It’s been a while since I shared any updates from my office, which is ironic because it’s the room I spend the most time in every day. I often daydream about new ideas for this space when I should be working — perhaps daydreaming counts as part of my job? Among the projects I have underway around the house (and the ones I’m still mulling over), the office is my top priority right now. This year I’ll be growing and expanding my business in new ways, so I want the room to feel fresh and ready for those changes. I’ll share more on that soon.
My office is small, about 11 x 11, and while I wish it were larger, I enjoy the creative challenge of making the most of the space I have. If budget weren’t a concern I’d install built-ins and wood floors, but for now I’ve focused on affordable, easy updates that increase functionality and refresh the room for the creative work ahead.
I’m excited to share a few office updates today and more to come over the next few months.
The rest of our main floor has hardwood, but my office still had dark brown wall-to-wall carpet with a lighter vine pattern. It felt heavy, so I usually layered a rug on top to brighten the room. While some prefer a neutral setup for creating, I find pattern and color energizing. Since I’m keeping my Anthro curtains here, I decided a stripe would be fun.
I found the perfect wide-striped, durable indoor-outdoor rug at Lulu & Georgia and they kindly sent it to me. It covers almost the entire floor, so the brown carpet underneath fades from view.
I love the rug — it makes me smile every time I enter the room, and a smile when you walk into your office is always a good thing. You might remember that I also purchased my round wood mirror through Lulu & Georgia; they have a lot of great pieces.
Before the holidays last year one of our old laptops died, so we had to get a new computer. Tired of my tiny 13-inch screen, I decided to go big and invested in a 27″ Mac desktop. I worried I might not like using a desktop after years of laptops, but it’s been fantastic. The large screen is glorious, and having a dedicated desktop makes me feel more productive and organized — I actually have to go to my desk to work each morning.
Note: I list some of my blogging, camera, and office equipment in my online shop if you ever wonder what I use or see in a photo.
As one update led to another, spending more time at my desk made me want a more comfortable chair. My quirky swan chair needs a new seat, so I stopped using it for a while. I briefly used a yellow metal chair for its color, but it wasn’t comfortable for long periods. My daughter found a tufted nailhead chair at Restoration Hardware that needed a small repair and brought it to me — I love it and will fix the upholstery so it looks new. I still plan to get a proper office chair eventually if I can find one that’s both attractive and comfortable.
For a small, playful update we decided to refresh the black metal label holders on my desk using Rub n’ Buff. Why not add a little glam? A touch of gold leaf instantly made the label holders feel more refined.
Soon I’ll move this desk to the left side of the room and convert it into a console-style surface, since I need more room to spread out projects. I’m planning to clear everything out, paint the walls, and rearrange the layout, so the room will look noticeably different the next time you see it.
Do you remember what this room looked like a few years ago? It was far from inspiring.
As I continue making these updates, my goal is to create a small but efficient workspace that feels welcoming, colorful, and ready to support the next phase of my business. I’ll share more progress and ideas as the makeover continues.