Hygge Nook

Laptop tidy

I work from home so my laptop is very important to me. I don't have one fixed workspace so I might end up working on the dining table, from my bed, or my favourite spot in the corner of the living room. Due to the lack of dedicated work space it does mean that I have to pack up my laptop, papers, notepads and anything else I'm using when I'm done. For a long time now, I've just shoved everything in to my laptop bag but it isn't really ideal. My OH spotted this laptop tidy in an electricals store we were browsing and I just knew that it would be perfect.

 

It has enough space for my laptop, space to safely store my adaptor and plug and a compartment for notepads, folders and my latest magazines (did you spot my weekend reading?). I love the chocolate brown microfibre exterior paired with the tourmaline blue padded inside and the handle makes it super easy to just pack up and move room. I wouldn't ever use it outside due to the open top but it's great for indoors. I hunted around for the best price and snagged it for £20.77 on Amazon.

Do you work from home? How do you keep your stuff neat if you don't have a dedicated workspace?

Children's book storage

I'm starting to feel like the children's books are taking over my home and not in a good way. Instead they are slipping across floors, peeking out from under the sofas, in toppling stacks or heaped unceremoniously into plastic tubs where it's a scrabble to find a desired book. I would much rather they had neat, tidy storage ala the library's lovely wooden pods where oversized books are easy to pluck out. So I've been on the hunt and narrowed my choices down to these:

This is a very simple solution. Big enough to hold 40 books of differing sizes, easy to access and not overly large. I prefer the white but it also comes in natural wood and petrol blue. I feel this one wins out on size and though it's the pricier of the two, I think it's something that won't date or look too young as my children get older. £69 at Tidy Box.

I've seen this kind of sling bookcase used in classrooms, nurseries and similar buildings and they are again simple and easy to access. the downside is with it being taller, you really need some spare wallspace. £45 at Great Little Trading Co.

What solutions have you found for your books?

Holly Palmer's book porcupine

I always think that books define a person and I just love seeing which authors people have on their shelves. Being a bookish person from a bookish family, I even find it a bit odd when I can't even see the hint of a book in a home. Anyway, that leads me to this intriguing bit of furniture. The different sized slots take different sized books which spike out giving it a porcupine effect and they also have coloured innards to give a flash of colour when the slots aren't occupied. It doesn't look like you can do much else with it (no coffee cup space) and you might find the £950 price tag on the ouchy side.

Holly Palmer [Source: Fresh Design Blog]

Make your own lovely library

A library is somewhat of an indulgence but if you have the room, I'm all for it. After all, what is better than hunkering down in a squashy chair with shelves laden with favourite books all around you? Of course, the modern library isn't all dusty leather sofas, artificial lighting and dark walls. Go, light, bright and fill it with tactile prints and colours for the perfect relaxing space.

Clockwise from top left; Picturebook frames, £11.74 at Colloco, Book ends, £27.95 by I Love Retro at notonthehighstreet.com, Harlequin velvet cushion, £24 at John Lewis, Oilcloth bookbag, £14.99 by ellie ellie at notonthehighstreet.com, Ikea Billy bookcase, from £28.38, John Lewis Mayfair chair in Damson, £775.

Semikolon document boxes from The Container Store

I wish we had a Container Store in England. I'd probably move in, such is my lust for storage boxes.

These Semikolon boxes would look neat on a desk. They're colourful but not garish and are made of sturdy fibreboard so could store files, papers and all the other junk cluttering your desk plus there's a bunch of co-ordinating items. They come in lime, pink and navy for $17.99 each here.

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Inspiring spaces: Children's room with storage

 

I found this image in Easy Living - one of my favourite magazines at the moment. Not only is this a good idea for storage - the unit with big boxes that doubles up as a headboard - but I know it works because my oldest son has a similar set up in his room with a bookcase slotted into the gap left between his bed and the wall. His isn't as pretty as this, of course, but I love the way this room would suit girls of all ages without dating quickly and it's a good way of getting extra storage into a smaller room. There's a full list of stockists for everything in the room here.

Like this? More inspiring spaces

Collapsable car boot tidy

I first spotted this when I was on holiday in Cornwall last year (lovely by the way, do recommend it). The people in the cottage next to us on the farm we stayed at had one in their car and when I spotted it, I had to ask about it. It went something like this, '"wheredidyougetthat? IloveitIreallyreallyloveit pleasetellmewhereyougotitfrom?" Yes, I forgot to breathe, I liked it that much. Sad, I know. 

The case collapses down to briefcase size and then expands by a locking system and has little wheels and a telescopic handle to make it easy to manoevre. It's realy useful for all the odds and ends that end up in the car - wellies, gloves, supplies etc. It took me a while to find one but eventually I snagged one on eBay for £11 from seller 365-online. And as the one I got is pink, I'm virtually assured my boyfriend won't 'borrow' it. My toddler also likes to sit in it and be wheeled about!

Harri Koskinen birch storage cubes

 

The curves of these birch wood cubes are so appealing, aren't they? I know plastic storage boxes are hugely popular (especially in my house) and not least because they're so cheap, but these cubes really do make a quiet statement whilst serving a purpose. You could use them anywhere too. So long as you don't mind parting with £170 for each one at Store.

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Ikea's Hemnes linen cabinet

Something I struggle with whilst living in a rental is the storage problem. I can't, for obvious reasons, have any storage built in. And I also have a problem with freestanding storage that needs to attached to walls to make it more secure - again for obvious reasons.

I do think this Hemnes linen cabinet is ideal for rentals though. It's not so tall at 132cm that it could be a hazard (though they do recommend attaching it to the wall) and with three deep shelves, there is plenty of space for storing towels or linen upstairs or tableware in the dining room. It's £194.77 and I'm rather keen on it's rustic yellow paintwork.

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How to create the perfect closet by Making it Lovely

I've just stumbled across this amazing blog and I had to share it, especially this particular post which is about the writer, Nicole's, closet. Organisation is something I'm particularly fond of. I like to know where my stuff is. I like to be able to put things down and find it again and I like to know where my clothes, jewellery etc are - something that is difficult with having a four year old daughter who thinks she should have free reign over my closet.

Right now my wardrobe is in a state. I actually have almost the same style as Nicole (the Pax range from Ikea) but mine is currently dismantled and well, stored in the dining room as the rental we're in has a fitted and not particularly great wardrobe. What I like about Nicole's post is the thought that has obviously gone in to the design and the variety of the colours of her things that work so well together, the dresses, the shoes, the accessories... You have to click through to see what I mean about this well organised closet. Are you inspired? I am.

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