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Staples Home Office Makeover: The Big Reveal!

April 22, 2013 By Lena

It’s going down in history as one of the WORST office chairs EVER.

Readers were horrified – and sympathetic – when I recently revealed the state of my home office. The ripped and tattered chair; the disorganization and disarray; the potential fire hazard. Okay, multiple fire hazards. And that’s just what you could see in the first photo.

Well, something had to be done. Thankfully Staples Canada swooped in to save the day; seeing that I (obviously) needed an intervention, they allowed me to pick out a brand new home office – on three conditions:

1) I purchase the goods from Staples (done!)
2) I ditch my old chair. Seriously, it had to be on my curb (done!)
3) I take the oath to De-Clutter and Prosper

Did you know: A recent survey commissioned by Staples Canada and AIR MILES revealed that an overwhelming 83% of Canadians agree that a cluttered or disorganized workspace negatively affects levels of productivity. Despite this fact, 26% of Canadians describe their own desk as cluttered. I, Lena Almeida, pledge to never let clutter or disorganization rule my workspace again! (done!)

And so… it’s the moment you’ve been waiting for…. my big reveal. Brace yourselves; it doesn’t look like the same room, but I promise, it is!

OH MY GOODNESS! Where to begin? What should I speak about first? Well, as you can see, I’ve taken much care in ridding my home office of all the paper junk. And toys. And chargers for electronic devices I no longer own. (And guess what, Mom? I dusted and vacuumed too! Just kidding – hubby did. But it got done!)

So, first things first, let’s discuss my gorgeous new desk. The model I selected was the Whalen Legeant L-Shaped Desk in Cherry, retailing for $259.99. I love the rustic-meets-modern feel and look of the desk, and the open compartments for storage, in addition to the filing drawer, provide much needed space for clutter necessary documents.

Other product details:

Reversible leg design allows desk to be used in a corner or the centre of a room
Open compartments provide convenient office storage; File drawer accommodates letter or legal sized files
Cable management cutaways
Quality engineered wood construction; Cherry Finish
Overall Dimensions: 60″W x 60″D x 30″H
Assembly required; 1 Year Manufacturer’s Limited Warranty

My husband put the desk together himself in less than 2 hours, which I think classifies this product as “easy assembly”. The desk feels sturdy, holds up well to curiously toddlers, and has already been used as a “road” for Hot Wheels :) No scratches or dings!

Next – the chair. Of course I bought a new chair! And my advice to anyone looking to buy one for their own home office – go to your local Staples store and sit on it. Then sit how you’d likely sit at home. And then walk away, and sit again. You see, I had selected a few chairs based on looks alone from the website, but once in-store, realized immediately that while they were a thumbs up aesthetically, they were terribly uncomfortable for my posture and frame. In fact, the lovely salesperson informed me that some of the least expensive chairs were the best sellers; it really differs from person to person.

In the end, I settled on this professional, ergonomic Staples Bonded-Leather Task Chair in Black – currently on sale for just $64.99! I originally purchased the chair for $129.99, and when it went on sale one week later for $99.99, having my price adjusted was a breeze. However, this is a STEAL! It’s 50% off until April 30th, 2013.

The chair includes a seat-height adjustment plus tilt, tilt lock and tilt tension settings. The padded, fixed armrests are very comfortable and it arrived ready to assemble – really, just 5 minutes of effort! Take a trip to your local Staples and try it out – for $64.99, you seriously cannot go wrong.

(You can also see my Fellowes Powershred 69Cb 10-Sheet Cross-Cut Shredder peeking out from the right corner. Exclusive to Staples, the shredder helps me effectively keep clutter at bay – and protects my identity!)

Did you notice that my dinosaur Dell computer was replaced by a much snazzier model?

You may recognize our Dell Inspiron One 2320 All-in-One desktop computer. We’ve had it for about a year and half now, but until recently, it was on our – wait for it – dining room table. Yup, I used to blog from the same place I served Christmas dinner. I finally decided to bite the bullet and transfer all my files to the Inspiron One desktop; not only has the ONE PLUG alleviated the fire hazard, but now I’m much happier with my streamlined environment. Plus, the memory/storage capacity on the Inspiron One rivals some external hard drives, so I never have to worry about my computer slowing down. And I certainly can’t resist 23″ of baby Reid!

