Spring 2018 One Room Challenge Week #1 – Hoarder’s Paradise

Even though I have no business jumping into the One Room Challenge right now, I’m doing it.  I’m flying on a wing and a prayer that I can pull this thing off, even though it seems as though I have a million other things simultaneously demanding my attention.  The main reason I’m jumping in is because the room I’m making over is an embarrassment, and if I don’t do something about it, it will continue to stay that way, indefinitely.  Of that, I’m sure.  The fact that I’m even sharing photos of this abomination of a space is making me a bit hive-y.  So please don’t turn me in to the Hoarders show or anything like that.  I promise I will get it under control.

I should mention that a small part of what got it to this stage was that we asked our college-aged son to help clean out some of our storage area (which is what my husband thinks should be the room for this round of the One Room Challenge), and his idea of “cleaning out” was to dump a bunch more stuff into my office.  But, I can’t blame him for everything, I know.  Let’s get on with the horrifying before photos, shall we?  The one good thing about this One Room Challenge, is that I’m sure to have some dramatic before and after photos…

I’m going to go hide in the corner while you look at these photos and judge me.

ORC Office Before

ORC Office Before

ORC Office Before

ORC Office Before

ORC Office Before

It wasn’t always like this.  When I was working in corporate life, I used this space a lot more and it was a lot prettier and more well maintained.  It’s just gone south big time in the past year or so, I’d say.  At once point it wasn’t a Hoarder’s Paradise.

ORC Home Office Before

Here’s the deal.  I’m looking to make this into a multi-functional space.  A space that we can use for guests, so that we have an actual designated space instead of shifting kids around.  I am considering still having this space double as an office, but need to figure out a layout that makes sense if I’m going to make it a double-duty room.  

In an ideal world, I’d love to have a Murphy bed, but that seems like a pipe dream at this point.  But how cool is that???

Murphy Bed

Even if I had a pull out bed of some sort – that would be reasonable.  But then, I wouldn’t want guests to sleep on a pull out bed…  Maybe a day bed with a trundle?  So, even if I did have to put the kids in there, they would at least have a bed, and it would look stylish when not being used.

This one is from Restoration Hardware – I’m wondering if I’ll get lucky and score some deals from the Restoration Hardware Outlet like I did for my last One Room Challenge?

This one is a little more reasonable from Wayfair.

Daybed with Trundle for Office

I definitely like the tufted look though.  This sort of style in a daybed serves the multifunctional purpose that I’m wanting in here.

Enzo+Daybed+with+Trundle

The other challenge I’m facing in here is that this area has no windows.  While my mom will probably be overjoyed that I won’t be asking her to sew some drapes for this One Room Challenge, (like she did here and here), no windows means no natural light, so I’m going to have to be creative.

I’m also wanting to trade in my ceiling fan for some pretty new lighting.  Not sure what I want yet – nothing too big, since I don’t have high ceilings in here.  Maybe a semi-flush mount of some sort, but something that puts out a good amount of light.  This is the kind of room where those daylight light bulbs will be of good use!

As for colors – I’m still thinking of something in the navy/blush/gold/white sort of palette.  But, that could go out the window once I start shopping.  You know how I roll on these challenges.

As for the office portion of this space, I find myself drawn to this sort of look…

ORC Inspiration

I like the built-in space in this multipurpose room.  It fits in without standing out and coordinates with everything else in the room.  That’s what I want.

I absolutely love this office setup.  How cute is that print?

If only I had windows down in this Mom Cave of mine…  That’s ok – challenge accepted!  I will make it work, and I’ll show you how.

So, that’s where I’m at with this One Room Challenge.  I hope you don’t judge me too harshly on my Hoarder’s Paradise.  I promise I don’t sit down there in my hoard and watch tv and eat tv dinners.  

If I can get this space cleaned out in time for next week’s update, that would be a bonus!  A girl can dream, right?  Maybe I should just call for a dumpster now.

Do you have multipurpose spaces like this in your home?  What works? What doesn’t?  

Jenny


 

8 Comments

  • Reply
    Shelley @ Calypso in the Country
    April 5, 2018 at 7:55 am

    Jenny, we all have spaces like that! I am so excited to see how it turns out. You have some great ideas. I am also jumping into the One Room Challenge this time around. I have only done it once so we will see how this goes. I just looked at the calendar and noticed I have a girls getaway weekend during that 6 week period so I hope that doesn’t slow me down! Best of luck to you!
    Shelley

  • Reply
    Lauren@SimplyLKJ
    April 5, 2018 at 12:25 pm

    Love the idea of creating a multifunctional space, and the color palette as well. I have been going room by room, weeding out. Our neighborhood is having a garage sale at the end of the month. What was once my organized basement looks like a bomb went off. Always gets worse before it gets better, right??!!!

  • Reply
    Andrea
    April 5, 2018 at 4:55 pm

    Oh my gosh. That looks just like my office right now! Except mine has more boxes and paper junk and less furniture. Good luck with your makeover. I’m currently working on the office closet and hoping that once there is functional storage in there, we will start to see the office floor!

  • Reply
    Linda
    April 5, 2018 at 6:59 pm

    Proud of you and happy you’re going for it. I LOVE following along with all the participants, but am always glad it’s not me! Just too much pressure and not enough time. I noticed some who didn’t finish last time, and that’s OK with me – just to see real progress is a lofty-enough goal. Good luck!

  • Reply
    Laurie Zivkovich
    April 6, 2018 at 1:15 pm

    I love this!!! You are the BEST and I am so happy to know someone else has an office that looks like mine! It is the dumping ground for EVERYTHING that no one wants to find a place for and I just keep the door closed. I have been trying to get it organized since the Fall but every time I open the door, I just turn around and leave because I don’t know where to start. Maybe I should start mine too and you can keep me inspired. Love, love, love your blog.

    Can’t believe your son is almost done with his first year. We talked a little last year about our sons being left handed pitchers. It all goes so fast doesn’t it?

    • Reply
      Jenny
      April 7, 2018 at 4:49 pm

      Thank goodness my office has doors! I’ve just been shutting them and ignoring the mess behind them. It’s time to face the music!

      And yes, we did talk about our left handed pitchers! I can’t believe how fast this first year of college has gone – even faster than his senior year in high school!

  • Reply
    Lisa
    April 19, 2018 at 2:09 pm

    Okay I must be living under a rock (or doing the One Room Challenge) that I didn’t even know you were in this round! So excited to see what you end up doing in here Jenny, I’ve got to catch up!!

  • Reply
    Sandy
    May 6, 2018 at 9:33 am

    yes it is bare, has a desk, file cabinet, vertical bookcase and horizontal bookcase that I repurposed into a toy holder, books and coloring/paint stuff. That is cute, then toys and open space. So far it is an office and playroom. I am a picture hoarder, have so many in albums and frames, my creative juices aren’t flowing .

  • Leave a Reply

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.