Is it essential that they be on display? Are you constantly reaching for them? If not, I suggest buying a couple of comic book boxes at your local comic book store--they make a wider size box for larger format magazines like the old Life Magazine--and just stick them in a closet or under the bed. I can't imagine an attractive solution that leaves them all on display. I have a friend who is very proud of his National Geographic collection--and to his credit, they look as good as possible, all lined up neatly in a bookcase. But to me, they just look like dust-accumulating clutter.

The problem with dressing up well organized documents (or magazines) is the chaos you will create for yourself. I look at it this way, if it’s for WORK then you’ll want it to function as efficiently as possible to reduce the amount of time and effort you spend on each project.

If you can’t work efficiently, you won’t work well… you’ll earn less $$$ and you won’t have cash for anything else.

Better leave things as they are and drown your sorrows with a little shopping. ;)

PS: How about introducing colours if you can’t change the layout or hide the whole lot?

What if you stood those up (so the magazine slots were on top) and painted the boxes a bice bright color or did a mural (if you're artistically inclined, which it sounds like you may be)?

I agree with Pete about making sure you can work efficiently - that's key. But some color there is very very necessary.

Other ideas to dress up the current status: hang a fabric in front (like a curtain), paint the slots different colors inside or maybe some plants on top of the boxes to bring in some natural green.

Why not put them in file cabinets that you like, or put the organizer in a closet if you have the space, or out of sight in some other way, but maybe with "tickler" reminders that you have to do something with them? They seem to be basically reference materials. I love David Allen's book and system Getting Things Done. One of my big takeaways from that is that most of the stuff in my workspace is either passive or active reference. I have a tendency to want to keep these materials visible so I don't forget it or what I have to do with it, but it's self defeating because it tends to pile up and get all cluttered. A better way for me is to have clear surfaces and not have to look at this stuff except when I need it. That said, I am at the end of my current work project and need to overhaul the paper piles in my work area and get back into implementing my own suggestion...

Hope some of this makes sense!

Actually, I like your current solution. I have the same problem/need and am also frankly envious of the space you have for an effective system.

I think the real problem here isn't the system. I think the problem is that you're tired of looking at it. The white is not, shall we say, exciting. Just change the color of storage units -- paint them, paper them, drape a obi or runner over the top....

Wasnt there a nice post in recent days about someone who's apartment had lots of nice art standing up on tables? A few nice framed pics, small plants, whatever little things will make you smile when you reach in that direction....

If you have soem pretty linens or fancy scarves that are stacked in a closet waiting for special visitors, maybe use them as a runner?

Agree with everyone else that its a v. efficient and sleek system you have......

I also look for opportunities to go electronic when possible and then get rid of the paper. I don't know if that would work in your situation, but a lot of magazines have issues online and there's also Zinio, which has magazines online:
http://www.zinio.com
OK, I'm sure I just answered a question you didn't even ask...

Ah, the recent post was on AT-LA, click my name to see it.

Although ugly, I too like that style of paper organizer. My sorting tends to be in piles, but I only do it if it's easily accessible; I depend a lot on file cabinets and paper trays. I'd recommend against the vases just because it isn't as efficient as your current system.

How about a bunch of magazine file boxes (click on my name for a link to Ikea ones)? It'll take up approximately the same amount of room, but IMO it'll look less bland than the plastic rack that you currently have.

I think the problem is that the organizer is echoing the blinds in a not-good way. Some colourful fabric curtains might introduce a nice vertical element in a different texture, then your window treatment won't be competing. Also, I would consider wooden IKEA magazine holders, neatly labelled with backs showing, instead for less visual clutter.

How abou little doors that pull up or sidways when you want to move stuff in and out of the cubbies?

I think the biggest problem here is that all the stuff is an eyesore, but just putting a cabinet door type thing on eahc paper stacker would make a big difference.

If you want something that doesn't require power tools, you could tack little cloth 'curtains' over each.

Maybe some organizers from See Jane Work:
http://www.seejanework.com/index.asp

Their feature of Desk Of The Month gives some great inspiration.

I agree that simply adding color will make a big difference.

The other problem may be that your magazines are outside of your organizer, making it look cluttery. Is your organizer adequate for the amount of material you have? Is it really working if you're stacking things in front and on top? Maybe your organizer isn't matching your style.

Why not put the whole system on a book shelf and put it behind a curtain? That's what I've done with with my literature sorter, which I use for all my filing. I used one of Ikea's deep shelf Ivar units, set the shelves to suit the height of sorters (7 slots high), and then covered it with curtains. I also keep my computer, printer, fax, etc. in this unit, keeping all the ugly tech stuff behind curtains when I'm not working.

I just purchased these great looking organizers for my magazines at work:

http://www.velocityartanddesign.com/rh_collator.html

Might not be as efficient, but certainly better looking.

I too, think it's a nice solution. But since you hate it, maybe try a: painting them a pretty green or other soothing or vibrant color, b: replacing those sorters with clear lucite ones so they don't hog so much visual space? I also agree with whoever said the blinds may well be contributing to the problem. A soft curtain might go miles toward a fix.

craig--thanks for posting that - I may get that for work.

