I just found out I’m WFH until next year. Help me transform my home office!

I need help with my home office!

Want workspace zen? Look no further. We're officially launching our home office edit at Maison Market to add daily joy to your WFH setup. See our favorite products in action below!

Hands up who’s commuting? Us neither. Seven months into the global pandemic and millions of us are still WFH. At Maison Haven, we’ve seen a huge uptick in clients asking us to transform their home offices. Which is why we’re adding a dedicated Home Office section to our shop! We’ve pulled together our favorite products that are guaranteed to reduce clutter, increase productivity and save you time (and sanity). So, whether your current workspace is a whole swanky room or a corner of your kitchen table, our greatest hits will transform it fast.

P.S. If you want more detailed help with your office, read on to find out how to access our FREE 5-day ‘home office transformation’ course!

1. White magazine files

There’s a reason we use these files in every office we transform. They’re chic, versatile and make great use of vertical storage. Either line them up on a shelf, or add them to your desk. We love to add custom labels to create a personalized system.

2. Acrylic file box

Our motto: if it looks beautiful it’s more likely to stay that way. Which is why we’re focused on using products that inspire us. There’s no reason your filing system shouldn’t look fabulous. Step one: acrylic box. Step two: pretty hanging file. Step three: attach custom label to front. Voila! A beautiful filing system.

3. Drawer organizers

Drawers are the most overlooked storage real estate. Keep them neat and you’re 99% of the way there. Our go-to dividers are these gorgeous, gold-tipped acrylic ones because...why the hell not?

4. Mail sorter

Are you the kind of person who opens their mail daily, or do you let it build up into a paper mountain (no judgement here!) To keep on top of your mail, build in a daily habit. This mail sorter is great because it gives you somewhere to stash your mail when you walk through the door, but it’s not so large that you can let three months’ worth of bills go unopened (you’ll thank us in the end). And it’s portable, so if a kitchen table is all you got, no problem.

5. Labels

You know our mantra: label EVERYTHING. Nothing maintains a system like a sprinkling of pretty labels. Our office starter kit is a selection of our most-used labels. Add them to magazine files, file boxes, basically anything that doesn’t move.

6. Archive files

These are ideal for storing stationery supplies, paper and other ugly office paraphernalia (printer cartridges, we’re looking at you…)

7. Planner printable

The organized day doesn’t just stop at the decluttered desk. We also love to add shape and rhythm to a client’s day. Our gorgeous planner printable allows you to stay one step ahead every day of the week. You’re welcome!

Want more?

Sign up for our FREE 5-day WFH course and whip your home office into shape fast

WHAT YOU GET:

• 5 daily prompts to kickstart your transformation

• Access to our #5quickwins strategy

• 20% off our signature office labels

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I want to organize my home but I need help getting motivated!

Q: Five months into the pandemic, can you help me get motivated?

A: Consider us your virtual cheerleaders. These simple mindset shifts will change the way you organize

We know. We’re not used to spending this much time at home either. At first it was a novelty, but fast-forward five months and there’s Nowhere. To. Hide. You kick each week off determined to whip your home into shape, only to find things sliding back to normal by hump day. The key is to identify your organizing style and build a system around it. Break it down into manageable goals. Rather than ‘I want to organize my house’, which feels vague and unwieldy, switch it to: ‘I will create a system that makes my pantry work’. Take it a room at a time. Make it specific. Ready? Let's go!

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I vow...to create space

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Skip this step at your peril. Take one room at a time and make a ruthless choice to trash/donate/consign all the things you don't need. Some people advise starting small with an easy-to-tackle spot in your room. We say: go big or go home. Once you’ve nailed the space that makes you scream, the rest of the house will seem like small fry. Need some inspo? Look at the photograph above. Our client was struggling to part with her excess clothes, so we pulled out a third of her closet. She was blown away by the result. Not only was there space for her clothes to breathe, it was much easier to create outfits because everything was visible. She vowed to adopt the ‘one in one out’ rule and remove one item from her wardrobe any time she was adding to it. Remember, sometimes you need a visual kickstart. Also remember: space is your friend.

