How To: Decorate a Writing Studio

Modern-Shed customers use their spaces for a variety of reasons, chief among which is the desire to work in solitude.

That’s what makes Modern-Shed the perfect office for writers, who often work from home alone.

Writers need inspiration, however, and that can come into play with how they decorate their space. Here are ways some of our customers have livened up their Modern-Shed writing studios and ideas for how you might do the same.

First, start with a quality desk, like the one Kristen Hall-Geisler, a freelance writer in Portland, Ore., uses in her Modern-Shed. One option is the Dawson Large Desk from Pottery Barn (hey, we can dream), which features one wide desk drawer, two side drawers and two large file drawers, perfect for storing all of a writer’s notes.

Target and Ikea offer more affordable options, and we also like the Landon Computer Desk in Dark Cherry featured on Houzz.

Kristen decorated her Modern-Shed with inspirational quotes and a sturdy hardwood desk.
Kristen decorated her Modern-Shed with inspirational quotes and a sturdy hardwood desk.

A desk isn’t complete without desk organizers, like pencil holders and bookends. We love these fun options from ModCloth. Who wouldn’t be into a Memo-saurus desk organizer and an otter tape dispenser?

As you’ll notice, Kristen also decorated her Modern-Shed writing studio with inspirational wall quotes.

WallsThatTalk specializes in custom indoor wall lettering and graphics. Other companies offer similar products, but we like how well-reviewed the Sedona, Ariz.-based company is on Etsy.

Now, let’s talk seating, and not just desk chairs, which are highly important (We like the extremely well-reviewed Staples Turcotte Luxura High Back Managers Chair). Both Kristen and Modern-Shed customer Erin Evans, a fantasy writer who works at home in Redmond, have added comfy seating options for them and their loved ones in their writing studios.

Idris, 2, enjoys visiting his parents' Modern-Shed.
Idris, 2, enjoys visiting his parents’ Modern-Shed.

Erin’s son Idris loves her striped yellow and white ottoman pouf, which adds a pop of color to her shed. Pier 101 has a variety of brightly-colored offerings, including the Mellow Out Bean Bag Ottoman in Scatter Daisy.

Kristen, meanwhile, added a vintage armchair to her space and brightened the walls with a panel of green paint, inspired by the leaves of irises. We’d recommend checking out your local vintage shops for armchairs (or your parents/grandparents’ basement), but One Kings Lane is a flash sale site that offers great deals on vintage furniture.

This Modern-Shed client chose this pop of green inside her shed to represent the leaves of her favorite flower.
This Modern-Shed client chose this pop of green inside her shed to represent the leaves of her favorite flower.

 

What’s a writer without her books? Ikea sells functional and stylish book shelves, like the Hemnes.

Kristen also  keeps organized with whiteboards and markers, like these simple options from Staples.

Kristen's book
Kristen’s book, Takes a Wheel: A Woman’s Guide to Buing a Car Her Own Damn Self, is on sale at Amazon.

For inspiration from other writers, check out our gallery with more pictures various sheds and let us know how you like to decorate your Modern-Shed!

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