Well, it’s official. For the third house in a row, I have stolen my husbands office. A room that when we bought those homes was supposed to be his.
When we first moved into our new home I set up my desk upstairs. In fact I had this grand plan of turning the extra bedroom into an office/craft room for myself. But after a few months I found myself downstairs working in his office. A space he hadn’t properly claimed yet. And you know what? You snooze you loose pal. 😉
Because I’m constantly juggling three projects at once, gardening, walking the dog, doing laundry and running around the house like a crazy person on any given day, having MY office space downstairs just make sense.
Any anyways… the HH does 99% of his work AT WORK, not at home. The only time he ever works when he is at home is if he’s writing a speech or putting some big report together {which is only a couple of times a year}. So technically he doesn’t even NEED a centrally located office in our home {he just thinks he does}. Plus, climbing the stairs 20 million times a day gets old. Quick. First world problems, I know.
Since finishing every room in our house is on my list of goals for this year, and because I’m trying to distract myself from oh, I don’t know… EATING, I figured this week is as good as any to get this room finished and checked off my list.
Job #1. Paint the ceiling. I forgot to do it before the electricians hung the new light fixtures last fall and the white paint the previous owners {and the one’s before them} used is a little to drab for me.
My goal is to get the office painted, decorated and totally finished for less than $100 by the end of the week.
Do YOU have any inexpensive decorating suggestions?
I need all the help I can get.
~Mavis
Rosaleen says
It is hard to tell from the pictures what you have available and what needs to be repaired/replaced. We know you are already an expert at finding bargains at yard sales, thrift shops, etc. I haven’t seen mention yet of FreeCycle. Check out your local chapter for office furnishings, leftover paint or wall treatments, and used window treatments. I would probably hit a local odd lot store for blinds and a valance, unless I had the time and “stuff” to make a valance or some sort of cornice board. The ceiling paint could be the first $20-25 you have to spend from your $100 target. Hmm, do you have Hobby Lobby there? My mother’s local ad (I’m there now.) shows furniture half off and lots of home décor at least half off this week… Good Luck!
diane @smartmoneysimplelife says
First – DON’T go to Pinterest for ideas… you’ll still be there at the end of the week. 🙂
Probably the next thing is to figure out how you want the space to feel: business-like; creative; girl cave?
Once you’ve figured out how you want the room to feel, you will look at the stuff you already have differently plus, you’ll have a vision in mind when you hunt through the places mentioned by Rosaleen in her comment.
Probably best to steer clear of the cupcake theme, though. 🙂
Good luck!
Lisa Millar says
Funny…. Pinterest is like the black hole of time!! So hard to drag yourself away! 🙂
Mavis Butterfield says
It is a black hole Lisa…. stay away!! 🙂
Melissa Doroquez says
You love to garden. You should bring that outside. If you have terra cotta pots not in use, they can be painted to hold pens and office equipment. If you find fallen leaves you can use them as a reverse stencil on the walls or any painted furniture and then peel off to reveal their shape. If you have extra garden twine, you can run in a diamond shape along a bulletin board to hold clippings and loose papers. If you find a plethora of old boards or pallets, you could add a chair rail or rustic beadboard. If you ever want to close off the room you could use clear contact paper with leaves and flowers and other garden things flattened between them for the door’s glass panels.
And I love a bright ceiling paint color or a super cool white. You seem to have a lot of light, I would probably choose a gorgeous spring leaf green, something that is ‘bright new’ and refreshing. If you use that and white it will be a truly inspirational room.
Mrs. Chow says
Wow, those are great ideas! I am going to use some of them!
Kayla says
Wow. Melissa you have great ideas. Can you come decorate my house? Seriously… the reverse leaf idea is awesome.
Connie says
When considering paint, see what your local Habitat for Humanity Restore has available. I found a lovely pale yellow for a recent project – they had several colors to choose from – it only cost me 5 bucks a gallon. 🙂
Bettina says
Connie, that is a great idea! We’re working on updating our kitchen and keep getting stalled by cost. There’s a Restore not 5 minutes from where I work! I see a trip in my future come next payday!
Connie says
Fair warning Bettina … visiting the Restore can be ADDICTING. I so enjoy supporting Habitat for Humanity. Happy shopping! 🙂
sheila says
If you have a bunch of extra paint from remodeling, you can mix your own custom color for free and use up all those spare cans leftover from projects. It helps knowing a little bit about color theory first and of course, once you run out, you’re screwed if you need more. I’ve painted my living room, dining room, kitchen, hallway, and bathroom doing this. …I paint a lot!
Mavis Butterfield says
Ohhh what a great idea!
sheila says
…and if you get it all mixed up and the color is slightly off ( say it needs a little bit of red), just use some craft acrylic paint to tint latex paint. A big bottle is what? $2? It’s my understanding that is what they use to tint it in the first place. Just make sure to thoroughly stir the paint to get an accurate color.
Connie says
Brilliant idea!! Thanks for sharing, Sheila. 🙂
Lorraine says
Check Harbor Consignment by the Post Office on Judson. You might go over your budget but their stuff is sometimes pretty cool.
Kari says
Fred Meyer has cheap mis-tinted paint, as does Lowes, HD, etc. I bet you could find a color you like. I love the leaf stencil idea posted above. Please do that, then give us a tutorial so I can copy! Home Depot has some beautiful, inexpensive drapes. Or you could make some easy no-sew ones for drop cloths. Face your desk to look out the window, with the two chairs under the window facing the desk. Maybe a large clock on the wall that is currently positioned behind the desk. I think you have most of what you need.
