optimistic outlook in my office

color really can change the way a room feels... and works!
at the beginning of a new year, color can energize us and our work spaces.

when i decided to 'try on' the current trend of a yellow and gray palette, 

i chose my studio/office as a test subject.

previously, i shared the new arrangement around my faux fireplace - 

this color palette also comes into play on my desk and nearby bookshelf
to help organize and cheer up my work space.

by curating not just the color palette but the amount of items in each area,
my office functions better. i have what i need every day at hand.
items i use less are stored in easily accessible areas, and don't overwhelm the space.

and honestly? this happy sunny yellow color affects my mood. (most days).
so if simply bringing in a new color to my space can do all that, i'm all for it!

continue reading to see how impactful a color change can be...

after packing up the holiday decor and 'cleansing the palette' back to white,

i designated three areas in my studio that would be staged with the new colors:

my desk, a nearby bookshelf, and the faux mantel.

i 'shopped my house' and grabbed everything in gray and silver and yellow that i could find:

candles, trays, books, coffee mugs, accessories, part of my Disney collection, gift wrap.

then i emptied my desk top, book shelf, and faux mantel. onto.the.floor.

(because honestly, i just could not wait to see how this color combo looked in the room.
i wasn't ready to spend hours reorganizing. i wanted the decor!!!!)

then i got to the fun part: decorating.
styling those three areas with accessories, and giving my studio a whole new look.

my desk is a workhorse of a table. vintage, wood, heavy, many layers of paint on it.
i pulled together some sunny yellow accessories that hold the items i use there every day,

and grouped them on a vintage silver tray...
coffee mugs hold coffee or tea and notecards. a small jam jar holds lemon candies.
a vintage wire flower frog holds scissors, pencils, pens.
and the Volcano candle that i found brand new at a thrift shop for $4!

i can easily move that tray to utilize the end of the table for crafting, painting, etc.

the yellow folder holds current project notes & blog plans that i access every day.
and right now, i just looooove that fresh clean empty calendar page...
tho i know it won't stay that way long.

here's a great tip for calendars: DON'T write on them. use post-it notes instead!
it's inevitable that plans will change, and it's easier to move a post-it
than to erase or scribble out an event or appointment time.

a view of the desk from the front window
shows the lamp and wire basket for other active files, along with my laptop.
I like keeping this area really sparse and clean... it helps me focus on what i'm working on.

and having some simple color here lifts my spirits!

behind the big old gray chair,
a small white bookshelf sits on top of a small dresser... in a closet. yup. 
those white curtains on either side conceal bins & boxes filled with art supplies

(i removed the tall white sliding doors to make access to my art supplies easier -
then used the doors as my headboard!)

some 'behind the scenes' tidbits for you:

behind & beside the chair in that photo
are the PILES of stuff i moved around to stage this look!!!
when i was done shooting photos, i put it all away in bins behind the curtains.

in actuality, when i am working, my chair & laptop are placed at the right end of the table
so that i am able to SEE those shelves and everything on them.

so i styled them with items that make me smile...

first, the bookcase got a visual lift from a roll of gray trellis-print contact paper - 
which isn't even attached.
it slips up behind the shelves and tucks into the top seam,
so it will be easily removed when i am ready to change this look.

i've shared before that most of the seasonal decorating i do is 'temporary',
achieved using techniques & tricks i have learned as a retail display stylist...
this allows me to use the same elements over and over again
getting a lot of mileage out of them - as well as fresh new looks in my space.
it is truly 'fast, cheap, & easy'TM decor!

the shelves are filled with yellow books and decor accents,

a few items corralled in chrome locker baskets,
a little bit of my Disney collection,

and several recent decor projects you've seen here on the blog.

i'm thinking of it as a place for 'a few of my favorite things'.

everything else that i need sporadically is stored nearby, for easy access.

here's a tip for displaying Mickey Mouse ear hats & headbands:
pop them onto a rounded glass lamp globe!

the bright cheerful yellow color in this room catches my eye at every turn.

it feels sunny. optimistic. joyful. expectant, even.... like good stuff is coming this year.
if a simple room makeover can affect my mood THAT much, i'm all for it!

no matter your current palette, it's easy to introduce a happy new color - 
even if it's just for a season.

the links below will take you to some previous posts with my tips for
organizing & decorating your office/desk areas.

links to previous related posts:

getting cozy for winter

white closet doors as headboard 

office organization & decor #1

office organization & decor #2 

office organization & decor #3

colorful office makeover 


january decor, winter home decor,color,color palettes,colorful home,Pantone color of the year,decorating,diy decorating,room makeovers,winter,white,trends,new year,Illuminating Yellow and Ultimate Gray,Pantone colors of the year 2021,2021, yellow and gray,gray and yellow,repurposed decor,restyle your rooms,organizing,office decor,