Practical Storage 2013 Decorating Ideas : House Tours from BHG

After she lost most of her possessions in Hurricane Katrina, Amanda Catalanotto, professional organizer and homeowner, rebuilt her family's house with style and function in mind.

Pretty & Clutter-Free

The living room's calming palette of neutrals with gray-blue and green is used throughout the home. The soothing palette belies the hardworking storage strategies Amanda Catalanotto, professional organizer, uses in every nook and cranny to optimize storage space.

Fresh Way to Display
The round tray on this ottoman creates an extra surface to display mementos and fresh flowers.

Dining Storage
Wrapped in the gray blue and green palette, the dining room is stylish and storage packed. The buffet on the side wall provides plenty of space to store special occasion dinnerware and other necessities for entertaining.

Office Storage
This roomy storage unit combines lateral file drawers with open shelves for office supplies and equipment. Its low height allows space on top for decorative bins in easy reach.

Get The Look: Decorative baskets are an easy way to corral papers, photos, and other office essentials. Add labels for decoration and easy organization. To turn a deep drawer or wicker basket into file storage, insert an adjustable hanging file frame from any office supply store. They typically come in the standard legal and letter file size.

Bedroom Storage

The calming palette of neutrals with gray blue and green carries into the master bedroom. To add more storage beside the bed, professional organizer Amanda Catalanotto used a small scale chest of drawers in place of a smaller nightstand.

Organized Closet
This spacious walk in closet has a pre designated storage place for each item. Double rods for hanging clothes, drawers for folded clothes, and shoe rack shelves make it easy to keep the closet organized. The cute and convenient bins on the top shelves are a stylish way to store small, out of season items.

Hideaway Mirror
Mirrors are essential for getting dressed. Install a thin mirror to keep it from taking up valuable space in the closet. This mirror can be tucked away between the wall and hanging clothing for easy storage.

Laundry Room Storage
Brighten utilitarian spaces by adding attractive touches such as blooming plants and decorative boxes on a shelf to hold small or less frequently used items.

Organized Kid's Closet
Baskets for socks and jars for coins keep a kid's closet tidy. Dual rods maximize clothing storage and make it easy to separate play clothing from special occasion clothing.

Designer Tip: "Labels help kids stay organized," Amanda Catalanotto, professional organizer, says. Labeling kids' baskets and drawers makes it easy for them to see where things go when it's time to clean up.

One Organized Family
"It's important to feel wonderful in a room, because that will inspire you to keep it organized," Amanda Catalanotto, professional organizer, says.

2013 Home Office Storage Ideas

 

 

 

Classic Solution

Put an awkward corner to use and add in office functionality with a classic secretary. Although the design is antique, a piece like this one has modern appeal. The pullout desk easily accommodates a laptop, and the shelves above the desk, as well as the drawers below it, can be fitted with baskets and boxes for filing paperwork and organizing supplies.

 

 

Tucked-In Storage

Add storage to a minimal, no-frills desk with a small shelf or table tucked underneath. Look for a unit on casters so you can easily slide it out and use the top as an extra work surface.

 

 

Two for One

Line a wall with two identical tables for a chic symmetrical look. This work space, stationed in a living room, can be cleared of office supplies and double as a buffet or bar for hosting parties.

 

 

Cozy Work Space

Turn an awkward closet into an office with a few quick changes. Remove the closet doors and paint (or wallpaper) the interior. Hang shelves along the wall and tuck in a desk for a quick-fix office that packs efficient function into a small sliver of space.

 

 

Build a Desk

For a simple, do-it-yourself desk, employ sturdy file cabinets as a base and a large desktop, or painted panel, as the work surface. Position the desktop on the file cabinets and screw into place.

 

 

Around the Corner

Capitalize on a corner office space by extending upper cabinetry into an L shape rather than just straight across the back of the desk. Use this newfound storage space for display or for office necessities, such as files and desk supplies.

