My new makeshift office space

Well, it’s official. I finally decided to become a grown-up and create a “serious” space to do all of my blogging business. Until today, I was accomplishing most of it from this comfy, yet inefficient spot in my living room:

Neutral living room

Oh how I love you, my sweet, sweet couch (moment of silence). You may recall that I already created an office upstairs. But, alas, the mister has pretty much taken over that space (oh, the endless stacks of paper … shudder.) Honestly, the upstairs office is in the bonus room above our garage, which makes it an inconvenient spot for doing quick email checkups while watching the kidlets. 😉 So I carved out a space in the living room just for me.

Blog-office-space

I dragged the desk up from our basement. We purchased it for $15 at a billeting auction on our Air Force base about 10 years ago. I would really like to re-finish it in maybe a distressed off-white. What do you think? The chair came from the same auction. I paid $5 for it and slapped on a slipcover bought at Kmart.

Office-pillowI sewed the pillow myself in, literally, half an hour. For a tutorial on how to make your own throw pillows in a jiffy, click here. I bought the fabric on clearance at Jo-Ann Fabric & Craft Store. It is the same fabric used for the office curtains.

Lantern-decorationThe lantern is from Pottery Barn. It was free because I cashed in the rewards points I earned from my dining room chandy purchase (total splurge).

If you notice, there’s a crazy-looking, half-wall thingamajig next to the desk:

Half-wallI have plans to remove that railing and wall trim to open up the space between the living room and kitchen. But I fear it is going to be one of those “snowball” projects. For example, when I remove the wall trim, I’ll have to extend the crown molding at the ceiling, patch portions of the ceiling, patch and/or replace the flooring … yada, yada, yada. Now you see why I’m holding off on this one for a bit.

What do you think of my little office nook? Do you have a space in your home where you can be creative and do what you love?

I’m linking this up to Miss Mustard Seed and Today’s Creative Blog.

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15 Responses

  1. Martha D. says:

    Such neat ideas! And, personally, I like the “crazy half wall thingamajig”– it defines the space and gives your space a “nook” feeling! Very creative indeed!!

  2. Denise says:

    Love the office space you created and also the divider – gives a sense of separation and knowing that the desk belongs there.

  3. Kathryn says:

    I suggest you leave the wall partition. It defines “your space” and ads to the coziness of the office. I personally like it, but I’m not seeing the whole space like you are.

  4. Susan says:

    Wow. It looks like a few of you like the half wall. Definitely gives me something to think about. 🙂

  5. Angie W says:

    I really like your cozy office space. Your desk and chair were amazing deals and are very cute! Don’t you love when you find a great score like that.

    • Susan says:

      Yes, Angie. When I find deals like that, I do a happy dance (in my head, of course, not in public; that would embarrass my husband). 🙂

  6. Elaine says:

    Keep the half wall!

  7. Penny says:

    I’m with the majority…. I think the 1/2 wall helps define the little space. Since it has the turning-posts it is open enough to not really block the view like the real 1/2 walls of the 70s. True, I’m not seeing the whole room, but I like what I see. And when you mention all the work of taking it out…..heavens!!

  8. debbie says:

    While I love painted furniture…with your white slipcovered chair I think your wood colored desk is a great contrast….if you want to paint it maybe think of trying a color that would be a great accent in the room or change the slipcover to a complementary color. I have a “messy” office upstairs, yet I blog like you did on my sofa too…lying down as I write this moment. I guess it depends where you are most creative!

  9. Leslie says:

    I love the desk! It is awesome and just the right size. You have the right amount of space for your work and no clutter.:) I like the half wall, too. But maybe if you paint your desk white, you might want to paint the wall a different color to continue to make it your own space!

  10. Vicki says:

    I also vote yes to keeping the half-wall for all the previously mentioned reasons. I also love the contrast of the wood on the desk. The honey tones add warmth. I would love to find a desk just like that for a little writing space in my bedroom!

  11. michelle says:

    Love …love…love it. Voting with the rest. Keep the railing thingy:).

  12. I saw your post on hometalk…and clicked over – I have pillows in my livingroom with the same fabric as the one on your office chair! You can view them here @
    http://thecreativemeandmymcg.blogspot.ca/2012/12/a-break-from-holiday-decorating.html

    I’ve never seen this fabric again…and I just love it!!
    (I’m a new follower!)

  13. Sharon says:

    Love your half wall and agree with the others that it defines the space without closing it with those open spindles. I also like the color of your desk because it goes so well withe brown tones of most everything else in the room. I think in this case painting it would be a mistake – your covered chair does the job and perfectly compliments the desk. Great job of carving out your own “blogging” space!

  14. Donna says:

    Yeh, keep the wall divider. I like it! It gives that corner character.

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