Home Office Refresh: My New Inspiring Workspace
After six years, my home office needed a refresh to better fit how I work today. I’m sharing the finished space, along with all of the DIY projects, design ideas, and sources that brought it together.
I spend so much time in this room every day, and while I still loved a lot about my original office (Those navy built-ins weren’t going anywhere!), it was ready for a change. My business has grown; the way I work has changed; and my style has evolved a bit, too.
Back in the spring, I shared my home office design ideas for the space, with a few big goals in mind: create a larger work space, make better use of the corner by the window, and add more character to the walls.
Over the last few months, I’ve slowly chipped away at it…removing the old mural, adding picture frame molding, adding wallpaper, swapping the light fixture, and finding all of the office furniture and finishing touches.
It’s finally done. Let’s take a tour of my refreshed home office!
Starting With the Walls
The first step was removing the old wall mural, which gave me a completely blank slate. From there, I added chair rail and picture frame molding throughout the room and painted the lower portion Valspar Chimney Smoke…the same navy as my existing built-ins.
On the large wall, I took the molding a step further and added three large boxes above the chair rail. Instead of wallpapering the entire upper half of the room, I added a blue floral wallpaper inside those three frames.
I love that I still get the color and pattern of wallpaper, but it doesn’t overwhelm the entire space.
This combination made SUCH a difference. The molding gave the room the architectural detail it was missing, while the wallpaper created a focal point without competing with the built-ins. The navy, blue, and green color palette now carries throughout the entire home office space and makes everything feel much more cohesive.
Updating the Lighting
Once the walls were finished, I moved on to the lighting. The old chandelier was fine, but it always felt a little too small for the scale of this room, especially with the vaulted ceiling.
I swapped it for a much larger chandelier, and it immediately felt more proportional to the space. Because the electrical box isn’t centered in this room, I used the same swag-light setup I’ve had here for years to position the chandelier exactly where I wanted it.
Good lighting is especially important in a home office, and luckily this room gets plenty of natural light from the window during the day. The larger chandelier gives me plenty of overhead light when I need it and has so much more presence in the room.
Adding More Navy
Here’s one change that wasn’t part of my original plan. At first, I only painted the walls below the chair rail navy and left the doors and trim white.
I lived with it that way for a month or two, but something still felt a little unfinished. Eventually, I decided to go for it and paint the doors and trim Valspar Chimney Smoke, too.
That was the right call. Painting the trim and doors was a relatively small change, but it made a huge difference in how finished the room feels. I especially love it around the arched opening. It highlights the arch’s shape and makes it feel like a real architectural feature instead of something that just blends into the wall.
Sometimes you have to live with a room for a little while before you know what it needs!
Finding the Right Desk
One of the biggest reasons I wanted to refresh this room was to create a better workspace. My old desk was beautiful, but I wanted more surface area, so I decided to go with an L-shaped walnut desk.
Of course, it turned into a bit of a saga.
I ordered the desk with white glove delivery, had it completely set up, and after living with it for exactly one day, I knew I had made a mistake. I should have ordered the larger size! It was only six inches bigger on each side, but in a room this size, I knew those extra inches would matter.
So, I reordered it and waited another six to eight weeks for the bigger one to arrive. It was a tad annoying, but ultimately worth it!
The larger desk feels so much more proportional to the room, and I love having all of that extra surface area to spread out while I’m working.
Bringing in a Vintage Rug
Once I figured out the desk, I started layering in pieces that would make the room feel warmer and more lived-in. This vintage Persian rug (from my favorite rug retailer) was a big part of that.
It has navy that ties in beautifully with the walls and built-ins, along with gorgeous copper and rust tones that warm everything up. The vintage rug, walnut desk, and burl wood side table helped soften all of the navy and made the room feel much more layered.
Creating a Cozy Corner
One of my biggest goals with the new layout was to make better use of the corner by the window. Before, I basically had a couple of plants sitting there, but now it’s probably my favorite spot in the room.
I added a green velvet chair, ottoman, and burl wood side table to create a little reading nook and second workspace. I sit here all the time with my laptop or when I’m answering DMs and want a break from my desk.
And one of my favorite little luxuries is the candle warmer on the side table. Turning it on is pretty much the first thing I do when I come into my office in the morning. By the time I’m settled in and working, the entire room smells amazing.
It’s a small corner nook, but actually giving it a purpose made the whole room work so much better. Now I have a dedicated space away from my main work area when I want to switch things up during the day.
A Comfier Office Chair
I also swapped out my office chair for a more stylish option, but finding a comfortable desk chair was still a must. I spend way too many hours sitting here to choose a chair based on looks alone!
This cream chair is extra wide, so I can sit comfortably cross-legged while I work (which is exactly what I’m doing as I write this). If you’re also a crisscross-applesauce-at-your-desk person, this chair is the best.
A Gallery Wall of My Favorite Things
When I started thinking about wall art for this side of the room, I knew I didn’t want to hang things just for the visual appeal. I wanted this wall to actually mean something to me, so I filled it with some of the things I’m most proud of: my diploma, my book cover in a burl wood frame (a little nod to the side table across the room), and the Instagram milestone Finn made for me when I hit one million followers.
But my favorite piece is something Rory brought home from kindergarten. She was asked what she wanted to be when she grew up, and she said she wanted to “do DIY Playbook” so she could fix things. That one gets me every time.
I’ve spent so many years building this business and trying to show women that they can learn new skills, fix things themselves, and feel more confident in their homes. Having this little reminder that my own daughter is watching (and that maybe I’m inspiring the next generation of girls along the way) means more to me than any fancy piece of art I could have put on this wall.
It’s the perfect thing to look over at while I’m working every day.
Office Before & After
Shop My Home Office
Paint Colors: Benjamin Moore “Ballet White” & Valspar “Chimney Smoke” // Floral Wallpaper // Walnut Desk // Cream Office Chair // Rug (from this retailer) // Leather Pouf // Floor Lamp // Velvet Chair & Ottoman // Side Table // Candle Warmer // Chandelier // Charging Valet // Burlwood Picture Frame // Gold Picture Frame // Wicker Waste Basket
My Finished Home Office Refresh
This room came together slowly over the last few months, and I think that’s part of why I love it so much. I gave myself time to live with each decision, change my mind when something wasn’t quite right, and find pieces that really worked for the space.
Now, I walk in here every morning, and it just feels good. It’s cozy, functional, personal, and a much better reflection of how I work today. I hope this finished space gives you some office inspiration and a few ideas for your own home, too. Six years from now, will I be ready to change it all again? Probably! But for now, I’m very happy right here.
Catch Up on My Home Office Refresh
Want to see how this space came together from start to finish? Here are all of the projects from my home office refresh:
