DIY Home Office Supplies & Accessories

Velvet Desktop Organizer: Made with an expanding file and antique Victorian photo album (or substitute with a fabric covered album).

DIY Mail Station: A simple shelf is installed in a convenient location (hallway, home office, etc.), then three plywood magazine files are attached (with electric drill and screws).

Desk Chair Makeover: Here’s a step by step tutorial showing how to transform an ordinary office chair with a pretty fabric of your choosing.

Covered Magazine Files: You’ll need decorative scrapbook paper, magazine files and some glue for this project.

Knobs As File Pulls: Here’s a simple trick to help make pulling out files easier using small knobs.

Cereal Box Magazine Holders: Shows you how to cut down boxes then recover them with fabric or paper.

Hanging Notepad: Made with a piece of wood, recycled paper, ribbon or rope, webbing, receipt paper roll and other basic supplies.

Fabric Folder Portfolio: Made with fabric, fusible interfacing and cardboard cut to size. Will hold a 5″ x 8″ pad of paper.

DIY Magazine Holders: Made with a heavy box (from a 12-pack of soda or beer), covered with pretty paper and Mod Podge.

Blinged-Out Clipboards: Using a hot glue gun, assorted crafts gems and costume jewelry.

Polymer Clay Covered Pens: Add a pop of color to ordinary pens with this fun idea.

Notebook Folder: Made with 2 fat quarters, fusible interfacing, batting and a button, includes pattern to print.

Stacked Ikea Mini-Chests Paper Holder: A nice piece of furniture to keep your paper sorted neatly, you’ll needed 3 mini-chests, molding and a few hardware supplies to make this.

Repurposed Shipping Envelopes: Shows you how to break down empty cereal boxes then refold and tape.

Fabric File Folders: A patchwork cover is made with 24 (5″) fabric squares, lined with fabric and interfacing. You’ll also need buttons and thin elastic cord to make this.

French Desk Pencil Cups Set: Tin cans are recovered with fabric, fusible craft fleece, soft leather or ribbon and a button.

Patchwork Clipboard: A standard letter-sized clipboard is covered with paper 6″ x 6″ paper scraps, craft glue, decoupage glue and buttons for embellishment.

Fabric Covered Boxes: Ideal for holding pens and other office supplies, includes a template to download.

Fabric Expanding File: Easy project, make by sewing together 4 placemats.

DIY Padded Envelopes: Made with pages from old books (or wallpaper), bubblewrap and double sided tape.

Desktop Catch-Alls: Using pretty fabric, foam core and a few other items, you can personalize your own desktop organizers to suit your needs and style.

Fabric Covered Boxes: These can be used as desktop catch-alls or in-drawer organizers.

DIY Sturdy Magazine Holders: These are nice and sturdy made from heavier cardboard boxes (complete with rounded edges).

Revamped Magazine Files: Cover plain & boring magazine holders with pretty scrapbook paper and mod podge.

A Thrifty Organizer: Use a wire dish rack to hold pretty file folders, pens, pencils and office supplies.

Pretty Clipboard: Made with a pretty piece of paper (wallpaper, photo, magazine page, book page, etc.), glue and sealed with several coats of Mod Podge.

Stationery Organizer: Made with cardboard from a wine case and fabric, three pocket panels fold together and tied close with ribbon.

Keyboard Wrist Rest: Fabric pieces are sewn together then filled with rice, template download available.

Knit Wrist Pillow: Piece is worked on straight needles, stiffened with plastic mesh canvas or cardboard then filled with stuffing. Free template provided.

Handmade Accordion Folders: Made with file folders, a glue stick, woven fabric, spray adhesive, velcro dots, a button and craft glue.

Rustic Pencil Holder: Made with a small piece of wood cut from a branch or tree base, sand paper and a drill.

Decorative Magazine Racks: Four decorative brackets are attached to a piece of board, you’ll also need picture molding, glue and brad nails.

Paper Patchwork Folder: Made with a plain A4 ringed binder, dividers, manila folder, decorative papers, Mod Podge and a glue stick.

Metal Cabinet Refashion: Hardware is removed, pieces are primed and painted then covered with decorative paper and Mod Podge.

Cross-Stitched: Steel mesh desktop accessories are spray painted then designs cross-stitched with assorted colors of yarn.

Crate Bookshelves: A wooden crate is cut in half, sanded smooth then painted. Attaches to wall with brackets.

Painted: Cut a plain cork tile into desired shape then paint with a foam brush and acrylic paint.

Flower Power: Free pattern to download (pdf) but no instructions, I included it for those who still want to work with it (you’ll find ideas with the other projects listed here).

Scrappy: Scraps of assorted fabric, lightweight fusible web, rickrack trim and other materials are needed for this project. Tutorial is available on web (5 pages).

Circular Pad With Pinked Edges: Two pieces of fabric are cut in a circle then fused to double-sided ultra firm stabilizer.

Quick Fabric Mat: Three pieces of fabric are sewn together to make this pretty mat (one side solid, the other with two complimentary prints).

DIY Mousepad: A piece of craft foam is used for the mat, covered with fabric and spray adhesive (no sew).

Mod Podge & Fabric: Mod Podge is applied to fabric piece then allowed to dry, cut down to size then apply to old pad with another layer of Mod Podge. Finish with clear acrylic sealer.

Fancy Shape Cork: Free template provided if you’d like to make your pad in the same shape, cover cork with fabric and Heat ‘n Bond Ultra.

Easy Makeover: An old mouse pad is recovered with pretty fabric and Heat n’ Bond, edges are trimmed and Fray Check applied to finish (no sewing involved).

Neon Striped: Supplies include leather pieces, paint pens, Washi or masking tape.

Overlapping Circles: Nifty design that’s easy to whip up using a piece of corkboard, an X-acto knife and acrylic paint.