I’m writing this month’s column during our second snowstorm in a matter of weeks — only this time, instead of eating take out Chinese food and watching “Kill Bill” with my partner, I’m nestled away in my office at the Library. I hope everyone has stayed warm and safe during these blasts of winter weather, and is looking forward to the warm temperatures ahead of us. I, for one, am ready for patio season. 
It’s that time of the year where we look inward and around our spaces and begin that “spring cleaning” ritual. If you’re anything like me, your home office is a “catch-all” room where wrapping paper from the holidays, tax forms, gifted books and other odds and ends are collected during the winter. I’ll add in the pile of sprinkles I spilled on my reading chair I’ve yet to clean up — I promise the rest of my house is well-kept.
I encourage you to take some time in the coming weeks to refresh and reorganize your workspaces at home or in the office. Get rid of the excess papers and receipts. Restock your pencil jar with your favorite writing utensils. Grab some bins from Target to organize your invoices and bills. Grab some trinkets and plants that make you happy, and don’t forget to light a candle or plug in a Scentsy warmer to make the room smell nice. And while you’re at it, invest in a new cozy blanket for those evening reading sessions with the window open — after all, you’ve earned it.
Making my space cozy and inviting helps me focus. It doesn’t have to be the prettiest – find items that work for you. My “aesthetic” for my home office is cluttered. I say that in the nicest way possible. I love a home office that has piles of books scattered about, my favorite Playbills hanging in frames on the wall, and trinkets I’ve collected throughout the years. My grandfather’s desk was always cluttered with papers and stress balls and sticky notes and pieces of pipe tobacco scattered about — I love that. I miss that smell. I miss that visual. I’m not taking up smoking pipes anytime soon, but little memories strung about on my desk at home make me nostalgic.
One of my favorite things about people is discovering what sparks their creativity, and I feel like a lot of that comes from the environment in which you create. Happy decorating!
– Sean Jones, WPC president