Home design is something I have always always gravitated toward. I often find myself making small, budget-friendly changes every few years. The latest room to receive a refresh was my home office. While the previous set up worked just fine, I knew a few simple changes could make it more functional. These small upgrades also helped create a space with less distractions, making it easier to sit down, focus, and get to work.

The Vision

I had been craving a change in this room for months. There was absolutely nothing wrong with the set up, especially since the furniture had recently been rearranged, and I truly loved the new layout. What ultimately sparked this refresh was lack of storage space. When I looked at the wall that my desk and bookshelves sat, I could see unused vertical space that larger furniture pieces could better fill. The existing bookshelves were smaller, with open shelving at the top, and I found myself wishing for more concealed storage. The room itself is not very large, so I decided I wanted to swap out darker tones for lighter ones  to help it feel more open and airy. It’s amazing how color can influence the feeling of a space. Once the vision was set, I took dimensions and began searching for a new desk and bookshelves. 

Keeping it Budget-Friendly

The search ended up being more challenging than expected. I had a very clear picture in my head of what I wanted, and I am not someone who easily settles for alternatives. Finding bookshelves in the right color, with solid cabinet doors on the bottom and glass doors on top, at a reasonable price, proved to be much harder than anticipated. To add more complexity to the situation, I also wanted a matching desk. 

I had originally considered a complete office make-over, but I knew that larger bookshelves plus a desk were already going to raise the total. Taking a mental inventory, I noted how the light blue painted walls had a calming effect just as they were. The bookshelf under the TV matched my floating shelf and picture frames. The big cozy chair was never going anywhere to begin with. I did not see the need for a drastic change when my main goal was simply to have more storage, not more stuff. 

The Result

After months of searching, I finally came across a bookshelf that checked off each box on my list. The doors were plain glass on top, so I ordered contact paper to give them a decorative, faux reeded glass look to blur out the contents on the inside shelves. Finding a matching desk took a little bit of time. Wayfair did not carry a desk in the exact color as the bookshelves, but Target had a desk that appeared to be a close match. With fingers crossed, I ordered it. I could not have been more happy to see the shelves and the desk side-by-side, the colors so close that you could not even tell that they are not a true set. The last thing I was nervous about was if the open cubbies in the desk could easily be modified to create a larger shelf for my printer. When I placed the larger divider on its side, it created the perfect horizontal shelf. I drilled small holes into the sides of the desk to insert shelf pegs, and laid the wood on top of them. To say I was thrilled is an understatement. It is one thing to have plans laid out in your head, but it is another thing when they actually work out. 

Small Finishing Details

I personally enjoy putting furniture together, but my favorite part of room design are the small finishing touches. These details are what bring a room to life. A new rug in front of the chair and a woven basket to hold blankets added texture and lived-in charm to this office. To balance the darker tones in the room, I painted a piece of wood to match the smaller bookshelf. It was then used as a new backing for the artwork above the desk. I really wanted this space to feel inviting, but not be overwhelmed with excess stuff.

The end result is a space that feels calm, functional, and lived-in. It is a place that I actually want to sit down and use. Sometimes a refresh is not about starting over, but about making small changes that support how we live and work right now.