hang a pair of pants on the lower hooks, the shirt goes on the upper hooks, socks clip at the bottom of the pants, underwear fits inside the pants on a special hook, and shoes slip in pockets under the socks. When you’re finished you have an entire suit that hangs in your closet, ready to wear!

Always-in-style closet

This great labor-saver uses a system of hanger conveyors like the ones in your local dry cleaners, except they have ten year’s worth of space on them and go up into your attic. By the time the first things you hung up make it back into your closet, they’re back in style. You’ll be the envy of your chic friends.

Neat home hologram

Just once, get everything neatly and perfectly arranged. Then install the Neat Home Projector in the ceilings of your rooms and take an archive picture of everything in perfect order. From then on, no matter what condition each room is in, people will only see the perfect hologram. This is especially helpful for teenage boys’ rooms. Just think, every time you pass by, their room is immaculate. Optional “Fresh Scent” hologram projectors really complete the picture and are well worth the extra cost.

Trash to treasure box

We’ve all heard the term “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” Well this great device puts this into action. Place one of these boxes under the sink to catch kitchen garbage, trash from the bedrooms and bathrooms and any place you collect trash. Once the box is full, close the lid and Voila! it’s a pre-priced “mystery item” for your next garage sale. Now your trash really can lead to treasure! Encourage the purchasers to prolong the suspense by waiting until they get home to open their “treasure” box.

Hide me
Sign up now for an excerpt from Organize Your Home Office for Success!
Name Email
Show me
Close