Surprise Mom with a Home Office

These days, having a home office is as essential as a kitchen and bathroom. We either work from home, study at home or have a dedicated area to pay the bills. If you’re lucky enough to have a room like this, the biggest mistake I find is that homeowners don’t take the time to decorate this space to complement the rest of the home’s décor.

Instead, what I find is a mismatch of furniture, very “office-looking” pieces and lots of disorganization that can be counter-productive. Here are some solutions to achieve the perfect balance between function and style, which will also make a nice Mother’s Day gift for mom, too! It could be an office, or simply a beautiful space for her scrapbooking, painting, photography, or any hobby she might enjoy.

As shown in the makeover highlighted in the photos, the first step is to do away with all the non-essential pieces, such as the secretary desk and hutch. I kept the second desk attached to the hutch, but gave it a facelift by using it as a center base for my new and improved “longer desk,” which was made by using two 30” hollow-core doors as a table top. I supported the ends with individual table legs and brackets you can buy at any home improvement store.

This gave me ample storage underneath on either side to place file cabinets and bins, which I hid behind café curtains I placed along the front length of the desk using small rods (great trick to create the look of a table skirt and hide all the clutter). I also created the same effect at the bottom of an open bookcase for more hidden storage. 

Finally, make sure the walls are painted a soothing color and filled with beautiful artwork and images mom likes. Replace the traditional office chair with a beautiful upholstered one to create the look of a writing desk you would find in a five-star hotel.  I don’t know about you, but this is definitely a space that will inspire creativity, and hopefully mom will love because it is also a reflection of her personal style!