You may not realize it, but your desk says A LOT about you. I’ve always been fascinated by the small details surrounding the way people work. Perhaps what we surround ourselves with says a lot about who we are as people. Offices in particular not only say a lot about the kind of work we do but HOW we do it. We asked three women entrepreneurs we admire about their work environments and to give us a little peek into the way they work. Their responses got us thinking about our own workspace and I thought it would be fun to share an unedited look at my desk in particular. We’ve also given you a handy little way to assess what your own desk says about you and the positive traits associated with your work style!

Lisa Hackwith, Owner & Founder of Hackwith Design House @hackwithdesign

How do you use your space?

Our studio space is used for so many things! We manufacture all of our garments, run all of our operations from here, do all of our packaging and shipping, take all of our photos, host sample sales, and take meetings at our workspace.

What tips and tricks do you have for keeping it functional?

Because we use our workspace for so many different things we have a very open floor plan with lots of movable things like garment racks so we can change the space for our needs. We have two large garment racks made by Marvin Freitas that can also double as our changing rooms when we put on sample sales. We also discovered early on that cleaning our space at the end of everyday helped keep our workspace from getting cluttered thus making it more functional for everyday use.

Anne Sage  @citysage

I’m not at my computer enough to warrant having a dedicated office and desk, so I use my dining room table instead. My job has me wearing so many different hats, and I need my workspace to be a blank slate, ready for whatever my day might bring! Today, for example, I sat at it to answer emails and complete a few administrative tasks, I laid out fabric and flooring samples for an interiors project, I drew storyboard concepts for a video shoot, and I styled a flat lay for Instagram!

What tips and tricks do you have for keeping it functional?

My table is long but also narrow, so that I have plenty of work surface without taking up too much space in my house. I keep office and art supplies compartmentalized in boxes that I store in our spare bedroom, so that I can grab them when I need them and easily clean up when I’m done working. Finally, I chose a light, bright wood surface not only because I knew I’d want to shoot on it, but also because it reflects the light from the nearby window and makes me feel energized even on dreary days!

Jen Biswas @paisleyandsparrow  

How do you use your space?

My space is multifunctional. I use it for working on my computer, planning out content, taking photos and playing with my kids! My office has large windows facing our street so my kids love to hang out in there, especially in the winter!

What tips and tricks do you have for keeping it functional?

Everything should have a place. Organize your drawers so you can easily find pens, post its, stamps, etc. and only have out what you use daily! Same goes for shelves. Use cute containers to keep everything organized! Plants and candles are calming so those are great to have on your desk. A pad of paper or notebook is key to jot down to-do lists, reminders or other thoughts! Lastly, always have things that make you smile around your workspace so it’s a place you like to work!

Kate Arends, Founder of Wit & Delight @witanddelight_

How do you use your space?

I use my studio for everything under the sun and no two days are usually the same for me. Some days I tuck myself away in my office to write or design all day, other days I’m in meetings from 9-5 discussing finances or strategy, while on special alternative days I am on set art directing with our W&D Creative team or working behind the camera.

What tips and tricks do you have for keeping it functional?

I like to keep organized chaos. I’ll go about 10 weeks with stacks of papers and piles of sketches that eventually get filed away to their proper home. I feel a lot more comfortable with all my work scattered about! My tip would be to make your workspace be a reflection of your true self. Don’t apologize if you’re a bit disorganized.

 So, what does your desk say about you? Here are five different types of desks and what each one reveals about the person who works there.

The Hermit

Working Style: You are an independent introvert by nature and you get your best work done alone. Whether you are at home or tucked away in the back part of your office you prefer a quiet space with no interruptions to nestle into.

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The Clutterer

Working Style: You are creative and you love collecting images and knowledge to save for later. You could say you work best in organized chaos and people tend to call you a lifelong learner. Your desk may be spread from here to Timbuktu but you always know where everything is.

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The Minimalist

Working Style: You are a neat freak by nature and you definitely don’t like clutter. Your life motto is: a clean desk = a clear mind! You work best in organized environments with a detailed to-do list in hand. Your favorite book is: The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up.

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The Expander

Working Style: You thrive in working environments where no two days are the same. You love to travel and change your desk around frequently. You enjoy changes in scenery because it gives you that fresh new perspective and mindsight you’ve been yearning for.

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The Personalizer

Working Style: You like to cover your desk in framed photos of your loved ones, post-its filled with your favorite life mantras and little self-affirmation cards to keep you going throughout the workday. In general, you’re a passionate, loving, grounded and nostalgic person that likes to add your personal touch to everything that you do.

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We would love to see how you work! Submit via Instagram by tagging an image of your workspace @witanddelight_ and using the hashtag #HowIWork. We will be selecting one lovely workspace winner to feature on our Instagram the week of August 13th!

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