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December 10, 2015

Home Office Decorating Ideas: My Latest Office Makeover

decorating ideas
Welcome to the fourth time I've redone my home office.

Here's the thing: Having a new baby makes it almost impossible to get anything done. I've all but lost my ability to focus and my desire to be productive has left the building (because when Ava is asleep and I have a free minute, I usually just want to eat chips and watch RHOBH.)
You understand.









I know that as time goes on I will find a better balance and everything will make sense to me yet again. But, in the meantime, I thought it might be helpful to come up with some decorating ideas and redo my office so that it's a place that inspires me to sit down and be productive. So, this week I did just that. And you guys, it actually kinda helped and put some pep back in my step. There is truly something to be said for making your surroundings pretty. 

We'll start with a before picture. 
Because my questionable interior design skills are on full display, and it will make you feel better about life.
Plus, there are two empty lint rollers in a glass bowl, so there's that.



And here's what the office looks like today.


decorating ideas

I hung a new light fixture, added a new rug, made some curtains, made a painting, and brought in my silver leaf desk from the bedroom.

decorating ideas

I added a cheap bookshelf I already had in the corner to hold all of my art supplies. It's too small for that nook, but like who has the time to worry about such things. So, for now, I just hung that mirror (that I spray painted silver) and smiled and moved on.

decorating ideas

Here's a closeup.

decorating ideas

A quick shelf inventory for the curious sorts: 
Top shelf: some notebooks and magazines, my favorite new book (That's an affiliate link, but seriously, it's my favorite. Helped this ol' gal get back up on the horse again.), a gold jar filled with my paintbrushes, a thrift store ginger jar that just looked so hawt right there, a canvas I painted pink and then ran out of steam to finish. 

Middle shelf: big tubes of pink paint, a big bowl filled with little tubes of paint, and then a bunch of different pots of metallic paint. Nothing too exciting here.

Bottom shelf: So much spray paint (Years ago when I first started blogging, Rustoleum sent me a whole lotta spray paint. And now I just hoard them, hoping that I will one day use them or that a friend will come over and lament about needing spray paint and then I can be like 'Come. Follow me.', and then I will make a big sweeping hand gesture and reveal this shelf. Obviously cementing our friendship forever.)

Moving on, here's the room from the opposite direction, looking back towards the hallway.

decorating ideas

You may remember that my silver distressed office desk was originally from a thrift store and I spent days of my life applying silver leaf to it. It originally looked like the below picture. I added a piece of beveled glass to the top of the desk so that holds up better.

how to paint furniture

I had been using it in our bedroom as a vanity table for years, but long gone are the days that I sit down and do my hair and makeup, so now it will have better use as an office desk.

decorating ideas

A few other office decor items of note: 
This rug. It's the Datura Floral Rose rug from Rugs USA and it's just awesome. It totally makes the entire room, let's be honest.

floral rug

Also of note, the hardwood flooring is the white washed flooring we installed throughout the entire upstairs in this post and the paint colors in this room are Valspar Homestead Resort Jefferson White (on the walls) and Behr Ultra Pure White (on the trim).

I also hung the gold leaf painting that I made the other day in here. 

gold painting

This room really has multiple purposes for me now. I use it to sit at the desk and write my blog posts (I'm sitting here as I write this.) and I also like to come in here at night sometimes after Ava is asleep and sit on the floor and paint. 
So, in real life, things tend to look like this:

decorating ideas

Here's a painting I've been working on this week. Nothing special, just something fun to do.



Because when mini-Jesse is asleep, sometimes the mama needs some me-time. :)


Thanks for being here, y'all. It means so much to me. I'll be taking a few weeks off to spend time with family for Christmas. I hope you all have a wonderful holiday season and I'll see you in the new year!

'Til then,




P.S. You can see my other versions of the office (some good, some bad) here and here.


decorating ideas




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32 comments:

  1. Such a beautiful room! The carpet is gorgeous! Like a big floor painting!

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  2. It looks beautiful!!! Could you please tell me where the light fixture is from; I love it! I have a 6 month old little girl and totally relate to the lack of motivation in the few moments you get to yourself during the day! I'm sure that will change. One day. Lol!

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  3. It looks beautiful!!! Could you please tell me where the light fixture is from; I love it! I have a 6 month old little girl and totally relate to the lack of motivation in the few moments you get to yourself during the day! I'm sure that will change. One day. Lol!

