Office for Two
A cramped, disorganized shared home office gets a major makeover by Monica Mangin starting with a neutral paint palette on the walls. Using stock cabinets that she painted a deep blue, Monica created a work hub big enough for two. The real surprise came with a bold patterned stick-on wallpaper applied to the ceiling.
For tips on hanging wallpaper, read Hang Wallpaper and Borders.
Custom desks and upper storage cabinets running the full length of the wall were built using painted stock kitchen wall and drawer cabinets. For the custom desktop, Monica cut down a 4-foot-by-8-foot sheet of finished plywood, then combined two pieces to create a heavy-duty desktop.
The Neutral Home Office
Sara and Emmett from “Room for Tuesday” transformed a home office by creating a stunning built-in unit with open and closed storage using MDF wood. They built the cabinet carcass then securely mounted it to the wall. For contrast, they added grass cloth wallpaper to the back of the shelves.
Once they mounted the cabinets, added crown moulding, a baseboard and painted, the doors were added to complete the look. A variety of storage bins and drawer organizers will help keep everything neat and in its place.
For more on adding a baseboard, read Decorative Custom Baseboard.
From Junk Room to Workable Office
Evan and Katelyn made over a bland guest room, which doubled as a catch-all space, into a more inviting and functional home office and guest room combo to better suit their needs. Once they decluttered the room by purging unnecessary items, they were able to assess the space they had to work with.
They built a custom wood desk using a butcher block countertop and poplar boards for the legs. To complete the look, they applied a dark stain to the base of the table and a finish to the tabletop.
To build a similar desk, read Easy-to-Build Wooden Desk.
To further update the room, they disconnected and removed the ceiling fan and installed an antique bronze semi-flush mount light fixture. Katelyn finished off the room with some hyacinth milk crate baskets for storage, a potted succulent, new curtains, a touch desk lamp and beveled, round wall mirror to complete the look.
Turn off power to the existing fan or light at the main fuse or circuit box, and use a circuit tester to verify the power is off. Place the wall switches to the fixtures in the off position. Contact a licensed electrician if you have any doubts or questions about the connections or if your home's wiring doesn't appear compatible with the changes you're making.
Beautiful Blues Built-In
Casey and Finn of “The DIY Playbook” took a minimalist room and transformed it into a home office with a vibrant built-in focal point. They constructed the base of the unit using inexpensive unfinished kitchen cabinets. Next, they added a budget-friendly countertop and filler pieces on the side to fill in the dead space so the cabinets have a true built-in look and a toe kick at the bottom.
To achieve a custom look for the unit, Casey and Finn built the upper bookcase from scratch. They assembled the bookshelves and, for added stability, attached a backing. The shelves were finished with poplar trim and crown moulding, then painted a beautiful deep blue hue that brought new life to a bland room.
For more on painting cabinets, see How to Prep and Paint Kitchen Cabinets.
Out of the Dark and Into the Bright
Monica takes a home office from heavy and dark to light, bright and inspiring with thoughtful touches that make the most of a small space. She painted the walls to establish a neutral space then applied repositionable peel-and-stick wallpaper to one section. Faux brick wallpaper adds depth to the space and is a nice backdrop for a mounted electric fireplace, which brings warmth to the space. Monica also added a custom paint treatment to accent walls for additional visual interest. To add height to the room and make it feel larger and brighter, light-colored curtains were hung close to the ceiling.
Custom finishes were added throughout the space, including a desk and a shelving unit, built against one wall, that doubles as a standing workstation. The varying shelf heights work well for both display and storage. To add new life to the closet, Monica used thin strips of wood to cut out triangles, painted them different colors and affixed them to new doors.
Other finishing touches included plants, patterned throw pillows, and a soft and cozy Moroccan rug.