Having a workspace area that is inspiring, organized, and clean can make all the difference in the areas of productivity and creativity. Have you ever tried getting anything done at a blank desk or in a cluttered studio? You probably found it was hard to produce anything of value. A study conducted by a team of UCLA researchers found that “Similar to what multitasking does to your brain, physical clutter overloads your senses, making you feel stressed, and impairs your ability to think creatively.” Luckily, creating an inspiring workspace area doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. Here are some fun, DIY ideas to help liven up your workspace.
Wall-Mounted Paper Roll
Most people find that what often crowds their desk is an insufferable amount of paper. Without a place to file them away, your desk can end up looking like a tornado. It’s also often hard to find a blank sheet among all the mess, but with a wall-mounted kraft paper roll, you’ll always know where to get a new sheet to start brainstorming that new idea. Mount this roll anywhere on your wall that is most convenient to you. Purchasing a large kraft roll will also save you some money in the long run and you’ll never run out of paper. Follow this easy tutorial to build your own here.
Wooden Crates
Wooden Crates are a dime a dozen and have recently gained popularity in the vintage design world. Find a few at your local Salvation Army or a yard sale and use them to organize papers, stationery, and other craft materials. You might also want to throw a coat of your favorite color paint on them to inspire you on your most creative projects.
Get Organized with a Pegboard
Pegboards are an amazing invention that helps keep the clutter at bay. They’re also extremely affordable. The great thing about pegboards is that they are completely customizable: you can add a shelf here, a basket there, a holster for your scissors, or a pole to hold your yarn. You can also decorate your board with photos of artwork or artists that inspire you. Pegboards are also a crafty tool-man’s best friend. The possibilities for organization are endless. Another great thing about this DIY organizer is that it showcases all your tools for creating right in front of you, inspiring you to pick them up and get to work. Here are some great ideas for a pegboard that you can apply to your own: DIY Pegboard.
Color-Coded Calendar
Calendars are often a source of stress, reminding you of all the things you need to get done, events you needs to attend, birthdays to remember. But what if a calendar could be fun? What if crossing things off your list brought you joy and satisfaction? The important thing when it comes to staying motivated is to make the task enjoyable. Making a color-coded calendar can greatly decrease the stress you feel around tasks. It’s also important to add tasks that are fun onto your calendar, so it’s not all daunting things you’d rather not do. You may also want to glue on some pictures or cute knick-knacks with the help of some Super Glue to aid in your motivation. It’s important to pair items that are somewhat stressful in a color that is soothing to you. For example, in a single day you may want to write your morning routine in orange, phone calls or meetings in blue, errands in green, and relaxing tasks like yoga or making dinner in yellow. Click here for a complete guide to chakra color-coding your calendar.
DIY Shelves
Creating some DIY shelves is easy as pie. Just find some cheap refurbished wood, some L brackets, and get to drilling. This vintage look is chic, rustic, and adds a touch of nature to your workspace.
Inspiration Board
Creating an inspiration board will help encourage and excite you with whatever project you may be working on. Just gather some photos, quotes, magazine or newspaper clippings, and whatever else you may find influences and inspires the project you’re working on and glue them with some Super Glue onto a sheet of construction paper, cardboard, or other weighty material. If you lose track or focus on your project, you can always look to this board to become reinvigorated by your creation.
These are just a few ideas for creating an inspiring DIY workspace, but at the end of the day you get to choose what makes you come alive while working. Remember to keep organization and color in mind, grab yourself some super glue and crafty boxes, and get to work!