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  4. Looks so good! Also Ava is precious! Looks just like mama! :)

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    1. Thanks Lacey! She is like 100% Jesse so it's nice to know I'm in there somewhere! If I hadn't birthed her, I would be very concerned. :)

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  5. Just unbelievably gorgeous. And as you put down your shelf I'm thinking. Okay I've got that white shelf or close enough in the garage and I should SO organize my cans just like this instead of all over the edges of every shelf so I can see what I have. If the weather were better I should spray paint the shelf. It's looking pretty dinged up!!! The rug and desk were made together!!! Have a beautiful first Christmas as a Mommy. It's so fun!!

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  6. Office looks great but your little girl was beautiful. That smile is something to behold. Congrats on such a productive year!

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  7. The office looks great. I would put back the dresser you used to have in that corner, under the starburst mirror. The silver desk is stunning.
    But, let's talk about the piece that stole my heart and you called "nothing special". The light! The shadows! The subtlety! That painting is so.very.beautiful.

    Merry holidays Virginia. :)

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    Replies
    1. Thank you! I so agree...that dresser was perfect for that space! But we moved it downstairs into the basement guest bedroom. So, I've been forced to work with a tiny junk shelf. There are worse things in life, right? :)

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  8. What a beautiful office space!! It is so airy, full of light and just knock out pretty. I love the rug and your desk. How could you be in this room and NOT be inspired?! You've out done yourself and it is lovely!

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  9. Wow, that looks really nice! Love that rug. You'll get your groove back eventually. Babies do that...I remember how out of place I felt after my son was born. It's a whole new way of life and just takes adjusting to. So worth it though. She's absolutely adorable. Have a wonderful Christmas!

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  10. Hey Virginia. As always, I love your home styling but I just had to comment to mention how much I also love your writing style and share this with you...
    So, Hubby and I were chatting the other day about how often I blog. I fret about 'needing' to put out more than the 1 post a week I currently have time for and he tells me people won't unsubscribe just because they don't hear from me more than that. Then along comes your email and I'm like "yay! It's Virgina! I wonder how she is and what she's been up to" and it hits me. Maybe Beloved is right. Maybe my subscribers are just happy to hear from me and enjoy a good conversational post, just as I do yours. Thank you for the laughs! Sue x
    Beloved thinks you and I would get on like a house on fire. I tend to agree!

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    1. Thank you so much, Sue! I used to worry about that, too, but decided a couple years ago to focus on quality over quantity. I've never regretted it, not even for a second! Thank you for recognizing that. I really appreciate it. xo

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    2. You are most welcome hon. Thanks for the reassurance! Have a fab Christmas x

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  11. I have a serious case of rug envy! It's beautiful, but wouldn't work anywhere for me as beautifully as in your office- so I'll enjoy vicariously! And, I now have squishable chubby baby envy! Enjoy your first Mama Christmas- kids make it so much more fun! See ya next year! 😊

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  12. A gorgeous, light, serene office. Simply beautiful. Adore the flooring and painting is beautiful (also the one your working on). Have a wonderful Christmas with your family :) xx

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  13. Look how cute she is!!!

    Also, I love the office makeover. But Ava is cuter :)

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  14. I was going to say "let's be honest it's all about that rug!". But I see you knew that...hehe. It's a beautiful room. I also love the damask wall piece. We have very similar design aesthetics. Lovely!

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  15. Love what you did to the desk and your baby girl is adorable!

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  16. I love that rug! And the cute baby ;)

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  17. Ava is so gorgeous! I am so glad to hear from you again; I have missed your wit! Your office is so beautiful; I love the rug! One day I would love to come and take some of that paint off your hands...spray paint is my friend and Rust-o-leum is my go to brand! Take care!

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  18. I am still so inspired by all you do in your home! Hope you have an amazing Christmas & New Years!

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  19. That rug is great! I've made so many purchases from RUGS USA, I'm running out of floors! Love your office! :)

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  20. I love your office and your style! I'm a new homeowner about to delve into diy projects and your blog has given me some inspiration! I hope you had a nice holiday and are enjoying your baby =)

    newyeartrueme.wordpress.com

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  21. Love your office! Hope one day to give mine a "refresh."

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  22. I love what you've done with the room! And that desk looks like it cost a lot more money with the silver paint! I just got into refurbishing furniture and blogging about it-- creating a work space is next! Thanks for the inspiration :)

    www.gatsbymakesthree.com

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  23. Virginia, I need to give my home office a makeover, but first I have to "refresh" the family room. It's looking rather tired!

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  24. I love the addition of Ava pictures to your posts! Keep 'em coming :)

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  25. Very LOVELY office -- love the colors and the light!

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  26. I love this post. Your office is beautiful! I really like the painting you are working on too.

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Thanks so much for leaving a comment!! I do the hammer dance every time I read one.

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