A Room of My Own: Home Office Ideas

As any couple can attest, the blending of personal styles can be challenging. My significant other has owned his home, which we now share, for more than 20 years. His style is much more masculine than mine and he is comfortable living with the same furniture, wallpaper and accessories for long periods of time. But after working as an editor and photo stylist for home décor and lifestyle magazines and craft books, I have a need for serene and coordinated surroundings.

Because I work at home some of the time, a home office is a must. We talked over the options and decided that I could use one of the guestrooms…but the bed had to stay. So I set up my laptop, put a few things in empty dresser drawers and went to work. But it wasn’t working—the walls were too blue, the room was too crowded, and I needed a real desk. I had to create a space that nourished my spirit and creativity. It’s still a work in progress, but it’s great to have a space to call my own.

Getting my guy to part with the 1980s matching bedroom set took a little patience, but he did it. The transformation started with the walls--a base coat and three coats of creamy vanilla paint (boy that was some stubborn blue paint), and then I was off in search of a desk and a…something. I just knew the furniture had to have nice lines and it had to be made of wood. My favorite places to shop for furniture? Thrift stores. Great finds at great prices. All you need is a little imagination, paint and supplies, and some elbow grease. On the first day of searching, I found two great vintage pieces: a small desk and a buffet table. They were both stained dark brown and were pretty beat up, but they had good lines.

Here is the buffet now; what do you think?

   

If you want to love your space, pare down the "things," and just use what you love and is meaningful to you. The little things in my office are pretty--but best of all, they make me happy. The beautiful prints are by my friend, Christie Rapasy . I found the crystal bowl for $4 at an antique store in Utah and then filled it with a collection of vintage crystals. The beaded tree was a $3 swap meet find and the marble bowl was a birthday gift from my friend Judy Watkins, who is also a talented designer and purveyor of cool vintage finds. (Twice a year, Judy hosts an amazing event called Remnants of the Past. If you love antiques, vintage art and accessories, and junk art, don't miss it! Her next show will be in Nipomo, CA ('bout halfway between Santa Maria and Pismo Beach) on Saturday, April 24, 2010 from 9 am to 4pm.) 

Here is the desk after a whole bunch of sandpaper and paint:

 

A calming space with meaningful accents helps to ensure that I have more productive, inspired days. Do you have ideas to share? What touches make your personal space beautiful and meaningful?