Tamara says
On the ceiling paint wide (6-8 in) stripes, milky white and the “spring leaf green” balanced with an area rug in a bright leaf design, sorta abstract if you can find it. Enlarged photos of your travels and your garden on the walls. The light fixture could be a large white paper pendant.
Katie P NC says
If you already have a couple buckets of paint to use up that look good together, or find some discounted paint, paint big stripes around the room! I did my laundry room with a muted grey and custom mixed (read: paint I already had) white/blue and it looks so much bigger! For a smaller sized room, like a pantry or hall bathroom, it’s awesome to have a funky pattern that would be too overwhelming in a normal sized room.
Lee says
A sky blue ceiling and colorful curtains? That would leave extra for bargain finds.
Sarah says
I 100% agree to NOT go onto Pinterest if you want to finish it fast! But if Lucy will be in there with you a lot and you want to do something creative I think that a pouf like this (http://www.designsponge.com/2010/05/sewing-101-making-a-pouf.html) or this (http://www.bhg.com/decorating/do-it-yourself/accents/make-a-pretty-pouf/#page=1) would be a great addition! If you go with the taller one it would be great to stuff with extra clothes and use it as a rest for your (presumably tired, gardener) feet =)
Mary Ann says
I love so many of the ideas here, but aren’t you just flipping the house? If you’re only going to be there for another 15 months or so, you kinda just have to finish the room and not make it too personal, right?
Keep it simple. 🙂
Mavis Butterfield says
Yep. 🙂 That’s why I want to spend as little as possible. 🙂
Betty D says
Wow…..Mavis…lots of great ideas here…for sure. Gona be fun watching you come up with something. Only thing I could add…is the molding on top the door just doesnt look right for some reason. Maybe its the since flat slat between the door and molding. Id take that out and drop the molding down. The double doors are so pretty…and it you want privacy Id add some curtains that can be tied back when you’re not wanting the privacy. The garden/outside theme brought into the rooms sounds so great. Enjoy your blog of some many interesting things. Thanks so much!
Amanda P says
You should start with a 4X8 sheet of white peg board centered behind the desk with rough stock lumber for a boarder. Add a couple of air plants in old jars and hang on peg board with old wire or coat hangers (then you will have a bunch of space to hang office essentials). Find an old rug for the center of the room. (hopefully free or yard sale cheep) Buy a drop cloth and use the 5 min new sew drop cloth curtains off of pinterest.
Peg Board $18.00
Frame around peg board Free if you have scrap laying around
Air plants $15?
Drop Cloth $20
Jars Free (for plants and storage)
Total cost will depend on you but it would be super fun to help you design a garden themed office!
sheila says
I agree with Mary Ann. Keep it simple and impersonal if you’re going to flip it. Or at least keep the personal items to a minimum. You can’t beat something traditional and classic to stage and appeal to the masses. 1) shop your house 2) spray paint to make something new 3) check out Goodwill. Don’t you have the neighborhood garage sale coming up? It wouldn’t get the office done this week, but fast & cheap don’t always work well together. Put the hubs & monkey boy in charge of your garage sale and then you & the girl can go scout out the rest of the sales. Bring your cell phones, split up and collaborate over text/pics to make the most of your time. It looks like you have a desk and a chair or 2. I’d keep an eye out for a lamp or a pair, possibly a rug (or paint stripes or a pattern on a cheap solid color one perhaps?), maybe a loveseat or pair of upholstered chairs to face the desk (I’ve seen people paint upholstery), and a huge “art” piece behind the desk (the bigger the better)…even if you find the right size canvas, you can paint over it and make your own “art” (this is where you might want to look at pinterest). This might be a long shot, but sometimes you can find light fixtures at garage sales. Find something in a large scale. Usually nothing wrong with them except an outdated finish. Spray paint it and it’s brand new.
Lori B says
Given that you are flipping the house, I would keep the room neutral, look for yard sale/ thrift shop finds and whip up colorful curtains and lots of pillows. While the garden theme sounds lovely, many buyers will not be able to look past it.
Betty says
I’m not sure if it’s the time of day, or a cloudy day, but the room seems cool. If you are comfortable with warm colors, do the ceiling pink or coral. If not…maybe a lighter version of these colors, or…if you like a subdued feel, robin egg’s blue or a muted green. There’s a window there; why not have your desk look out? Angle the desk and chair. This way you can enjoy the outside and be covered in Feng Shui world! Go through the kitchen, basement, kid’s room; everywhere to find more storage and display options. Any old shelves hanging around? Any drawers? Stack them to make storage. Baskets, colorful boxes, whatever you have… There’s a lot of empty wall. Get the twine, wire, boards, funtack. and display your paperwork around the room.
Paula B says
I think you should have an accent wall papered with all the rules, regulations and responses from the HOA. And since you’re just flipping the house it could be useful for the next owners too.
Mavis Butterfield says
Ha! That would be a total drawback if you ask me. 😉
Nancy D says
My only thought for this room is that you frame several of the beautiful pictures of your Puggle Princess in various sizes on one wall. “The many moods of Miss Lucy… the football one is a must! Oh….and an awesome coordinating “lookout chair” or cushion for her window seat!
Mavis Butterfield says
Ha! I love your idea.
Catherine says
What about taking your empty seed packets and framing them? I bet you could source a bunch of small frames or a really large frame from a garage sale or goodwill and make a nice wall display (sort of along the lines of this one, but smaller prints? http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Il5kOf_mIzY/U0xjAvOsI4I/AAAAAAAAMDc/FHiRnr9WvXs/s1600/cowhide+rug+2.jpg.jpg)