If you work from home, then take my advice.
Get your home office in tip-top shape.
Paint it. Decorate it. Organize it. Make it you.
I’m not sure quite how, but somehow, magically, once you do that, you become so much more productive. So much more saner.
So much more feeling like maybe you can just make it through this day.
Hand to God, ever since I have gotten this office done, I feel like I have been so much more less stressed than before.
Why in the hell did I wait nearly two years after moving into the 70’s Landing Pad to make my office me?
Screw making the kitchens, bathrooms and living rooms beautiful, I’m starting to become a cheerleader for making your workspace beautiful and functional before the rest of all that.
And you know what the best thing about this office makeover is?
It was all done on a budget. I DIY’ed a lot of things in this space and did a lot of reusing what I already had as well.
Ok, here is what the office looked like when we first bought the house:
The previous tenants had left behind the desk as well as the hardwood floors that were loosing their finish.
When we moved in, I put my old desk in here, hung some curtains, threw in some other things and called it a day. You can see photos of that here. There was too much going on though. Too much stuff in the room, too much stark white wall, too much brightly colored patterns against stark white walls. It just didn’t work.
Now though, it works…
Home Office Makeover Full of Budget-Friendly DIY Projects
Affiliate links contained in this post.
Wall Color / Light Fixture / Cabinetry / Desk Chair / Leopard Print Rug (similar) / DIY Chippendale Desk
It feels more open. There are fewer things, but more storage. It’s light and airy, without being stark. It’s…exactly what I needed to stay sane.
Ok, and wanted too. And honestly, it turned out better than I ever imagined it would!
Let’s talk details.
First, the walls got a fresh coat of paint.
This room is small, so I didn’t want anything too dark, but didn’t want white walls. I went with Citrus Delight by Behr. It’s a peach color, which actually looks even lighter in this space than what the sample card showed because that window faces the sun nearly all day.
The leopard print rug has been in my office since we moved in. I’ve had it for a few years now and it has to be one of the best yard sale purchases I’ve ever made – it was only $2. The rug is also covering up where the finish was wearing off the hardwoods – no money in the budget to fix all that yet.
I had also switched the ceiling fan out for that light fixture a few years back and it stayed.
I added built-ins along the back wall.
I needed some serious storage in here. I have a closet, but it holds all my my craft supplies and extra home decor accessories. I needed something for paperwork and office supplies and all that ho-hum stuff. I bought unfinished wall cabinets, built a base for them and then attached them to the wall. Once I got in the middle of the project, I discovered I had a very bowed wall of drywall and that made the install much tougher, but still worth it. Read the tutorial here on how I added the built-ins.
Dolly Print / Leopard Print / Burt Print
The countertop of the built-ins is actually upholstered in a durable faux leather pearl vinyl. I had to get creative there because of the bowed drywall. The tutorial for upholstering a countertop is here.
Dolly Print / Leopard Print / Burt Print
Dolly is front and center in the office. Grunt says it’s funny to walk in and see me working with Dolly watching over me. I’m hoping she’ll shower some of her greatness on me. I found the Dolly print here and used this gold frame from Target to showcase her.
Leopard Print / Burt Print / Upholstery on Counter / Cabinetry Knobs
And you can’t have Dolly without Bert. 😉 I actually decided several months back that Bert was going in my office. That’s the picture from his 1972 Cosmo spread. I found it here. The seller offered it in an 8×10 size, but I wanted one bigger, so I messaged them and they were able to set me up with a 12 x 18 size. Because of the size of the actual photo, there is a good bit of white space around it when you get it in any size. Because of that, I decided to get it semi-custom framed. Since it’s such an odd size, I had a custom mat cut for it, but then just bought a frame that was already premade. I used Michael’s for framing it and they did a wonderful job. In fact, I think the framing girl was just as excited about framing Burt as I was! I got the leopard from Society6 a few months ago. I didn’t know the full plan for the office yet, but I knew he would be great alongside Bert – and I was right.
Over on the other side of the cabinetry is a bust I’ve had for years and finally found the perfect place for. I asked on my Instagram stories what I should paint him and Optometrist Jackie suggested a marbled finish. I gave it a whirl and I think it turned out pretty well.
I also whipped up a little custom art as well. Me and Reba were tight when I was a kid. And Fancy, well it was most definitely my favorite song, even in elementary school. I figured this line would serve as some good motivation.
And did you notice my new desk?
