Office Updates: Shelves, Rug & a New Light


Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by Wayfair. All opinions and photography are our own and are not influenced by Wayfair. Thank you for supporting the brands that support The DIY Playbook

Barn_door_building_process-painted_whiteLast time we chatted, I updated you guys on the progress of ourย DIY Barn Door in the office. I should have some detailed updates on that final look next week but until then, I’m excited to check in with other office developments — new furniture, a new rug, and a new light fixture!

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Honestly, this makeover has been a bit backwards since I should have finished all of the DIY projects in this space before ordering the furniture BUT it didn’t happen exactly like that.

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After I painted the room white, I was a bit at a crossroads. I knew I loved the white paint, but the blank canvas staring back at me was freaking me out.ย white_paint-office-afterWas the mood board really going to translate well into this space? Was the white paint the right decision? Is it going to make this space look too stark or flat? But instead of letting these thoughts freeze me into that awful stage of indecision, I vowed that I would just keep going… intentionally choosing items that I love. ย I was confident that if I brought only items that I loved into this room, I was bound to love the final outcome (white paint and all).

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office_rug_pouf-TomsI know the room isn’t completely done yet but so far so good…. I’m LOVING the look and overall direction. It all started when I spotted this Wayfair Olga Gray Rugย on sale!ย I had been stalking the internet for weeks and couldn’t seem to find the perfect neutral rug for this space. I found a lot of contenders but they ended up being the wrong size, the wrong price, or just too busy for my taste.

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But when I saw the 6’7″ x 9′ rug on sale and read the glowing reviews, I was sold. Plus this room is small so finding a rug that was the right size and one that I loved proved harder than I thought it would be… that was until I saw this one. I knew I loved this rug enough to add it to the room.office_progress_wayfair_furniture-shelves

Once I decided on the rug, I used that as a springboard to make a few more design decisions. I originally thought about hanging shelves but didn’t know if that would work since I wasn’t sure what I would put under those shelves. Another dresser? A chair? Could I find a dresser tall enough so it wouldn’t get hidden by the tall desk in front of it?

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Then I saw these Wayfair Easmore Leaning Bookcasesย that offered some secret storage (a very high priority in this room). When I realized that buying one small one and one larger one and displaying them side by side would fit perfectly in this space, I was again SOLD! I saw a very similar shelving unit from a different store that I love, but the price-tag was almost DOUBLE so this more affordable option was a welcomed surprise!

office_progress_file-foldersI’m going to dive into more details about what these shelves store (and hide!) soon, but I’m super happy with the secret storage they provide. And how about that record player?! More on that soon too but let’s just say it’s my newest obsession. Blog work + Records = my new jam!

wayfair_record_playerSide note: For my record junkies tuning in, any recommendations for a newbie like me? I just ordered the Lumineers and have my Footloose record from when I was a kid but I would love to hear your advice on what other records I should add to my tiny collection.

office_progress_wayfair_lightJust like the rug, I looked online for a LOT of lighting options. I knew I wanted a drum light (like the one I installed in our bedroom). When I saw this Baxton 3 light flush mount from Wayfair ย with the pop of black, I knew it was the one. The pop of black was the perfect way to tie everything together. And swapping out the pendant for this one really lit up the space a lot more, which is great for those late nights working.

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Rookie Tip: I think I may be done hanging pendant style lights in small bedrooms. They may be cute, but because they hang lower, they don’t light up the space enough. <— Something I didn’t even realize was happening until I started swapping them out.

office_progress_wayfair_furniture-plant-officeWhen the shelvesย + rug + light arrived, I was SO much more excited about the direction of the space and finally started to see the vision of the room coming to life.

Looking back I’m so glad I didn’t over think the process, but instead just shopped with intention and only brought items I really loved into the room. And although I wish the messy DIY projects wereย out-of-the-way before I brought in the furniture, it has been nice having some of the big pieces in the space before choosing a color/style for the DIY Barn Door.

I know I have a lot more details to share about this space, including the status of the barn door and what the other side of the room is shaping up to look like! Checking in with you guys today has me even more motivated to finish the barn door and add some finishing touches on the second half of the room. Hopefully in the next week or two I’ll be back with more progress (and pics!!).bridget_sig


The Year of Casey

Hey there!

Iโ€™m Casey Finn, the voice behind The DIY Playbook. I’m a Chicago gal teaching you how to design, DIY, and maintain your home…by yourself! Learn more about me right here.