Now I know that many of my readers were excited for the Martha Stewart accessories, and I promise you, they’re every bit as gorgeous as they appear on the website.

Above: Martha Stewart Home Office With Avery Stack+Fit Shagreen Drawer with Inbox and Martha Stewart Home Office With Avery Stack+Fit Shagreen Organizer: A modular system that you can mix and match to fit your space and storage needs. Store paperwork, receipts, coupons, or supplies in the drawer and place to-do items or mail in the inbox. Create your own organization system by stacking an organizer, tray and boxes, or small item holder on top. Martha Suggests: Make a drawer for each family member and keep in the entryway for homework.

Above: Martha Stewart Home Office With Avery Large Shagreen Double File Pocket: A convenient, easy way to keep clutter off countertops. Hang shagreen texture pockets in a variety of places with either the built-in adhesive or grommets and included push pins. Their stylish finish makes them pretty enough to use in the kitchen, office, or near the front door.

Martha Stewart Home Office With Avery Stack+Fit Shagreen Pencil Cup: Always have the right tools at hand with this pencil cup. It can hold pencils, pens, highlighters, scissors, rulers, and other small desktop items. Use the cup with other Stack+Fit products to make a perfect organization system.

Above: Martha Stewart Home Office With Avery Dry-Erase Weekly Planner: Keep everyone’s schedule up-to-date with this pre-printed weekly planner. Use dry-erase markers to make quick changes and additions. Sticks on many household surfaces (including dry wall, stainless steel, glass, and plastic). Flexible sheet conforms to flat or curved surfaces; removable and repositionable adhesive leaves no residue. Smooth, erasable surface works with dry-erase and wet-erase markers.

Above: Martha Stewart Home Office with Avery Notebook: Stylish cover design for wirebound notebooks. With its vibrant aster design, these spiral notebooks add a touch of style to your everyday note taking. The plastic front and back cover and double-coil binding provide durability, while the inside pocket helps keep small notes in one place. 100 narrow-ruled sheets; perforated pages tear out easily.

Above: I’ve got this handy calendar affixed to the back of my office door. I love its peek-a-boo effect; only I know what’s going on, and when. The Martha Stewart dry erase calendars and planners wipe clean away with absolutely no residue. Now I just need to take Martha’s advice and colour code my weekly planner by using a marker of one colour for single events, like birthday parties, and a second colour for recurring activities, like swim class and ballet. (Or in my case, Twitter Parties!)

Finally, I thought long and hard about the wall decor in my home office. Specifically, what did I want to look at? What would motivate me, calm me, inspire me and get the creative juices flowing? Suddenly, I had the answer: Memories. And vactions. And happiness.

So, I picked up seven of these Quadro 8″ x 10″ Standard Document Frames ($12.96 each) and created a perimeter around my office, at eye level, displaying my favourite photos from our recent vacations. I proudly hung photos of the New Fantasyland Grand Opening, the Allure of the Seas cruise ship, and more. Looking at them as I blog reminds me that for every hour, every day of hard work… another vacation is around the corner. Just keep plugging away.

So that’s it friends! I have officially de-cluttered and prospered! Now that I’m so very organized, I don’t think I could ever go back to working amidst chaos. You’ll have to keep me on the straight and narrow – I insist that you hold me to 3-month checkups!

Once again… a before/after shot!

A very special thank you to Staples Canada for outfitting my beautiful new home office. Everything was so simple to find, and the quality is impeccable. Should I say it? Okay, I’ll say it. That was easy!