Desk Chair / Leopard Print Rug (similar)
I built it, ya’ll! Me! All by myself! It might look complicated, but I assure you, it was a pretty simple build. The how-to for the desk build is right here. That’s my same office chair I’ve had for a few years, it still worked perfectly in the space and is comfortable as well.
I did have a bit of a hard time parting with my old desk, which was actually my Pap and Grannie’s kitchen table at one time. However, it just wasn’t as functional as I really needed my desk to be. I have plans for it at the farmhouse and I know Pap would have been proud that I built the new desk myself.
That’s the DIY faux crystal vase I made last year that I’m using as a pen/pencil holder. The little glass dish tray was my great-grandmother’s. She used it to feed her chickens with. Not kidding! One of my great aunts started cleaning out family stuff years ago and brought me a few different things – this being one of them. She said she always remembered her feeding the chickens out of that dish and when she died, she just had to get it for the memories.
On the other side of the desk, I created an inspiration board of sorts.
That just means I wrapped pretty fabric around a bulletin board and added nailhead trim. I love how that green fabric works with the peach walls and blue cabinetry though – the perfect pop of color.
Green Upholstery Fabric / Nailhead Trim
Instead of individual nailheads, I used the rolled nailhead trim which helped me keep straight lines. It was a huge timesaver as well.
One of the biggest, yet easiest and super cheap things I suggest anyone do in their home office is to hang a pretty towel hook.
Not for towels of course, but for your computer bag or camera bag or whatever kind of bag you need to hang on it. It’s so much better than throwing it on the floor and tripping over it. Not that that’s happened to me or anything.
I also brought more of that glorious green upholstery fabric onto the other side of the room on a window cornice. Such a simple and cheap DIY project with so much bang for your buck. A yard and a half of this fabric (only $15 a yard!) gave me more than enough for the cornice and the bulletin board.
Green Upholstery Material / Tassel Trim
I found the tassel trim at Hobby Lobby and it added some more color and fun to the space.
DIY Painted and Patterned Closet Doors
I had actually painted these closet doors (full tutorial here) before we moved into the house and I still love them. They worked great with the space and the peach paint color, so I happily kept them as they were.
My little $5 elephant stool finally found a home!
Elephant Stool – Similar One Here and Here
He’s another one of my best yard sale purchases ever! I loaded him up with a few of my favorite colorful coffee table books. There are some similar elephant stools I found for under $100 here and here.
And finally, one of my favorite touches in the room…
I scanned a couple of old cards and envelopes where my Pap had written my name and signed his and turned them into wall art. They are right across from my desk, so all I have to do is look up and it makes me smile.
So all in all, I have roughly right around $600 in the office makeover. The biggest chunk of that is the built-in cabinetry, which was around $300, but so worth it. The desk was less than $100 to make and then there’s around another $200 in paint, fabric, art, frames and various other supplies.
I for one though think that for just having spent $600, the whole space looks more like a million bucks. 😉
What do you think about the office makeover?
You might also want to see…
DIY Built-In Office Cabinets from Stock Cabinets
12 Stylish and Comfortable Office Chairs
SO MANY THINGS.
Only your blog does this to me, by the way.
I love that Dolly is on your wall. I have a Dolly prayer candle that I swear is working miracles for me every day.
Also, I need that Fancy lyric sign.
Like, I will pay you to make one for me.
SHUT THE FRONT DOOR. You have a Dolly prayer candle? Where did you find this one? I must have one STAT!
Don’t worry – I’ll have the Fancy lyric art as a free printable soon and I’ll also show you how to make the frame! 🙂
My sister in law got it for me but I am pretty sure she got it here:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/462445483/dolly-parton-devotional-prayer-saint?gpla=1&gao=1&&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=shopping_us_d-home_and_living-home_decor-candles_and_holders-candles-other&utm_custom1=00d4378d-c807-4f42-8e44-c272689e4d06&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI_vv53t7Y2QIVTrnACh3nMQ6fEAQYAyABEgIp-PD_BwE
Oh my word. That is the best thing ever! Thank you!
I love it, you did an amazing job and it definitely looks like a million bucks.
Thanks so much, Marty!
What a fun office! Let that creativity flow girl!
Thanks, Regina!! Yes, let it flow, because I was in a creative rut for far too long last year!!
Your personal space out beautiful. Love it. Thankyou for sharing.
Thank you, Stephanie!!
