JDZ : STUDIO SPACE PT2

Yesterday I was discussing work environments and the importance of having them be comfortable and inspiring spaces. Today I want to give you some direction towards making that happen through some great images I have sourced through my own personal research. Seeming as I have now turned what was my once study now into my working home office, it is really important to have it be as organised as possible. Being organised means having as much storage and desk space as possible. If you are a creative person like me you need all the room you can get because spreading out images, colours, textures, patterns is so much more enriching to your imagination that being cramped in a pile of butter paper and samples. So here are my thoughts on what you should do to maximise your space in your home office or studio to make it as inspiring and comfortable as possible.

- Displays! If you have images that you love, quotes, even if it is boring paper work and invoices that need to be paid, having a vision board or upholstered backdrop that acts as a pin board behind your desk or along a wall is a great way to display things. Have those 'To Do Lists' in your face so you do not forget what you need to get done. Think about displaying fabric pieces even, beads, books or tools in a unique way that allows them be a feature in your space. By having them hung up or displayed opened on floating shelves in neat boxes or visible also solves the problem of where to store them. So really it is a win win situation. Do not be afraid to show your work or have your process of work on display. Even though you might feel, ' it is messy' it important to have your environment show how you work.

- Colour! Sometimes as much as we would like to be able to achieve our perfect space through structural changes we cant because we may be renting a studio space or it is just not feasible at the time, so think about using a particular colour that you love which can act as a way of grounding your work zone or creating a bit of a theme so that it is not just a series of computers, printers and paper work. You can also bring in colour through your task chairs and lighting. Offices and work spaces do not need to be boring, they can be full of personality especially if it is the personality and identity of the business.

- Chalkboards! Paint a wall or a section of your space with chalk paint, allows for you to brain storm, write those 'To Do Lists' and random ideas etc. Combine a vision board with a chalkboard wall and you are minimising use of paper and all the post it notes you write your quotes on.

- Zoning your space! Giving your office specific task areas is really important. Even if it is Desk at one end and client meeting & work table area at the other. This also gives you an opportunity to move away from the computer at times, because it can be a real drag sitting in the one spot all day.

- Storage! Think about storage in a fun way, which brings me back to my first point displays. Displaying things that are aesthetically appealing in a unique way can solve storage issues, but sometimes this cannot be achieved if it is a whole box full of invoices. Maximise under desk space with portable draws and or open cube shelves that can be arranged in multiple different ways. Think about what you actually really need at your desk and in your office vs what you really do not need. You will be so surprised what you end up getting rid of, especially if your space is zoned in different task areas.

Here are some inspirational images of spaces that I feel represent some of the things I have discussed today in studio space part 2. All images are sourced from HOUZZ, Pinterest and a beautiful blog a friend discovered and showed me today, The Beautiful Soup.