And… you didn’t think I’d forget about y’all, did you? The winner of my Staples: “Clear the Clutter” Giveaway is… Danni G! Congratulations! You’ve won an amazing Staples Canada prize pack, including: $100 Staples Gift Card • 100 AIR MILES Bonus Miles • Assortment of Patterned Martha Stewart File Folders • Stack+Fit Martha Stewart Desk Accessories: Shagreen Drawer with Inbox and Organizer • Martha Stewart Large Shagreen Double File Pocket • Case File – Accordion File with Handle • Martha Stewart Home Office With Avery Dry-Erase Weekly Planner, Red and Grey • Belkin Conserve Valet – Smart USB Charging Station • Fellowes SmartSuites Monitor Riser Plus • Fellowes Powershred 69Cb 10-Sheet Cross-Cut Shredder

Thank you to everyone who entered! And now… who’s up for some Spring cleaning? Time to De-Clutter and Prosper!

Filed Under: Lifestyle Tagged With: Clear the Clutter, home office, home organization, Staples Canada

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Tricha

    April 22, 2013 at 1:27 pm

    Oh wow, impressive Lena! Such a difference. I do say I was surprised as well about the state of your home office. Glad Staples came through for you. Congrats to the winner! That is an amazing prize!

    • Lena

      April 23, 2013 at 8:56 am

      Thanks so much Tricha! Yep, I really outed myself with that first photo. I’m really grateful to Staples!

  2. Lisa H

    April 22, 2013 at 1:55 pm

    Looks great and I bet your more efficient because of it now. Love the dry erase boards – I use them too.

    • Lena

      April 23, 2013 at 9:06 am

      Thanks Lisa! I can’t live without dry erase boards :)

  3. Soozle

    April 22, 2013 at 2:28 pm

    WOW!!!! The room looks AMAZING, Lena! :-D What a huge difference!

    Your new chair is swoon worthy! heh :-)

    • Lena

      April 23, 2013 at 9:07 am

      Thanks Suzie! And I can’t believe the chair is only $64.99 now!

  4. Anne Taylor

    April 22, 2013 at 3:26 pm

    Your office is awesome & I love the clean lines of the furniture! Good Job!

    • Lena

      April 23, 2013 at 9:14 am

      Thanks Anne! I love the clean lines too – very modern!

  5. Holly

    April 22, 2013 at 7:56 pm

    Wow, huge difference! Looks great!! Congratulations to Danni too!!

    • Lena

      April 23, 2013 at 9:14 am

      Thanks Holli! And yes, congrats to Danni!

  6. Courtney

    April 22, 2013 at 7:59 pm

    Wow! It looks amazing!

    • Lena

      April 23, 2013 at 9:14 am

      :) Thank you Courtney!

  7. Laird N Crystal E

    April 22, 2013 at 8:00 pm

    Absolutely love it! Boy do I need a makeover like that! Congrats Danni!

    • Lena

      April 23, 2013 at 9:15 am

      Thanks Crystal! Everything came in well under $500, so Staples is definitely THE place to do an office overhaul!

  8. Angie

    April 22, 2013 at 8:03 pm

    I am totally in awe of the big reveal, love love the chair and the dry/erase calendar! I am going to go look for a new desk this week and also declutter….oh so excited.

    • Lena

      April 23, 2013 at 9:16 am

      Excited for you Angie!! De-clutter and prosper!

  9. Bernadette

    April 22, 2013 at 8:30 pm

    Looks fab, happy for you.

    • Lena

      April 23, 2013 at 9:16 am

      Thanks Bernadette!

  10. Nicole W.

    April 22, 2013 at 8:52 pm

    Wow Lena, it looks amazing!! LOVE the desk, it is gorgeous. The chair looks super comfy as well! It must have been so much fun picking everything out. Bet you look forward to working a bit more now! :)

    • Lena

      April 23, 2013 at 9:17 am

      You’re absolutely right, Nicole, I DO look forward to working now! It’s almost zen-like now that the clutter is gone!

  11. Judy

    April 22, 2013 at 9:24 pm

    I want that weekly planner!!! Looks great, Charlene. Enjoy your ‘new’ office in good health.

    • Lena

      April 23, 2013 at 9:18 am

      Thank you Judy! Do you have Martha Stewart products at the US Staples?

  12. Colleen K

    April 22, 2013 at 11:09 pm

    …Looks very nice indeed !!!