 

 

On a Curve

A curved desk such as this one provides a work surface on both sides of a computer while leaving plenty of space for stationing storage trays and baskets. Use large boxes to tuck supplies under the desk for a quick storage fix.

 

 

Office Alcove

An underused alcove was given new life as an office and storage station. A basic desktop was upgraded with a pretty skirt to conceal storage beneath. Shelves were mounted high along the wall to create more head space above the desk. Higher shelves such as these are ideal for storing infrequently used items. When needed, they are easy to locate but are kept out of the way to make room for things used on a regular basis.

 

 

Living Room Office

Inconspicuously add an office to a living area with a few simple tricks. Incorporate as much concealed storage as possible, such as these clean-front cabinets, which add office functionality without distracting from the rest of the room. Take steps to add in elements to tie the space to the rest of the room. A bamboo chair and burlap-covered bulletin board harmonize with the living room's natural look.

 

 

Perfect for Paperwork

If you need a lot of space for paperwork, consider this setup. Nix the office chairs and basic desk, and replace with plush armchairs and a handsome round table, perfect for spreading out all your materials. Position a bookcase nearby to organize files and archived paperwork.

Modern Home Office 2013 Ideas : Storage & Organization Solutions



Create a home office anywhere with these ideas for streamlined storage and efficient organization.

 



 

Cubby Solution

If floor space is limited, bring storage off the floor and onto a desk. Place a small bookcase on top of a desk, which will give you a space to store supplies at your fingertips.

 

 

Easy Office Filing

Turn an existing dresser or other unit with deep drawers into a file cabinet with one simple addition. Install adjustable hanging file frames (available at office supply stores) in the drawers and develop a filing system with tabbed hanging folders.

 

 

Hidden Office

Turn storage upside down with an inventive way to use kitchen cabinets. Hang a cabinet horizontally and attach piano hinges to the doors so it can open to become a mini desk area. When not in use, the door can simply be closed to conceal the work area and maintain a sleek appearance.

 

 

A Place to Create

If your office space is used for creative endeavors, such as scrapbooking and crafting, incorporate storage around your work space and keep all supplies at your fingertips. This desk area has an abundance of drawers, plus at-your-fingertips supply cups along the back of the desk. Achieve this functionality by drilling large holes the size of silverware cups into a desktop, dropping the cups into the holes, and filling them with scissors, markers, and more.

 

Collaborative Space

Do you need an office for more than one person? Use a dining table as a desk and place it perpendicular to a wall so several people can sit at the table at once. This table bumps up against a wall of built-ins, which add storage. A large bookcase also works wonders for an office setup like this.

 

 

Office with a View

Bump a desk up against a window with a deep window sill and use the sill as an improvised shelf for baskets and boxes. Plus, placing a desk near a window provides plenty of natural light.

 

Smarter Office Storage

In a small space, take office storage to the walls to keep work surfaces clutter-free. In this space, cubbies were mounted to the wall and magazine holders were screwed into the bottom of the cubbies for an innovative mail sorter. For an easy and affordable work surface, transform a slab door into a desktop by mounting it to a wall and placing bookcases or file cabinets beneath it for support.

 

 

Kitchen Office

A small desk tucked into a kitchen is suited for many tasks, such as doing homework or jotting down a grocery list. Incorporate a few drawers and cubbies to maximize the space's storage capacity.

 

 

Perfect Office Setup

Create a corner office at home by zoning a section of a larger room (such as a living room or family room) as a work zone. Behind this desk, a large bookcase fulfills all the storage needs of this work area in one simple system. For more storage, hang floating shelves along the wall. When planning your home office, make sure there are adequate outlets nearby for computers, printers, and task lighting.

Small Home Office Design Ideas 2012 From HGTV

Whether placed in the corner of a room, along a wall or in an unused recess, these small spaces can make ideal home offices for those lacking square footage. Check out some of our favorite home offices that make the most of small spaces.

