For years, my husband Mark has worked from home full time, with me bringing work home a day or two throughout the week. Our shared worktable in the living room has always been sufficient and, for the most part, tidy. That is, until the coronavirus sent me home to work and take over my side of the space full time. I’m sure I’m not alone and that many people are struggling right now to keep infrequently-used or newly-appointed workspaces in order.
From our days as freelancers, Mark and I already knew we worked well together, and there isn’t an issue with space. The table is built for two or even four occupants. We were all set, until we quickly realized the lack of storage and organizational tools.
Since the table is in the living room and the work area is designed to blend with that area, we’ve always aspired to keep paperwork and equipment minimal. Mark’s digital marketing business is nearly paperless, with the scant few important hardcopy documents housed in an accordion binder tucked away in a closet. He has a notebook that, historically, has lived on top of his laptop and sometimes has a reference book laid to the side. That makes two laptops, one notebook, maybe a book and a decorative vase. This isn’t messy, and I can live with it. Unfortunately, now a stuffed file folder, to-do list notepad and a stack of the most recent issues of the magazines I oversee are added into the mix. By week four of sheltering in place the piles were getting to me.
In an effort to avoid non-essential shopping, I sought solutions around the house. Like a lot of people, we have a surplus of shopping bags, totes and totes turned shopping bags. I grabbed two attractive options and stuffed his stack in one and mine in the other. His is conveniently located on a closet doorknob directly behind his chair. My side of the table is bereft of a spot to hang or place any items and our chairs have curved backs, which aren’t conducive to hanging items, so I decided that the easiest solution would be to attach a hook to the wall. After scouring the usual storage spots for an extra hook, I came up empty handed.
In a moment of inspiration (or perhaps desperation), the champagne cork idea popped into my head. As a member of The Merry Antoinettes Mardi Gras marching krewe, I collect champagne corks for throw crafting. They are the perfect shape and size to work as a knob or hook. Within 20 minutes, I had a wall hanger and reclaimed the surface of my table.
If you’d like to make one, here’s how I did it.
Champagne Cork Wall Hanger
Tools and Materials
- Power drill
- 1/8-inch drill bit
- Nail or screw (I used a 2-1/2-inch box nail, but it depends on the walls in your home)
- Champagne cork
- Gorilla Glue (not pictured)
[gtx_gallery]
Directions
- Put on safety goggles or glasses.
- Place cork in a vice or some other stabilizer. (I did not do this, but I don’t advise you doing it freehand the way I did.)
- Drill a hole in the cork.
- Place nail headfirst into cork. (Not pointed tip first.)
- Squeeze glue into the hole to help stabilize the nail.
- Hammer, push or screw the cork with nail or screw into the wall. You may want to start a hole with a hammer and nail or screw or with your drill. Again, this depends on if your walls are plaster, paneling or dry wall and if there are studs where you are placing the hook. The weight of the object(s) you plan to hang on the hook will also have to be taken into consideration. Depending on the walls in your home and the weight of what you plan to hang, it may be necessary to use wall anchors, so do your research ahead of time and employ the best method.
- Hang item and admire your handywork.
Is there a home or style topic you’d like to see us cover on the Bon Vivant blog? Leave it in comments or email melanie@myneworleans.com.