The start of a new year is both exciting and daunting. It is a moment to take time and reflect on what has been accomplished, process the not so great parts of the year that’s closing, and plan ahead to a new beginning.
As 2022 drew near, I decided it was time to rearrange my space. It began with Arya. My little husky and I share a twin bed which is way too small for the two of us. So when I got her a nice cushion for the office area, she decided it was infinitely more comfortable. But she sulked because it wasn’t in the bedroom.
After much thought on where in the world I could place her cushion in such a small bedchamber, I opted for behind the door. When I close the door to my room it creates a nook with the wall of the closet. Having made this decision I realized that I would never again enter my room through the door. Thankfully, you can enter the bedroom through the bathroom which has an exit to the space officially supposed to be a game room, aka my office.
This arrangement opened up the possibility of using the space behind the now permenantly sealed door for other things. My wing of the upstairs in our house has a small walkway area which allows you to either turn to enter the bedroom or go toward the game room area. This is mostly wasted space in homes as there is little you can do with it other than just walk through.
However, I’ve installed some bookcases, and the closing off of the door allowed me to use that space for my curio cabinets. By shifting these out of the office space, the possibility of a new arrangement of the workspace loomed. And so, the first week of 2022 began with the rearrangement of furniture and the organization, finally after two years, of the books on the bookcases.
Of course, about mid way through the process, I regretted having started. I mean, my space was in chaos and completely unusable, my back was hurting, and the enthusiasm with which the project began waned quickly. But, I was also beyond the point of no return. So, I had to continue to plow through.
Because the room is a rectangle, my previous arrangement of two square spaces had the effect of making it feel smaller. By placing the desk in front of the bookcases, it became a much more open space, running as a natural rectangle. It also had a great effect in the view as I come out of the bedroom. Rather than coming out into a very tight space blocked by the desk and work tables, I enter my office into a wide open and inviting sitting area.
After essentially two massive days of hard labor, my new office arrangement was set, and the books organized. The new flow of space works beautifully. I’m very pleased with the improved functionality and feel of the space. It is a fresh start for the year, one that provides more organization and a beautiful space to sit and reflect.
Now, time to get back to work…