Jenna I love it all! I can’t pick a favorite thing, but your purse hook and custom art from your Pap are high up there. And those tassels. Girl!!!! So jelly!!!! 💗
Thanks, girl!!! I’m so glad you like it!! I can’t believe how well it all came together!
a million bucks is a low estimate, I think. It looks freakin’ fantastic, a real great place for you.I totally love every inch of it.Reach around there w/ your arms and pat yourself on the back. OMG, how did I ever lose track of my Cosmopolitan magazine ? somehow, over the years, it simply disappeared. Looking forward to more good things from you.
Oh, thank you so much, Jenny!! You totally made my day!! 🙂
L-O-V-E the colors… And can’t wait to see the desk design post…But top of the list is all that fab art displayed!! (I’ve saved a few handwritten things, too – but wasn’t sure how to incorporate them. Now you’ve inspired me.)
Thanks, Lori! The desk was actually a pretty simple build! I am quite smitten with all the art as well – and yes, girl – get those handwritten things framed!
I love every single thing you did in here! Totally unique. And Burt Reynolds back in the day would inspire mot over woman. 😉
that’s “most every” woman– auto correct drives me insane.
hahahah!!! True that – he still inspires me!
Beeeutiful! Love it!
Thanks so much, Julie!
The office looks gorgeous! Can’t wait to see the desk tutorial. I have. Burt story. My husband and i were in LA in 1974 PN a vacation. We were cruising Beverly Hills in a 2 seater Mercedes. Pulled up to a light and next to us in a Caddilac convertible was Burt Reynolds! I made my husband follow him for 15 minutes. When he pulled into the parking lot of a restaurant where we hadvplanned to have lunch, I almost died. We nonchalantly (yea, right) walked in just behind him. HE HELD THE DOOR for me. I said thank you, enjoy your lunch, he said you too. He shook my husband’s hand and patted mine! Great memory! LOL
ARE YOU KIDDING ME? Oh my gosh, I would have died. No, I’m lying. It might have taken everything I had to not jump on top of him right then. hahahaha!
I loved Dolly and Burt in “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas”!! How perfectly they pair up in your office! Question for you…did he have his own hair back then or was he wearing a rug in that picture??? Not that it matters, but I’m just being like the National Inquirer here! Your office is amazing and I’m blown away that you made your own desk! The sides of it create so much style and interest…I want to make a quilt now using that pattern!!
That is one of my favorite movies!! I play the soundtrack from it around here all the time! And hahahaha – I do believe he had his own hair back then, but a bear rug is definitely in the scene as well! I love that chippendale pattern on the desk – one of my favorite patterns!
Oh, how proud your Pap is! That desk is really nice…it looks like you could turn it into a table too…
Love what you’ve done to the office. I need a craft room makeover. will you be raffling off one of those anytime soon, Jenna? LOL. And two things I’m especially taking away from this post today are the BOLD and BEAUTIFUL storage cabinets and the towel hook. I can use a hook like that in my closet for my purse!
You’re a keeper, Jenna…thanks!
Thank you, Sharon! I am so pleased with how the desk turned out! I do think it could work well as a table too – lots of possibilities! hahaha!! I wish I could raffle off a craft room makeover!! Get yourself a towel hook, girl – they are fantastic for hanging so many things! We have one in our closet as well for then next day’s outfits, dry cleaning that needs to be put away, etc. – it’s great!
Wow girl, you really did it up right, I mean it is gorgeous. I love everything the wall color the desk the elephant the rug, oh that rug, just everything. It is sleek and modern, a place for everything. Great job.
Thanks, Patty!! I am so thrilled with how well it turned out!!! I was worried all the colors wouldn’t mesh well together in the end, but they did!
I love everything in your office Jenna. Your desk is amazing. Love the colour you have painted the cabinets.
Dolly must inspire you to work 9-5! But what a way to earn a living. 😉
I remember buying that first issue of Cosmo with that pic of Burt in it – wish I’d kept it!
Oh yes – definitely the best way to earn a living!! hahaha! Thanks!! So glad you like everything!
I love it! Especially like that wall color, fresh and fun, but not overpowering. Can’t wait for the tutorial on the cabinetry. I’ve looked those over in Home Depot with an eye to installing some built-in’s in my living room, so I’m curious about how you built the bases. I really like them used as storage in your office, too, I might need to do that at some point in the future! I don’t work from home, but I do have to have my “me” space to pay bills, make phone calls, look at the internet, etc. 🙂
Thanks, Brigitte!! That’s exactly how I feel about the wall color! The base for the cabinets was pretty easy! Heck, if you don’t have a wall near as jacked up as mine was, the whole thing is pretty easy!
