Redesigning My Home Office Six Years Later

Six years after completing our original home office makeover, I’m ready to rethink this space. I’m sharing my home office design plan, including new layout ideas, inspiration for the walls, and the changes I’m planning to make to better fit how I work today.

Six years ago, we completed our home office makeover, and at the time, it felt like the dream setup. The DIY built-ins added so much storage, the mural made a big statement, and the space finally felt like a work area instead of just another spare bedroom.

Over time, this has become a true dedicated space for both my work and personal life.

I’m working in here every single day now, filming content, answering emails, hopping on calls, and managing all things DIY Playbook. And while I still love certain elements – the built-ins aren’t going anywhere – other parts of the room just aren’t working the way they used to.

So I’m going back to the drawing board.

Today, I’m sharing my home office design plan, including what this room looked like when we first bought the house, what we changed six years ago, what isn’t working anymore, and exactly how I’m planning to redesign the space.

What This Room Looked Like When We Bought the House

When we bought our house, this room had a lot of potential — vaulted ceilings, a beautiful arched window, and plenty of natural light — but it definitely needed some work.

It was fully carpeted, the baseboards and millwork felt dated, and the doors didn’t match the rest of the style we were going for. So before we even moved in, we tackled a handful of foundational updates. We removed the carpet, installed hardwood floors to match the rest of the house, replaced the baseboards and millwork, updated the doors, and gave everything a fresh coat of paint.

My Original Home Office Makeover

It wasn’t until the spring of 2020, right before my daughter was born, that I really tackled this room.

I was in full nesting mode and completely motivated to get this space finished before she arrived. I wanted a home office that felt functional, organized, and honestly… just really good to be in, knowing how much time I’d be spending here.

The biggest transformation was the DIY built-ins, which completely changed the room. They added so much storage and instantly created a focal point along that wall. (You can see the full built-in project here.)

From there, I layered in the rest of the space pretty quickly. I added a large oak desk to create a dedicated work area, brought in a cozy loveseat, and anchored everything with a colorful rug. The wall mural made a big statement and gave the room a lot of personality, and I finished things off with lighting and decor that made the space feel warm and lived-in. At the time, it felt like the perfect mix of functional and cozy — exactly what I needed in a home office.

What Isn’t Working in My Office Anymore

As much as I loved this space when we first finished it, the way I use it today looks very different than it did six years ago. Over time, I’ve started to notice a few things that just aren’t working anymore.

The Corner That Doesn’t Really Do Anything

Right now, the corner by the window has a couple of plants, and while they look nice, the space isn’t actually functional. It’s one of those areas that feels styled, but not used.

And in a room where I’m working all day, I’d much rather have something there that serves a purpose. It could function as a spot to sit with my laptop or a place to take calls away from my desk, instead of just an area for plants.

The Mural I Can’t Unsee

Okay, this one makes me laugh a little. I loved this mural when I first installed it. The cloud scene felt bold and different and the accent wall added so much personality to the room. But recently, someone commented that it looked like mold… and now I absolutely cannot unsee it!

So unfortunately, it’s time for it to go, which means I’ll be removing wallpaper for the first time ever. I’m excited/terrified to take you along for that ride, but it should make for an interesting DIY tutorial.

The Futon Nobody Uses

I added the futon thinking it would be a nice extra spot to sit or even a place for guests to sleep. But in reality, it rarely gets used.

When we have guests, they almost always stay in the basement, and day-to-day, I never find myself sitting there. It’s taking up a decent amount of space without really adding much function to the room.

The Acrylic Board That Never Gets Used

This is another one that seemed like a great idea at the time. I added a large DIY acrylic board, thinking I’d use it to map out ideas and stay organized, but I’ve realized I just don’t use it. I tend to plan everything digitally, so this wall has basically become wasted space.

The Layout Isn’t Supporting How I Work Today

And when I zoom out, the biggest issue is really the layout. The room technically has plenty of space, albeit in an awkward shape, but it’s not being used in the most intentional way. There are areas that feel underutilized, while other parts feel a little crowded.

So while I still love the bones of this room — especially the built-ins — it’s clear that the layout needs a rethink to better support how I actually use this space today.

My New Home Office Layout Plan

My biggest idea is creating an extended L-shaped desk along that wall, which feels like the right desk for how I work today. This setup acts almost like a built-in desk and gives me a better work space. It also feels like the best option for maximizing the available space without adding more furniture.

This would give me a lot more surface area for everything I’m doing throughout the day — from computer work to filming content — and it would make the layout feel much more intentional.

A Better Use for the Window Corner

With the desk shifting, it opens up a really great opportunity to rethink the corner by the window.

Instead of the plants that are currently sitting there, I’d love to create a small reading nook with a comfortable chair, an ottoman, and a little side table.

This will give me a second spot to work, while still having a comfortable chair with proper support for longer work sessions. That corner gets such beautiful natural light, and it feels like the perfect spot to actually take advantage of it.

Making the Walls Feel More Intentional

Once the mural comes down, the walls are going to feel very blank — which is both exciting and a little intimidating.

Right now, my plan is to add chair rail and picture frame molding around the room to bring in some architectural detail and break up the wall visually. It would also mimic Rory’s room next door and I like the idea of having consistent wall detailing in adjacent rooms.

I think I will paint the bottom portion of the walls the same navy as the built-ins (Valspar “Chimney Smoke”) and then opt for a wallpaper above. Something that adds warmth and personality, but still keeps the space feeling calm and functional and not too busy.

What’s Next in My Office Space?

Now that I have a plan, the next step is actually getting started, and I’m planning to tackle this in phases.

First up is removing the mural. I’ve officially reached the point where I can’t unsee the mold, so that’s priority number one. At the same time, I’m planning to sell the futon and the fiddle leaf fig to clear out some of the pieces that just aren’t working in here anymore.

After the mural is down, I’ll move on to the walls. That’s when I’ll start working on the chair rail and picture frame molding, and narrowing down wallpaper options.

Once the room is a bit more cleared out, I’ll start sourcing the bigger items — things like the new desk setup, a chair for the window corner, and any additional furniture I need to make the layout feel complete. I’ll also be thinking through desk accessories and storage so everything has easy access day-to-day.

I’m in no rush to get this done all at once, so it will likely come together piece by piece over time.

A Few Functional Updates I Want to Tackle

Once everything is in place, I also want to spend some time improving how this room functions behind the scenes.

The closet in this room has built-ins that I added a few years ago, but it could definitely use a refresh and better organization. I know I’m not using that space as efficiently as I could.

I also want to rethink the lower cabinets in the built-ins. They’re really deep, which sounds great in theory, but in reality they’ve turned into a bit of a black hole.

I’d love to add some kind of pull-out drawers or organizers inside to make everything easier to access and keep things from getting lost in the back. If you’ve done something like this before, I would love any tips!

My Home Office Mood Board

Before I start making any big changes, I like to pull together a mood board so everything feels cohesive. I’m leaning into warm wood tones, subtle striped wallpaper, brass accents, and a cozy forest green chair for the window corner — all layered around the navy built-ins to keep the space feeling balanced and intentional.

Final Thoughts

It’s funny how much your needs can change over time.

What worked perfectly for me six years ago just doesn’t quite fit the way I live and work today — and that’s okay. That’s honestly one of my favorite parts of having a home. It can evolve with you.

I’m really excited to bring this space into its next chapter and make it feel even more functional and intentional. I’ll be sharing each step along the way, starting with removing the mural (wish me luck), so be sure to check back soon to see how it all comes together.