How to Make a Room Disappear

I considered cleaning my desk before I took the picture, but that wouldn't be real. This is what my personal writing space normally looks like.

 Yes, I love Post-it notes. 

I need lots of reminders. I also need a lot of hydration. 

It is extremely cluttered in this office den of mine. Some folks might feel claustrophobic just looking at the photo. I keep trying to make my writing space more inviting and open, but the papers, notes, books, and pens keep piling up like thoughts in my brain.  

It’s colorful here.  It’s my space, but I can’t say it is my “happy place.” 

 It’s the place where I write, read, think and research.  I would like it to feel a little less small.  A little more organized. Yet, I’ve been thinking those thoughts for many years.  When I manage to declutter, it doesn’t take very long for the space to become chaos again.

Maggie McReynolds, a friend, writer, and fellow Substacker (my term), recently posted Hazy Shade of Winter (click on the title for the link), in which she beautifully describes her ideal setting for writing.

I love the cozy imagery in her post. The warm fire, the Eeyore grey sky outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, the bookshelves, the pets, soft lighting, and the fresh bread smells. 

Typing away on your laptop in your happy writing space while feeling safe and comfortable sipping your fragrant hot tea. It’s calming just to place yourself in that scene. 

However, I’m in my cluttered den office now. Calmness is not what I feel when looking around at this space. 

I am writing. Of course. This is where I do that. 

If I look around and fully pay attention to detail, I will start writing more Post-it notes, ideas, and tasks for what I need to do to bring this room up to snuff. 

But I seldom do that here. Most of the time, my head is down.  I’m lost in my thoughts; all I see is the keyboard and computer screen. 

When I purposely look around my space on the hunt for what I actually do love about this room, I note the two doors where I can close myself in. The fish tank with bright orange fish searching for new adventures. My books and pictures. I love the back of the door that I use as an idea board for my future book filled with even more Post-it notes. I see my Google Hub for playing music and my diffuser for mood-enhancing essential oils, though I often forget to use either device. 

I am on a mission when I enter this space.  I don’t notice much at all around me. 

I do notice and admire the only window in the room, which happens to be in the shape of an arch.  It reminds me of one in a historic building, though this house was built in 2006.  I pay attention to ensure the blinds are open in the daytime and closed at night.  I might stop to notice the weather or a neighbor walking their dog in front of my house, but that is about it. 

Now, intentionally looking around, some of the other items in this room that I love are my father's ashes in the shape of a heart sitting on top of an antique metal train, my grandmother's cuckoo clock, pictures of my mother, grandmother, granddaughters, family, a watercolor of my son’s grade school and the Vegas Boys/Rat Pack:  Frank, Dean, Sammy, Peter, and Joey on the wall next to my desk. There are two sitting chairs, mostly commonly used by my granddaughters while patiently waiting for me to step away from the keyboard. 

It has occurred to me that I have other options of areas to write and work here at home.  I could take my laptop to the dining room table, for instance. It is normally clutter-free as long as I have finished the laundry for the day. 

The dining room table is where I fold and place my clothes on hangers. Doesn’t everyone? 

I have a table outside on my screened-in porch, where this is my typical view:

I live in Florida, a land of bugs and mosquitos. In addition, our two cats would quickly escape without the enclosure. I’m afraid I’d be too busy taking pictures, daydreaming, or simply admiring nature and not have the introspection required to complete much writing.

I suppose, somehow,  I require the clutter in order to ignore it. Chaos forces me to look inward. If I have too many pretty things to look at, too much beauty, too many shiny objects, I am all about those visuals and external surroundings. 

Writing is an inside job.  At least, that is how it is for me. 

Now, don’t get me wrong.  Aside from my office, I work very hard to keep the rest of my house in order, visually appealing, and calming. (Excluding the garage. That is another post for another. day.) 

It is just my desk that is a bit loosey-goosey. 

My office chair is where I go to think, plan, review, research, and block out absolutely everything else. I am also very skilled at removing the clutter from my line of vision, but only in this room. 

If something is out of place anywhere else in my home,  it transforms into a neon sign. 

At my desk, I can make it all disappear and escape into my thoughts and feelings. 

No magic trick is required—only an overload of color from Post-it notes.  

What does your ideal writing and workspace look like? Is it the place where you work now? If not, how can you make your work area the perfect place to create? 

Please comment below, or even better yet, feel free to tag mine or Maggie’s post.  Write about your “space of creativity” so we can all share and perhaps improve on our writing workspaces this New Year. 

Thanks for reading!

Keep smiling!

xx