I’m skeered. My house isn’t as old as yours, it was built in the 90’s, but it’s old enough to have an issue or two lurking around waiting for me to find! LOL! I’m sure with your excellent guidance and my handy hubby, we’ll be able to pull it off. 🙂
You’ll be fine! I just had to get creative with some aspects of it. 🙂 I know you can do that if need be!
Oh my! your office looks great! I love the idea of the upper cabinets for built ins.
Thanks, Josephine! Yep, that had to be the way to go for me because otherwise lower cabinets would have taken up way too much space.
I love the desk, works perfectly in the room. Can’t wait to see what you do in the farm house with the old desk. I found a card from my pop pop a few years ago and did the same thing, put it in a frame with a picture of he and I. Always makes me smile when I look at it!
Thanks, Sherri! Those are precious things that you can never get back again – it’s great to have them prominently where you can see them everyday. 🙂
Awesome! I love absolutely every single thing about your new space….and remember well the Burt Cosmo cover!!
Thank you, Pam!!! Oh, I only wish I had one of those Cosmo issues!!
Love the idea! Totally in love with the desk! Wonderful!
Thanks so much! I just love how the desk turned out too – and it was a pretty easy build!
I am awe of the room. Looks great and was wondering what you were doing with that great fabric. I live my office/craft room. It is me and so fun to be in it. I just painted my bathroom and hall way. Found painted in garage and was so happy. Keep up with these ideas.
New interview hopefully soon.
Oh good, Stephanie!! Thank you! I love how it all ended up working so well together too!
Burt tho.
Right? I just can’t get enough!
Wow!!!!!!!! I love everything about it! I have an old metal desk in bad shape, and the faux leather you used on your built-in may be just the thing to make it over. Enjoy your new space!
Thanks so much, Melissa!
I love your office!!!! I love the colors, the rug, and the desk! You did and awesome job making the desk. My favorite thing tho is the pictures you put up of Paps name and your name that he wrote. My heart melts every time I read stories of you and your Pap. I didn’t know him but I love him😊
Thank you so much, Pamela! I’m happy to share little pieces of him through my stories! I’m so glad you enjoy them!
Here’s my first reaction: WOW! That looks amazing!!! Great job!
Thanks so much, Kathy!
Great job! Love your color choices and very cool decor!
Thanks so much, Carol!
Love everything about the room. Love the wall color, LOVE the desk, love the message board. Seriously. I love everything!Sue
Thank you so much, Sue!
Hi! I’m loving it! Very fresh combination of patterns!
I gotta ask- that green leopard fabric you have- is that on a light blue background or a white one? On the website it looks white but in your pictures it looks blue~~ I’m crossing my fingers for blue because ~ how fun!
Thanks 🙂
Hi Jenn! Thank you! The leopard fabric is on a white background. Not sure why it’s showing up as more blue – I’m sorry!
Jenna, I am absolutely dazzled! I need you to come and give my home office a makeover!
Thank you so much, Jean!
Hi! Visiting from the Encouraging Hearts and Home linkup! This is such an awesome transformation, what an inspiring place to work!
Thanks so much, Ashley!
I loooooove the “here’s your one chance fancy” sign. Every time I hear that song I sing and sob at the same time! I just found your site, thought that I liked you, and now I know it!
Oh girl, that song is one of my favorites!! I’ll be sharing that free printable soon!
Girl, you got me thinking back to my country line dancing days in high school 🙂 I will be looking forward to the printable then!
Love your office. I can’t pick so many fav details. I just made a new office makeover but mine is in a shared space. Thanks for sharing this at the Inspiration Spotlight party Pinned & sharing.
Thank you so much, Theresa!
What a gorgeous transformation, and such unexpected color pops! Love how you used personal mementos for art. Thanks for sharing at #BestoftheWeekend – you are one of my features!
Thank you!
I love all the ways you made the space your own. I had to give up my craftroom/ office this past summer when we needed a new utility closet for our new heat system and I miss it so much. Pinned.
Oh no! I hate to hear that! You’ll have to carve out a space for yourself somewhere else!
Your office space is lovely and obviously well thought out to be your perfect space. Love all the details especially Dolly and Bert. Stopping by from the #HomeMattersParty linky.
Thanks so much, Nicole! I love having Dolly and Bert in there too! 😉