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I vow...to transform my entryway

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There’s a reason we spend time getting clients’ entry points right. The way you enter your home sets the tone for the rest of the house. If your entryway is a car-crash of coats, shoes, bags and other paraphernalia, then shoot this zone to the top of your to-do list. Design a drop zone that works for you. Short on space? Your system could be as simple as a standalone coat rack or hooks behind a door. Got drawers? Invest in some dividers. Finally, adopt our ‘60-second rule’. When you arrive home, spend 60 seconds putting things in their place. Not only does it clear your head but it makes it easier to leave the house, too.

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I vow...to make the

effort

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Yes, we’ll share our decluttering secrets, cheerlead the hell out of you, and help you design a system that works. But maintaining your system? That’s up to you. Be honest with yourself. If you truly want a home that works hard - a home that looks and feel great - then repeat after us: I will make the effort. There are no shortcuts. Once the system is in place, STICK TO IT. Did you know that 80% of cleaning is picking stuff up and putting it away? Utter madness. Tidy a room before you leave it. Return items to their place. Don’t leave a mess to fester. Get into the habit of doing it as you go along. Trust us, the pay-off is worth it.

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I vow...to live smart

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Organizing your home shouldn’t break the bank. We love to repurpose (we call it our Shop My Home technique!) We’ve used everything from vintage hampers to upcycled shoe boxes. It doesn’t have to be expensive to work. Also, actually use what you have. Finish the last inch of toothpaste, the last drops of olive oil, the last roll of kitchen paper. Don’t buy multiples of things. You’ll waste less, consume less, and bring less clutter into your home. Finally, adopt the one-in-one-out rule. Make a pact with yourself to donate/consign an item each time you buy something new. This will be EXCRUCIATING in the beginning. But once the habit is formed, you’ll wonder what took you so long. Keep a container handy in each zone for items to purge. Then do it (this is very important).

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I vow...to make it pretty

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One of our best-kept secrets? We make a visual statement with the way we organize. We color-code. We use stylish storage. We go the extra mile. Why? There are real psychological benefits to maintaining this kind of visual order. Dr. Sally Augustin, PhD, an environmental psychologist says it’s possible that an organized and visually stimulating space can make its owner feel calmer and less stressed. She says: “Bring the complexity in your refrigerator down to a moderate level, and when you open the door, you would have a positive response.” That positive response means you’re more likely to keep it that way. Amen to that!

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Help! My Home Needs an Eco-Makeover

Q: Help! My home needs an eco-makeover

A: We hear ya! Sustainability is always on our minds when we set foot into a client’s home. We’re sharing our no-brainer ways to go green at home…

*Consider the why

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We don’t need to preach to you all the reasons why choosing sustainable storage and methods is preferable (unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past decade!) However, if the melting ice caps and starving polar bears aren’t enough to kickstart your motivation, try this: the average American wastes twelve days a year looking for things they own but can’t find, and collectively we spend $2.7 billion replacing them! So, shift your mindset. Understand why you’re streamlining. Our mantra is this: everything has a place. If you know exactly where things are, it you’ll save almost a fortnight a year (and the icebergs in the process #winning).

*Shop your home

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We use this technique all the time. Rather than purchasing brand new storage solutions, we scour around for items we can repurpose. Take the bathroom storage in the photo above. We upcycled a beautiful bar cart, then added storage items we found around the house: a cookie jar, a cake stand and an old candle holder. Look around your home and get creative. Try shoe boxes to house paper storage, Tupperware lids to keep drawers neat and magazine racks to store veggies. However, if you are buying products, our golden rule is this: measure, measure, measure. People spend a fortune on storage products that don’t work in their space. Take the extra time with a tape measure to get it right.

