SThis spring I mentioned a few updates I planned for my home office. Progress has been slow—real life and real budgets don’t move as fast as TV makeovers—but I recently made some changes I’m excited about. Some of my plans shifted since I last posted, but the room is shaping up nicely.
Originally I was saving for a new desk and intended to repurpose my current desk as a console on the left wall. Instead, I decided to replace the wall-to-wall carpet with hardwood floors to match the rest of the house. I love the striped rug I bought from Lulu and Georgia, but it ended up looking great in the family room. The brown carpet had seen better days—four dogs over the years took a toll—so switching to hardwood felt like the right move. Hardwood is cleaner, more durable, and coordinates with everything.
The office is quite small, so I chose to keep my existing desk and install hardwood floors. It was the best decision—hardwood transformed the whole room. I still plan to repaint, likely the same navy or a slightly deeper shade. The navy pairs so well with the curtains and the new lighter wood floors. Because the walls have heavier texture than the rest of the house, I’m leaning toward a flat finish in this room to minimize the texture; elsewhere I use eggshell with good results.
I rearranged the layout so the desk sits on the left wall instead of in front of the window. I removed a couple of pieces—one went to our church and another moved upstairs to the TV room—and added a few new pieces that suit my needs better. I’ll share details about the new secretary and hutch soon.
To the left of the new setup I found two flat file drawer units from IKEA (Alex Drawers) that provided an affordable, flexible storage solution. I have plans to customize them slightly and will show what I do when it’s finished.
This pulled-back view shows the updated arrangement. The Pottery Barn desk I’ve had since my old house now sits on the left wall. While I enjoyed looking out the window, this new placement feels more comfortable—I’m less on display to the neighborhood—and it frees the wall above the desk for an inspiration board I plan to install. By removing the tall cabinet that once stood here, I now have room for a light, bright inspiration area above the desk.
The small Target bench by the window lives as flexible seating; it’s perfect for extra guests or for kicking back with my feet up.
This is the desk where I work every day—writing for the blog and now working on books. The book-writing process feels solitary for now, but I look forward to sharing more when the books are ready.
For comparison, here’s a messy before photo from when the room transitioned to navy a few years ago. It’s fun to remember how far the space has come.
Here’s how the new hardwood flows from the office into the hall. I love the continuity. Lily likes to hang out by the window trying to catch a breeze—it’s been hot lately. For those curious about practical items: my printer sits on a stand to the right of the plant, out in the open where it’s easy to reach.
Tomorrow I’ll share more about the new secretary and hutch. A quick blast from the past: this desk was in our old house when I first got it in 2008, and it’s still serving me well. The lamp on the desk is the same lamp I now have on the new file drawers with an updated shade, and the gold-and-crystal chandelier in my office has traveled with me through several houses. I try to keep and reuse pieces whenever possible. Some items, like the rug and a cabinet, now live in my daughter’s townhouse.
For my FAQ about my Hickory floors, see my related post.
Sources (items are not sponsored; some links were affiliate):
Wall Color: Rich Navy by Glidden
Floors: Natural Hickory by Mohawk (installed from Lowe’s)
Curtains: Anthropologie
Desk: Pottery Barn
Bench: Target
Desk Chair: Restoration Hardware Martine Arm Chair (found discounted due to a minor fixable flaw)
Corner Chair: World Market