OK, enough of my suggestions - my work area looks like a toxic waste dump. Denise, your system is much better than mine. But, hey, I'm working on it (or about to)!

it's a little utilitarian - but I keep all of mine in a plain colator from staples (http://www.staples.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/StaplesProductDisplay?prodCatType=1&storeId=10001&catalogId=10051&langId=-1&productId=88589&cmArea=SEARCH)

How about using these magazine files from The Container Store? You can even color-code them by type or name -- enhancing your home office with both color and function.

http://www.containerstore.com/browse/index.jhtml?CATID=74548&howMany=999&viewAll=true

If anything I would add another one to take the clutter away from the top and shelf it stands on. You have a great system there. Your pot idea (if I am understanding it correctly) would make the magazines roll up and there is nothing more annoying than trying to read a curled up magazine.

Why not go the Carrie (from Sex and the City) way? It's elegant how she has all her magazines organized into gropus on her shelves (presumably by title and year of publication). The labels on the magazine storage boxes can be used to create a 'filing' system.

I also like how this hides all the bookmarks and post-its that an avid reader is bound to use!

Why not go the Carrie (from Sex and the City) way? It's elegant how she has all her magazines organized into gropus on her shelves (presumably by title and year of publication). The labels on the magazine storage boxes can be used to create a 'filing' system.

I also like how this hides all the bookmarks and post-its that an avid reader is bound to use!

Click my name for a link to a pic.

I also think you have a great system, especially in that it fits well against the windows. It's neat and streamlined and monochromatically soothing.

I suggest glass blocks to go in front of each four-shelf section. You have room in front of each to slide them around for access.

I have a variation of this in much smaller scale than what you're dealing with, and it works really well. The blocks cover what's behind them, and I just slide them out of the way when I need access. The blocks add some play of light as well.

For color, you could add a runner on the top.

i just saw a japanese tonsu chest that had small shelving inside small sliding doors. i thought about getting it for myself to sort out my papers. i like these chests as they are modular and have lots of cubbyholes for document storage. the right piece in right configuration may be a challenge to find though.

I have two suggestions. Google "file ladder". This isn't good for a lot of magazines in EACH file, but it's better looking than what you have there, and you can use pretty colored folders rather than the army green kind.

Second suggestion is the expanding file sorter. I have used this with clients for storing magazines and it works well plus is attractive. You might have to get two of them, but again, they look way better than the solution you have there. Good luck!
~Monica

I like the grey archival file boxes from Container Store--I use them to keep the publications I used to work on in. You can stack them in a closet or shelve them. I have also used the plastic boxes they sell in solid colors (I got white)...you can label each with the publication title.

What a fabulous bunch of suggestions! I just knew you would solve this problem for me. Many, many thanks!

I have taken another photo so you can see the difference your suggestions made.

Ksenia, you are so right about the unsettling way the compartments echoed the window blinds. I hadn't realized that was part of the problem.

Martha, you are a genius for suggesting I stand the sorters up so the magazine slots are on top. This immediately reduced eliminated the disturbing visual clutter, while maintaining the efficiency of the horizontal system (she nods in Maxwell's direction).

Pixie, I also follow GTD and I definitely work better with clear surfaces so this solution is wonderful in that regard. And by eliminating the horizontal surfaces---no more place to form piles!---I am now forced to cull my research pubs more frequently.

Claire, I have ordered some colorful pansies to set in front of the upright sorters. They'll make me smile when I look in that direction---which is constantly because it's in view from my desk chair. And the flowers give me the garden look I was thinking about. Here are the potted pansies I ordered: http://www.petals.com/shopping/product/detailmain.jsp?itemID=1740&itemType=PRODUCT&iProductID=1740

Denise, will you be posting the photo of how you changed it? Can't wait to see it.

Pixie, I emailed the after photo to Maxwell this morning, hoping he would be able to post it here. If there's a way that I can post it myself, I would be glad to do so. Do you know how that is done?

Denise,
Yes, put it on Flickr, then put the link to that page in the URL box below your email address when posting on this page. A Flickr account is free and pretty easy to set up. I think you just have to give open access so we can all view it. There's also an AT Flickr page, I think, but I haven't used it, so can't direct you.

Pixie, thanks for the directions. I set it up in Flickr. Let's see if I did it correctly!

Denise, wow, what a simple and effective solution!

Wow! I totally didn't see the one you had on the side, and thought "this looks worse," because i saw the one on the right! Great solution! AND, low cost!!!

Dear Denise:

I imagine you have already decided on your solution and that you are happy with it. Should it work less well in the future, I have a nice suggestion.

1. Get a way to do legal-sized filing. You could use a cabinet, but you can also use file boxes (and decorate the outsides), or even just a metal frame for legal-sized filing.

2. Buy Pendaflex legal-sized expandable files. (These are not flat; their bottoms make them into a sort of box with an opening at the top.) Pendaflex files come in all sorts of wonderful colors.

3. File your magazines. The colors will help you sort, as will the identification tags.

IMHO, this solution will allow you to access the magazines when you need them without having to look at them.

BTW: My filing system is based on this. I have a foot locker into the which I put a couple of copier paper boxes I got from the office, and I have all our documents, tax returns, etc. filed inside the boxes inside the footlocker. Out of sight but still accessible. The footlocker is also used as a bench.