Since taking some time off after having Brooke, I’ve been giving more attention to our home and how we can make best use of our space. This awkward little nook in the hallway was begging for a smart solution.

Since the children’s bedrooms are upstairs I decided to make this hallway function for everyone by creating a little homework station. I’ve since coined it as our “center of intelligence” because you can do just about anything in this space.

Here’s a quick breakdown of how we made the hallway function for the way we live:

1. Wall folders help to keep clutter away from the desk top. I found these at HomeGoods and have also seen them at places like Hobby Lobby!

2. Our kids love art, so we proudly display their masterpieces on the wall with lightweight frames using command strips. I love that the command strips gives us the flexibility to switch up the look of the “art gallery” without putting nails in the wall.

3. I found this colorful WallPops dry erase map while shopping at the Home Depot. Plotting our next roadtrip just got more educational and fun.

4. The hallway is pretty dim without this classic desk lamp also purchased from Home Depot. I considered a wall lamp instead, but my goal was to also simply use what we already had.

5. This salsa red desk makes such a statement in the hall. Purchased from Target, it has three operable drawers where we keep drawing paper, glue sticks, and kid scissors.

6. Also from Target, the tray top ottoman doubles as seating AND a clever way to add more toys storage!

If you recall, the kids used to share a space with me in my home office. My husband recently made the transition to entrepreneurship and so the kids pretty much got the boot. However, they are thrilled to have a place to call their own in the hall upstairs. Want to see how my old office functioned for both me and the kids, then check out the Fall/Winter 2014 Issue of Storage Magazine!

The feature is a four-page spread with big photos and some great takeaways for you to try in your home! Pick it up and let me know what you think!