Project Organization: Amanda's Office Area Re-Organization, Part 5

Well here we are, the last of my re-organization posts! I hope you have enjoyed them... I thought it was fun putting together this series!

I thought we'd end on the inside of my most used desk drawer. Its definitely not the most interesting part of this series, but when I look at the before and after pictures, it sure had a big impact! Here is the before for reference:

Twelve years of junk built up in this drawer, folks. I have been HORRIBLE about purging and keeping this drawer cleaned out. Which is funny, because it's a highly used part of my desk. So the main part of this re-organization was cleaning out. I won't bore you with those details. But the organizer that was in there was probably 25 years old, and I decided it was time for an up-grade to better organize this space. So I chose this (to match the rest of my desk, of course!):

ITEM NUMBER: ROL 22131 (pg 787 in new catalog)

What I like about this organizer: its a bit larger (wider) than my old one, so it takes up almost the whole drawer-- which makes it feel like it's part of the drawer, and I really like that. No sliding around.  Also, all the slots are larger than the old one so it really does hold more stuff (if you want it to, of course- I purged so it's much emptier than before!). I just think it's a better fit for me. Here is the after:

Better, huh?! Everything I need, nothing I don't. It's fabulous!


Well, that's my office space. I hope you have taken something away from it (even if it's just some of our cool products!)-- let me know if you have any questions!

Project Organization: Amanda's Office Area Re-Organization: Part 4

One thing I always struggle with is the placement of my computer monitor on my desk. It takes up a lot of room, and the angle at which I look at it is a constant work in progress to get perfect. I can't tell you how many times I have tried to change the placement of my monitor to make it better. And it never fails, a few weeks in and I'm frustrated again. And it's little things- the tilt of the screen, how close it is to me, how far away it is, etc. I finally decided that it needed to be a bit higher so that I could look up at it (just a bit, not enough that I was straining my neck. In the office furniture business, that's a big no-no!)... so up it went. Are you noticing a trend? VERTICAL SPACE. Can't say it enough.

Here is a before picture:

We actually had a pleasant looking black platform laying around, so I used that, but we have lots of different option when it comes to monitor risers in our catalog.

I also have struggled (and this is going to sound crazy) on where to put my cell phone during the day. I normally don't do a lot on my cell during the work day, BUT it is the main contact number that my children's school and care takers have, so I need to have it close by just in case. Also, our delivery drivers text me with questions, so that's another reason it needs to be out and accessible.  And it hit me- a business card holder for the desk is the PERFECT solution for a cell phone holder! Sure, we cell lots of desk organizers that have this feature, but most of them are larger than I needed or wanted. I wanted a small something to just set the phone in. So I got this:

ITEM NUMBER: ROL 22251ELD (pg 787 in new catalog)

And it's been perfect! Great multi-tasking item, Rolodex!

I also needed a good place for everyday necessitites-- paper clips, pens, post-its, etc. Before I had a very bulky desk organizer (you can see it just to the right of my monitor in the before picture) that didn't work great. But I decided to try this:

ITEM NUMBER: ROL 1746466 (pg 786 in new catalog)

What I love about this: it holds all I need and still makes it completely accessible! The one I had before was all closed in and not functional at all. This one has open sections for paper clips and what not, and a drawer that is perfect for the post-it notes I use daily. It's great and still stylish (very important! ha!)

Now I feel organized and in control of my desk, thanks to very small changes I made. I've said it once I'll say it again-- use that vertical space! It makes things so much better!!

Here is an after picture:

See what I mean?? Tons more room!

How to know you're ready for a new office chair

Let's start this off by trying to put the decision into perspective: Would you spend only $60 on a new mattress?  A mattress that you sleep on every night.  A mattress that could lead to back pain with poor springs and little cushioning?  Probably not.  So why is your office chair looked at any differently?  And I know from talking to you that for some, more hours in our office chairs than we do in bed!

There are many options that can benefit your back and legs.  You may think you are saving when you buy an inexpensive chair, but 99 times out of 100 you end up paying with either poor quality or back pain. With our extra discounts on HON this month, now is a great time to consider a small investment in yourself.

Most of us spend about a third of our day sitting at our desk. The right chair can make a huge difference in your productivity, comfort and health. Are you ready for a new one? You probably are if...

- Your shoulders and neck are stiff and sore
- You have to stretch to reach your mouse or keyboard
- Your lower back aches
- The seat cushion provides little or no padding
- Your chair does not slide under your desk
- You have eyestrain
- Your chair is too narrow, long or short in the seat
- You're just plain uncomfortable!


