How We Organize Our Workspace

It was so fun getting to share our new studio space that we posted a couple weeks ago, and a lot of you expressed interest in seeing more details and hearing about how we keep things looking so clean and organized. I’ll admit that it’s a constant challenge — some days we might get huge deliveries of photo shoot props and wardrobe items that need to be sorted; on other days, the kitchen looks like a tornado blew through after rounds of recipe and cocktail testing. But, I’m a firm believer that a well-ordered space translates to a creative and well-ordered mind, so as a team, we stick to a few practices that keep our workspace organized amidst occasional chaos. And when Claire and I sat down and began putting together our plans for the space, the organizational aspects were key. Keep reading for the details (shot by Jessica Pages), and a few tips on bringing a sense of calm into your own workspace!

Organization tip #1: Turn office storage into a beautiful decor element by mixing woven baskets and brightly colored boxes for office and craft supply storage. Keep prettier items, like linens and ribbon, in the open baskets, while less attractive supplies (tape and file folders) can be tucked away in the lidded boxes.

*sources: metal truss work table and bentwood office chair, both from west elm // baskets from west elm // hitch bookcase from blu dot.

Organization tip #2: Setup your desk for success. These Parsons Desks are sleek and minimalist, but they have two drawers in front that go a long way in keeping the desktop clean. I love that they’re flush with the surface of the desk and don’t have any handles, so they don’t take away from the clean-lined appearance. We also keep a few stacked trays in the center of our workstations to corral paper, pens and business cards that need to be within easy reach.

*sources: parsons desk with drawers and bentwood office chairs, both from west elm // satya rug from lulu and georgia // chandelier from lindsey adelman.

Organization tip #3: For paper and craft supplies, lots of shallow drawers are your best friend. We have so many craft supplies that, at one time, it drove me absolutely crazy since they made our office constantly feel slightly out of control. We finally installed this wall-mounted set of shallow drawers that keeps everything divided up and easy-to-find. And I like how these mesh wire baskets let us quickly view the contents of what’s inside.

Organization tip #4: Use tall baskets to hold wrapping paper and rolls of kraft paper. Since I’m kind of a wrapping paper junkie, I’m constantly looking for the best way to keep it organized where I can easily see my selection, and I’ve finally realized that keeping them standing upright is the way to do it. Plus, it allows all those pretty roles of paper to be on full display. Keep tape, scissors, tags and ribbon nearby so you have a complete “wrapping station” with everything you’ll need at the ready.

*sources: baskets and side table, both from West Elm.

I love the look of open shelving in a kitchen, but it makes having a good organization plan even more important, since so much more of your stuff is in plain view! So…

Organization tip #5: Display like items together for the most cohesive look. For these shelves, I decided to stick with a wood and white color palette. I gathered all my white dishes and arranged all of those on the open shelves, and stashed our colorful stuff in the closed cabinets underneath. It’s all about thinking like an editor: removing the items that are distracting can be a more effective (and affordable) design trick than adding great new pieces. I filled this kitchen crock (below) with all our serving utensils that we use for shoots — they look really pretty in all different shades of wood.

Organization tip #6: You can never have too many baskets. I honestly couldn’t count the number of baskets I own in my house and in our studio. I think they’re the best way to marry form and function by hiding away the items you don’t want fully displayed, and adding a great decorative touch in the process. And they fit really well into the natural, organic aesthetic that I love. I always keep a couple of extra empty baskets around for corralling the loose odds and ends that always pop up. Since we’re constantly staging props for shoots (like below), it’s great to have a place to stash them away so that our stuff isn’t always sitting out on the table or cluttering someone’s desk. It’s all about keeping it contained!

*source: baskets from west elm.