This month, we take a tour of our brand new An Organised Life HQ in Sydney!

Go inside our functional yet inspiring space & hear the story of how our Founder & Creative Director, Beck Wadworth started An Organised Life. We also chatted to Beck about her top tips for staying organised, her go-to brands for the office & asked her about what is to come over the next 12 months.

Name: Beck Wadworth

Occupation: Founder & Creative Director of An Organised Life

First things first, how did it all begin & what was that light bulb moment when you decided to start An Organised Life?

I always relied on a diary year after year to write down my important dates, lists & goals. When I moved to Sydney in my early 20's (after studying an honours degree in Graphic Design) I went to purchase a diary, however I couldn’t find one that was functional yet had an element of style to compliment my monochrome & minimalistic aesthetic. I realised there was a gap in the market and this was when An Organised Life was born. A few weeks later, I designed my first diary, found a printer & bookbinder, produced just 300 diaries & started on my marketing & PR plan. They sold out in 3 weeks & there was no turning back after that!

What have the highlights & challenges been to date?

Each year has brought different challenges as we have grown. When I first started out, it was the challenge of the unknown, working full time & that everything was a 'first', now we are facing challenges of how to manage the growth in a strategic and structured manner.

I started An Organised Life with the intention of moving slow & steady. I was always in it for the long game & I identified my strengths & weaknesses early on. I wanted to harness my strength & outsource or improve my weakness & I knew this would take time & come with challenges. I set myself short & long term goals & focused on this. Every single business owners story is different & I think it's important to focus on your own goals, direction & purpose.  

For example, I originally thought working on AOL as a side hustle was a negative & a challenge, but quickly realised that my day-time job was teaching me an array of skills that were also beneficial to my own business as it grew too. Always look at the positives, work hard & be patient. 

In terms of the rewards, there have been so so many. Firstly, I still pinch myself that I get to do something I love so much every single day as my full time job, and that I get to see & meet my customers who love the products we make. My goal is always to create with function & style in mind & to organise busy lives - to see this in real life is pretty incredible.

Secondly I have had the opportunity to collaborate with some pretty incredible brands including Net-A-Porter, Karen Walker, Lexus, Air New Zealand, AJE, Elissa Barber, + many more. And thirdly, it’s been so rewarding seeing my small but mighty brand & team grow.

After sharing offices with like-minded brands, you've recently moved into your first solo An Organised Life HQ! A big milestone for the brand. Describe your interiors style…

My interior style is definitely minimal & timeless. I love adding interest through textures & tonal pieces. I also favour pieces that are functional & serve a purpose in the space.

For the new AOL HQ, I really wanted the space to be motivating & inspiring but functional for the team. I had so much fun dreaming up the space from NZ & organising everything. The office is an extension of my home & signature interior style.  I sent the team multiple mood boards & drawings of my vision & they implemented it perfectly when the pieces arrived.  

What are your favourite pieces in the space?

Where do I start!

I love our beautiful desks from Totem Road - the hidden draw is so perfect for housing everything needed for our monogramming service. Our oak table in the centre of the room is also from Totem Road & acts as both a break out area for the team when they're working, a meeting table + a dining table. 

Our Nodi jute rug adds the perfect amount of warmth, depth & texture to the space creating a nice, calming atmosphere. 

Of course, the coffee table from En Gold is one of my favourite pieces. It's such a beautiful statement piece. 

Artwork wise - I'm obsessed with the pieces from White on Walls, Studio Struttura & The Poster Club.

And for the little details I favoured some of my favourite Australian & NZ brands including Fourth Street Home, Marloe Marloe, & Maison Balzac.

What are the top ways you organise your life?

01. Prioritise, prioritise, prioritise.  

02. Utilise To-Do Lists & a Diary to your advantage to manage your workload & schedule daily. I always write my master to-do list the evening before to get prepped & prepared mentally for the following day - setting direction & purpose.

03. Always look ahead. Being proactive rather than reactive.

04. Set goals - personal, professional & financial. Create an action plan & small monthly tasks that help you get towards your big goals so that you ensure you tick then off. 

05. Pick 1 day each week that you set aside 30 minutes or so to organise the small things. Meal Planning, Grocery List (I'm a fan of ordering online), Outfits for the week, Fitness Schedule, etc, etc. 

06. Learn to say no - your time is precious - don't over commit. 

07. Overestimate rather than underestimate. Allow more time to complete projects or tasks rather than too little time. Having a buffer is key. Life can be unpredictable! 

What are your must-have desk essentials?

1. A Diary - I favour a Daily Planner

2. A Lined Notebook + pen

3. My laptop

4. A water carafe & glass

5. Speaker for playing music

6. My favourite candle 

What are your goals for the next 12 months / what are you most looking forward to?

I'm so excited for the next 12 months personally & professionally. On the An Organised Life front we have an amazing new artist collaboration launching in July 2021 & our 2022 Collection that launches in mid August has some beautiful new additions - I can't wait to show you!

Personally, I'm focusing heavily on balance. Spreading my time evenly between loved ones + friends, health & wellbeing, self-time & development + my career. It's a tricky one to balance, but in the last 12 months I've noticed a big difference. I'm also excited to be able to get back to Sydney more frequently to see my amazing team & Sydney friends! 15 months apart due to Covid-19 was far too long! 

Photography by Ana Suntay-Tañedo

Follow Beck Wadworth HERE & An Organised Life HERE. Shop Beck's fave Notebook.

Furniture Credits

Dining Table & Desks from Totem Road { gifted }, Jute Rug from Nodi { gifted }, Coffee Table from En Gold, Ceramic Vases from Marloe Marloe { gifted }, Dining Chair & Desk Chairs from Freedom Furniture, Artwork from Studio Struttura { gifted } & White on Walls, Posters from The Poster Club { gifted }, Candles & Glassware from Maison Balzac { gifted }, Flowers from POHO Flowers, Custom curtains from Draperly, Couch & Mirror from James Lane, InPRINT Magazines from Fourth Street Home.