• Brenna Elrod  

Corner Office

A desk tucked into a corner of a loft bedroom provides a quiet space to work, while surrounding shelves keep the space cozy and add an efficient storage solution. Design by John Gidding.

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• See more from RMS user just-beachy.

Bedside Muse

Black furnishings are sleek additions to this bedside workspace. Artwork leaned against the wall and an elegantly crafted lamp provide simple inspiration for guests. Design by David Scott.

Playful Divide

Even in a larger room, you can set aside a small amount of space for a chic home office. This space uses floor-to-ceiling shelving in a playful arrangement to partition the room. Design by John Gidding.

Closet Space

A small space between closets is just enough room for shelves and a simple desk insert. White paint keeps the space fresh, and the modern office chair of thin, bent wood beckons you to take a seat. Design by Brian Patrick Flynn.

Walled Study

If you have an empty wall, you have the perfect spot for a small-space home office. A wooden desktop atop white cabinets provides ample workspace. Extra-long wall shelves are accentuated by painting their interior red, adding a pop of color to the mostly white space. Design by RMS user just-beachy.

Work Cycle

Multitasking opportunities abound in this home office creatively placed in the laundry room. A built-in desk overlooking the deck provides a spot to catch up on e-mail and bills while waiting out the laundry. 

Clean Finish

White walls and varied wood tones conspire to make a sophisticated office space tucked into a hallway. Dark wood floors add richness to the space, while the light wood drawers alternate with a white work surface to differentiate functions. A narrow wall niche provides shelving to display objets d'art for a splash of color. Design by Andreas Charalambous.

Tucked Away

Robin’s-egg blue is a sweet backdrop for this office nook, while layers of offset shelves create an informal mood above. A molded plastic Eames-inspired chair completes this tween workspace. Design by Sarah Richardson

Beautiful Home Office

Give your home office a brilliantly bright up date with zesty orange walls. Keep it chic by using a paler tone on one wall but choosing a neutral for the others and teaming it with a pale carpet. Sophisticated dark wood furniture works best in this scheme, as does chocolate-brown accessories



In a guest bedroom a discreet desk, like this one from the Conran Shop, will not detract from the scheme. Combine with a simple white chair and accessorize with stationary in plain colours. An antique mirror from Artefact, creates both light and a sense of space, and breaks up a large
expanse of patterned wallpaper.


This home office uses a wall panel covered in a bold Oriental-style patterned fabric to create a focal point behind a contemporary metal desk. Accessories including the seat of the Poliform chair, files and books pick up the same shade. Built-in shelves provide storage.



This modern work space is prevented from looking too much like a sterile office by using home furnishings. A large modern table doubles as a desk, and a painted wooden dresser from New England Lifestyle stores files, work boxes and colourful baskets. Smart striped Romo blinds in candy shades soften the windows and act as a key for accessories like the pink bin and lamps. A Habitat dining chair is a simple, modern alternative to a traditional office chair.



No space to work? Think again - a simple fold-down desk can rest on cupboard doors, or hide clutter when folded back up. Cork boards covered in bold fabric make attractive notice boards and colourful storage boxes create a pretty display on a shelf above.



Box shelves needn't be regimented. A freer arrangement doubles your options, as you can use the spaces in between for storage and display, as well as the shelves themselves. The storage in this quirky office keeps things neat and tidy as well as chic and modern



A neutral scheme makes this home office a stylish and calm place to work in. Textured taupe wallpaper sets a subdued tone and chunky dark wood furniture lends an air of masculinity. The custom-made desk in faux-crocodile skin is from Andrew Martin and a smart wenge cupboard discreetly hides paperwork.



A vibrant wallpaper pattern is a great way to zone out a home office area when you don’t have the luxury of an extra room, simply paper the wall behind the desk. Here, contemporary wooden furniture goes perfectly with the brown circles in the wallpaper. A floating shelf is ideal for keeping books and stationary out of the way.