*Green your clean

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There’s no excuse to use toxic products in your home. We’ve tested a few different brands and here are our thoughts. Blueland, LOVE. They send a one-off package of chic bottles, then refills in tablet form in recyclable packaging. Grove Collaborative is another hit. We also love Food52’s Wool Dryer Balls. Not only do they cut down drying time by 25%. Pro tip: add a couple of drops of essential oils to each ball and your laundry comes out smelling beautiful (we opt for grapefruit every time!)

*Rethink your closet

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Forget fast fashion, the smart woman’s closet is all about sustainability. That starts with taking care of your clothes. We keep a closet kit handy complete with steamer and fabric defuzzer. And we use The Laundress’s non-toxic products to keep our clothes looking fresh (their Wool & Cashmere Shampoo is a Maison Haven staple). Love that dress but don’t love the way it makes you feel? Before giving up on it, take it to a tailor. Same goes for any broken jewelry, handbags or shoes. My favorite Lanvin sandals are on their third pair of soles! And if you are doing a closet edit, don’t throw anything out. Instead donate to Goodwill or consign anything designer. We love The Real Real for hassle-free consignment. They’ll grab your stash straight from your doorstep. 

*Kickstart your kitchen

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The sky’s the limit when it comes to sustainable kitchen solutions. We love swapping out plastic for pretty glass storage. It increases visibility which saves you time and money (no more rooting around at the back of the spice cupboard!) We also love using bamboo turntables where possible as bamboo is a low-impact material. Where possible, swap out plastic when you’re grocery shopping. Use net bags to hold fruit and veggies, and bulk-buy spices, nuts and seeds, then decant into reusable glass containers when you get home. Our final tip? Meal plan. Figure out exactly what you need for the week’s cooking. Not only does planning ahead eliminate waste, it encourages healthy habits (bye-bye cookies).

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- SHOP THE STORY -

Blueland Clean Essentials Kit

Meal Planner

Dryer balls

Portable Steamer

Glass jars

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How Do I Make the Most of a Small Pantry?

Q: My pantry is a single cupboard. How do I make the most of the small space?

A: Pantries are our bread and butter (excuse the pun) so we have a multitude of tricks up our sleeve, no matter how small your space….

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Edit.

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The smaller the space, the tighter the edit. Before we started this edit, we didn’t just ask our client what her family eats, we asked how they eat. What’s the breakfast routine? Do cereal and snacks need to be on a lower shelf so little hands can access? Is pasta a staple? Rule of thumb is this: anything you’re reaching for more than twice a week needs to be prime real estate. No bending down, no reaching up high. Then check use by dates and weed out anything old or that you know you won’t eat. Ensure you’re creating a system for the food you actually use and love.

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Categorize.

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Once we purged, we grouped items into zones: Breakfast, Pasta, Dried Goods etc. Breaking a space down into zones is like a brain map. Next time you open your pantry door, you’ll know exactly where to reach for cereal, potato chips or pasta. It saves time and effort (win win).

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Know your storage.

The large white baskets are fantastic for pantries and are super versatile. We always add inserts to keep things neat. The smaller baskets are a real crowd-pleaser. We use these to store items that pack a visual punch. Other space-saving tricks? Turntables. They maximize space and make things easy to reach. We also added square acrylic containers to the bottom shelf to house excess salty snacks. Label everything otherwise the system will fall apart. For extra polish, we add our custom labels.

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Decant.

Yep, we love to purge plastic. Where possible we decant goods into sustainable glass containers. Not only does it elevate the look, but you’re more likely to use what you see (plus it makes shopping for groceries so much easier). Here we decanted pasta and cereal. But items like flour, sugar and grains really lend themselves to being set free (make sure you use jars with a seal for items like flour). Pro tip: add cooking instructions to the jar. We use our custom cooking labels, but a chalk pen underneath the lid works well.

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Refill system.

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It’s all very well designing a beautiful system, but you need to be realistic. A too-rigid system is stifling. We always factor in a refill area for any multiples or excess. Because space was tight here, we stashed the refill basket behind the cereal on the top shelf. Just remember to always, always check your refills before your next grocery order!

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