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My home office makeover is the most exciting project I've tackled since installing pasted wallpaper over tiles. I'm waking up early, going to bed late, spending hours organizing and labeling every inch of this room. And can you blame me?

I mean, look at the plans the design specialist, Colleen, dreamed up!

She combined her extensive knowledge of the best Container Store products with my inspiration images and measurements to maximize very inch of the room. And I cannot believe how well it turned out.

I’ve never done a project like this before and throughout the entire process I had a lot of questions. Thankfully, The Container Store team was incredibly helpful, both in store and over email, so I’ve gathered a lot of tips, tricks and answers to questions you guys asked on Instagram. So let's get into it!

Is Elfa renter-friendly?

No. Yes. Kinda!

Elfa is hung using these easy-hang-top racks. You (or an installer) need to drill directly into a stud or use anchors, and those require a pretty big holes. You’ll need a lot of them to help distribute the weight evenly, for example in the 3 ft. section (shown below), Steven drilled 7 holes. And would go on to drill about 30 more for the entire room.

So, if you have a super strict, no paint/no holes kind of landlord, opt for the freestanding Elfa options instead. You can also use the over-the-door utility shelves, which made a huge difference in maximizing space in my narrow bedroom closet.

But, landlords everywhere should breathe a sigh of relief, because Elfa can be fully removed. In fact, The Container Store offers a takedown service where they will come to remove the system, bundle it up, and patch and paint the holes for an additional fee. No muss, no fuss!

That said, Elfa is an investment, so make sure you get permission to make changes to your rental.

How much did this all cost?

As a Container Store ambassador, my installation was gifted by the brand. Thank you! 🖤

The total cost of product was $3,400.39 and the installation came to $1,437.60. In total, $4,903.86.

I ordered during the 25% off Elfa sale, which saved me a little over $1,000. The sale ends on August 7, 2023, order quickly!

Do I Have To Spend That Much?

Absolutely NOT!

On Wall F, I upgraded to Elfa Décor Birch shelves instead of the Elfa Ventilated shelves because I was inspired by this 500-square foot apartment in NYC. The ventilated wire shelves are $22 - $40, depending on size, while the décor shelves are $66 - $136/per shelf.

This upgrade had the biggest impact on the budget, but it looks soo soo good. This room needs to be functional, obviously, but I also want it to be beautiful and this change, while expensive, was necessary.

Another thing to keep in mind, is the size of my project. Steven, the installer, called it a 'big job", since it took about 9 hours from start to finish. This was the only job he had for the day, while on a normal day he could visit 2-3 customers.

You’ll save a lot of money, by doing a smaller area of your home. Which, brings me to #1 questions I received….

Can I Install Elfa Myself?

Totally! I went for the pro install because my birthday and a visit from family were all happening in the same week, and I knew I wouldn’t want to add an extra thing to my plate.

However, this is an intermediate and above DIY project. You’ll need a level, impact driver (or hammer drill) with a 3/8” drill bit for the anchors, and a jigsaw, if you need to cut the top racks or shelves.

The Container Store, to their credit, does provide in-depth videos and written instructions to ensure a smooth install.

You can also call their Customer Service line at 1-800-317-9499, available Monday through Saturday, 8 AM – 8 PM and Sunday, 9 AM – 6 PM (Central Time). Click here for additional support options.

I don’t have drywall. Can I still use Elfa?

I was concerned about this too, as my walls are plaster with some brick behind it. As you can see, my install went perfectly! The drywall and plaster anchors provided are heavy duty and are doing a great job of keeping my system up.

There are ‘some’ walls that Elfa cannot go on and you might not find that out until install day, unfortunately. Steven told me about a person who’s support beams were turned the wrong way and unevenly spaced, so he couldn’t put the system up as planned. They had to make a few adjustments, but the client was happy in the end.

If you’re unsure about drilling into your walls, add on the pro install service.

Can I change it up?

Yes, Elfa is designed to be built upon. The parts are sold individually, and The Container Store has a 120-day return policy, so they want you to make changes as your organization needs evolve.

Steven clued me into several ways I could add to my system… So, expect a few updates in a couple of weeks. 👀

How does the process work?

There are a few different ways...

I worked with a Design Specialist to virtually develop the plans for my home office.

To start, Colleen, my designer, sent me this measurement form, and I sent back these marked-up photos.

We met over Zoom, where I shared my plans for the room and my list of must haves. From there she created a preliminary design and we emailed back and forth for a few weeks until we were both happy with the designs. We had another call to go over everything then the order was placed and next thing to do was paint the office and wait for everything to be ready for pickup.

Design consultations are free and can be done in-store, virtually or in your home. I recommend using this service even if you’re a crafty DIYer. These designers are a wealth of knowledge and inspiration you should utilize to the fullest.

The second way I recommend is buying one of the pre-designed Elfa spaces. These sets are available for every room, at different sizes and color ways. All you would need to do is measure your space to ensure what you buy can fit, since everything comes in a set.

Shop Pre-Designed Elfa Spaces

The only way I DO NOT recommend getting Elfa is willy nilly ordering pieces without understand how the parts work together. It is very easy to order the wrong size shelf or forget about finishing details, like standard covers, bracket covers, and top racks.

Don’t go in blind, schedule a call with a designer. It’s 100% FREE!

How long did this whole thing take?

My first meeting with Colleen was on June 13, 2023, the order was placed on July 10th and the installation was on July 27th. I’m still refining and styling, but in all the process took about a month and a half.

Elfa has a 2 week lead time pending product and installer availability.

Is Elfa The Only Option?

Nope! The Container Store has four offerings in the custom space program; Elfa, Elfa Décor, Avera, and Preston. My space is a combination of Elfa and Elfa Décor.

Preston and Avera are the more high-end offerings and are priced as such. In those tiers, you can have details like LED lighting, glass shelves, and built-in, or built-in looking, storage depending on which line choose.

There are many ways to work with The Container Store to maximize storage and organization in your home. You can shop my favorite products to make quick & easy change done in a weekend or you invest a few months and a couple hundred (to thousands) of dollars in a more permanent solution.

I’ve been puttering around in the home office for a little over a week and it’s already had a marked improvement in my life. Everything has a home, making it easier to keep the place clean and I've never felt so organized…

xoxo,

Imani