A friend recently told me that January is a month of perseverance. Honestly, I couldn't agree more!

It's a month you just try and get through. Recovering from the holidays, making resolutions and being trapped indoors makes us all a little stir crazy at this time of year.

So this is a time I channel those negative energies into something positive and devote myself to cleaning up my work space and making it better organized and visually appealing. Basically, turning it into a place that I actually want to spend time working in.

There are a bunch of websites out there offering ideas and tips on how to effectively transform regular spaces into highly functional work spaces. Here are a few of my favorites!

TheOfficeStylist.com: She shows a lot of before-and-afters for great inspiration!

Another favorite is from The New York Times. Her article shows you how creative those New Yorkers can get with their lack of space in the big city: little nooks in closets can become small computer work stations, even a small section of a kitchen can be transformed into a convenient work space, or an elegant work sanctuary tucked in the corner of a bedroom!

And for you creative types (like me) who like things slightly different, the websites ShareSomeCandy.com and WhereWomenCreate.com offer a peek into the home studios of real artists for inspiration.

Honestly, it doesn't take much to carve out your own creative space. Just start with the basics like a nice desk. No need for it to be expensive, you can look to your local recycle reuse place, such as Habitat for Humanity of Huron Valley's ReStore, and find an old metal work desk. Find a local painter that can give it a nice coat of paint in high gloss enamel, or try powder-coating in any shade of paint you like, turning that old metal desk into something super modern and highly functional.

Or maybe the heavy office desk isn't your thing. How about a piece of glass positioned over two white filing cabinets? Now add a statement piece to the top like a unique lamp with a barrel shade, and you have the start of something wonderfully simple, but stylish.

Investing in good lighting and organizational containers is a must. You can either go high-end or recycled, while still maintaining style. I like to use glass jars with lids on them — it allows me to see my supplies up front, and I find it visually appealing, especially when the jars are all in the same style and lined up in a row.

Or how about using regular household items in different ways? I used vintage pyrex bowls and thought they turned a utilitarian kitchen object into some really cool storage displays.

I also found these containers made out of odd-shaped vintage canning jars to be equally great and inexpensive!

In fact mixing the vintage with the modern is one of my great loves. How about pairing an old lucite chair with a wooden desk? Or a simple Ikea plywood stool with a farmhouse table?

Trying something different can have some surprisingly wonderful results. So check out your local flea markets, recycling places, furniture stores, or Ikea for some great foundation pieces, then go from there! You will be surprised at how effective and productive you can be in a work space that makes you happy, and truly how little space it takes to create one!

Catherine Thursby is the owner of Red Shoes, a home goods store in downtown Ann Arbor, and can be reached by email.