    • Lena

      April 23, 2013 at 9:18 am

      :) Thanks Colleen!

  13. Olivia L

    April 23, 2013 at 12:20 am

    Great makeover! The new desk and chair make a huge difference.

    • Lena

      April 23, 2013 at 9:19 am

      They really do. Sometimes it’s as simple as de-cluttering and getting just two new pieces. Makes a big difference!

  14. Doris Calvert

    April 23, 2013 at 2:46 am

    Wow! looks great! organized, neat and clean. Nice feeling when you walk in and see it I bet

    • Lena

      April 23, 2013 at 9:19 am

      Amazing feeling, Doris!

  15. Marissa

    April 23, 2013 at 7:07 am

    Awesome makeover! I love the whole set-up of the desk with its accessories. Also, the chair is a steal at 50% off – I need one desperately. I’m sure your new home office will motivate you to work even harder now. No more clutter Lena……….

    • Lena

      April 23, 2013 at 9:20 am

      No more clutter!!! Yes, it has definitely given me a refreshed feeling!

  16. Norm

    April 23, 2013 at 8:34 am

    Amazing desk! Hope the new set up of your home office inspires you to continue to write creative posts for your readers.

    • Lena

      April 23, 2013 at 9:20 am

      I will try my best Norm!

  17. Kay

    April 23, 2013 at 12:29 pm

    Looks great – lots of producitivity will go on there :)

    • Lena

      May 1, 2013 at 4:36 pm

      I agree! Thank you Kay!

  18. Freda Mans

    April 23, 2013 at 1:15 pm

    Looks fantastic!!!

    • Lena

      May 1, 2013 at 4:36 pm

      :) Thanks Freda!!

  19. Debbie Bashford

    April 23, 2013 at 1:18 pm

    Oh wow!!!! It is so tidy!! I find when it is my mind seems clearer…. thank goodness because then I’m all …… now where is the new spot that I put that in??

    • Lena

      May 1, 2013 at 4:37 pm

      HA! I do the exact same thing! I always think I’ll remember where I put it, and then… nope, way to disorganized!

  20. Victoria Ess

    April 24, 2013 at 9:46 am

    Love it love it love it! How much better must it feel to sit down in your work space?

    • Lena

      May 1, 2013 at 4:38 pm

      Ohh… SO much better Victoria! Thank you so much!

  21. FallenPixels

    April 24, 2013 at 11:01 am

    Impressive deal on the chair – the workspace looks much better too, always easier to concentrate without the clutter

    • Lena

      May 1, 2013 at 4:39 pm

      The chair was an amazing deal! I am loving my de-cluttered space.

  22. Diana Corlett

    April 28, 2013 at 5:36 pm

    So clean and uncluttered…a person could really get some work done in a workspace like that!

    • Lena

      May 1, 2013 at 4:40 pm

      That’s exactly right! Thanks Diana!

  23. Debbie

    April 29, 2013 at 9:44 pm

    Wow look’s fantastic now!!!

    • Lena

      May 1, 2013 at 4:40 pm

      Thank you Debbie!

  24. Julia

    April 30, 2013 at 9:37 am

    Looks amazing and I am envious of your new chair. I can’t wait to have a dedicated home office space once we move. I will take over a closet if I have to.

    • Lena

      May 1, 2013 at 4:40 pm

      :) Thanks so much Julia. The chair was a great deal!

  25. Isabella

    May 4, 2013 at 9:39 pm

    So did you pay for your office or did they?

    • Lena

      May 6, 2013 at 6:54 am

      Staples sponsored my home office.

  26. Chi

    May 5, 2013 at 9:23 am

    Yup, a good office chair is definitely key when you consider how much time one sits on it every day.

    • Lena

      May 6, 2013 at 6:54 am

      Right?? I think I spend a huge portion of my day sitting in this chair!

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Lena Almeida

Toronto Blogger, Social Media Strategist for Listen to Lena Inc. Television & Radio Personality, Columnist and Speaker. Family Travel Expert. Star Wars Fanatic. Perfecting the Art of Conversuasion. Read More…

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