Whether you sit at your desk for hours at a time or in spurts throughout the day, it is crucial to select a chair that supports your shoulders, arms and back. Having an ergonomic chair that offers support prevents you from hunching over or overstretching which can lead to chronic muscular problems. Ergonomic chairs allow you to make several adjustments to the height, back, arms and lumbar region. This is not a one size fits all, and there are many options from which to choose.

Here are a few tips on selecting an ergonomic chair that works for you.

Consider how you work. Do you spend a lot of time on the phone? Do you need to quickly access files or other items in desk drawers? Do you use the keyboard and remain in the same position most of the day?

Height: You should be able to sit comfortably, feet flat on the floor with your knees at a 90 degree angle. Look for a seat with a pneumatic lever you can raise or lower while seated.
Arms: Armrests take the pressure off your shoulders and neck which is especially important if you sit at the computer for a significant part of the day. When typing, your forearms should be just above the armrest, with your elbows resting on it. Look for armrests that adjust for both height and position to accommodate different activities.
Back: We all have a natural curve in the lower part of our spine, and it?s this area, the lumbar region, that can cause the most problems if not properly supported. That?s why a good ergonomic chair should include a lumbar support with adjustments for up and down, forwards and backwards to suit the natural angle of your spine. It should be high enough to support your shoulder and neck, while allowing for movement so you can reach for items when you need them. Spend a lot of time on the phone? Then you may want to check out chair backs that recline to suit your posture.
Seat width and depth: Look for a chair that gives enough depth in the seat so you have two to four inches between the back of your knees and the edge of the seat. The width should be at least one inch wider than your hips and thighs.
Headrests and footrests: These features aren't for everyone, but may be right for you. Headrests provide good support and prevent neck pain when talking on the phone in a more reclined position. If you want a footrest, select a free-standing one that allows you to rest your feet, keeping your knees at a 90 degree angle.

With literally thousands of chairs available to you, let our staff help in picking the right chair.  We can find you something that is both comfortable and stylish, and make your workday a little more enjoyable.

Portions reprinted care of biggestbook.com

Project Organization: Amanda's Office Area Re-Organization, Part 3

I don't know about you, but I watch a LOT of HGTV and DIY network. And one thing I have learned (among the many) is to use your vertical space. And when you have a small office space or desk area, that can make you or break you. It can give you SO much more room on your desk to work and spread out, and depending on what you're doing, that's a big deal!

I have always had a bulletin board hanging over my desk. However, it's basically been a landing space for a lot of personal items like my little boys' art work, pictures of said little boys, phone numbers I needed to remember, post-it notes with passwords on it for me to remember, etc. You know, important stuff! And honestly, this is probably the one area of my desk that prompted me to re-do my whole area- it was bad. A cluttered mess that was unprofessional and not fun to look at. So I set out yet again in our catalog to find a good solution.

Here is my before picture:

It's OK. You can say it. YIKES. It was bad! Pretty much the only thing I loved looking at in this area of my desk were the little faces smiling back at me. Definitely not the area or board! A big part of the problem was the busy pattern in the bulletin board. I love Vera Bradley as much as the next girl, but a sleek more professional look was in order. And I decided I had too many picture of my kiddos up and the post-its were out of control. All the information needed to be consolidated! So I started with finding the perfect board, and here is what I found:

ITEM NUMBER: BVC-SF0722581012 (pg. 382 of new catalog)

It was nice looking (warmer than what I had before), larger than the board I had before, and professional looking. Check, check, and check. So I took down everything and started from scratch. I consolidated all my notes that were on post-its and made a master list to hang on the bulletin board so that they were always in my line of vision (and got rid of all the colorful, seizure inducing notes) and cleaned it all up! Here it is in all it's glory:

See, I didn't get rid of ALL the pictures of my kids :) Just don't have as many. And I think it looks good.

I also want to share another product I used in this part of the re-organization. They are the display pockets that you see my lists in:

ITEM NUMBER: MMM WL854C (pg. 1450 in new catalog)

Melissa and I both are a little obsessed with these pockets. They are made my 3M and are 8.5x11" (so fit a standard piece of paper, or 8x10 photo) and are stiff; so much better than your normal sheet protector.  Here are the specs: Display Pocket.

I also splurged and got aluminum push-pins because lets face it- they look better than the standard push-pin! :)

ITEM NUMBER: GEM CPAL3 (pg. 379 in new catalog)

So that's my vertical space. I am sure I will add more to it, but for now I'm happy with how clean and "empty" it is! Do you have vertical space you're not utilizing to it's fullest? Try it! I promise you won't be disappointed! We have a ton of products you can use for this exact purpose that you can use in an office or a cubicle!