When Erica sent her office makeover photos our team immediately wanted to share the before-and-after transformation. Here’s the note she sent:
I love reading your blog and learning new, budget-friendly ideas. I recently updated my home office on a tight budget. You can find more details on my blog, but the L-shaped desk is built from two hollow-core doors (only $25 each), two table legs, and a bookshelf. The paint color is Valspar “Plum Passion.” Both chairs were thrift store finds and all the art on the wall was free — I used fabric, gift wrap, and prints from my home printer. I printed artwork from three sources: Vintage Printable, a clipart disk I already owned, and Dafont.com. The pear, bicycle, and tree silhouettes came from Dingbat fonts on Dafont. Altogether I spent about $200. Hope you enjoy! — Erica
Here are the original before shots:
And here are the impressive, budget-friendly after photos:
This is a fantastic, wallet-friendly office makeover with plenty of practical ideas. The hollow-core doors repurposed as a desk, the thrifted chairs, and the free artwork on the gallery wall all demonstrate creative, low-cost solutions. The white roman shades with black ribbon trim add a crisp, tailored touch, and the deep wall color paired with white furnishings creates a striking contrast that makes the room feel both cozy and modern. It’s easy to imagine this space making routine tasks like bill-paying and email more enjoyable.
Which detail do you like most? We especially love the custom desk idea and the bold paint choice against the bright white accents. Lovely work, Erica — thanks for sharing your clever, budget-conscious refresh.
Psst — interested in making a desk from a hollow-core door like Erica did? See a DIY guide for building a similar desk here.