What's the view out the window?

Can you turn the desk around so you're looking at the prettier colour wall and the light doesn't shine in your computer screen?

Look for some lovely pieces of art that you can hang on your wall.

Hey apple pie order, view is nothin pretty unfortunately. Just of backyard then a two lane "highway" lol Lovely

And carolins, it'd be nice to look at the nice wall color but I preferred my being able to look down the hall, so I didn't feel totally isolated! :S

Thanks for info. Sounds like adding a birdfeeder might not be enough to improve the window view. How about collecting some more home office photos in your ideabooks? Then look for a trend. You have one photo that shows a much warmer set of accents in a light green space. Perhaps paint and artwork will be all the change you need. Adding a visitor (family) chair with a pretty throw would be attractive, too.

Beach Style Living Room · More Info

1st picutre if you are female: Wallpaper or paint the wall you are staring at and/or add art or a diy note board, an orchid on your desk and a nice lamp, and window treatment will all make a huge difference. Last pic for a more masculine look: blackboard paint, black and white photos on other wall, etc. In either case, basically personalize the room.

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Three Light Brushed Nickel Drum Shade Chandelier · More Info

A clear office chair mat under your desk chair will protect your carpet.

Thank you carolins i love what you've done, where did you find those curtains ps? lol they seem to go PERFECT :)

Marci4 great idea about the tower tray, didn't know they existed! and maureen, totally wish I could wallpaper, but I rent, so a note board would be great if i could figure it out, not the sharpest DIY'er. lol

:) - lots of info available on google, here is one to help. http://www.things-to-make-and-do.co.uk/fabric-and-sewing/fabric-notice-board/fabric-notice-board.html. Ikea has some great curtains at very reasonable prices and they come unhemmed usually, but with tape so if you add rod farily close to ceiling (which will make it nicer), you don't have to worry about length, as you can adjust appropriately with the iron on tape. Ones below are $29 for the pair.

Great tip for curtains from Maureen.

The curtains I've put in your room are from Westelm, so is the art and the planter on feet. The floorlamp is from Lampsplus.

@carolins: your choices give an amazing transformation of the office.

I also work from home.

Question: if you never want to work in this office, where do you work now? I'm just wondering if you decorate it, whether you will actually work in it; perhaps the room is destined to be used for a different purpose? Like a guest bedroom, or a library with lounge chair for reading, or a home gym, or a walk in closet?

You mentioned you don't like to feel socially isolated when you work. Neither do I. That's why I don't want my home office tucked away somewhere. I want it in the living area instead.

Most importantly, I abhor sitting in office chairs all day long (horrible for your back!) and prefer changing my seating frequently throughout the day, sometimes lounging rather than sitting up, sometimes standing. Sitting at a chair is for doing video conferences, which I spend a large part of my day doing, but not all day long. I don't have a desktop computer, just a laptop, so I can easily move it and myself around. I tend to like to "follow the sun" during the work day -- around 4-5 pm I like to be able to face the window where I get the best view of all those poor suckers stuck in traffic. I also prefer my "office" station near the front door, so that it's easy to sort the mail and then quickly stash the bills to be paid.

I also don't want an "office" that looks like an office. I want it integrated into the overall decor so that it's flexible, as in I can move the chair away and use it elsewhere for extra seating when company comes, and the desk then looks like a console. Charging station would be nearby but hidden from sight, and work laptop tucked away for the evening.

In my last place, we had a small extra bedroom that was our office / guest bedroom, but like you, I found I never wanted to work in there. Even after we decorated it. I'd go in there only to file or print stuff. We've since moved to electronic filing and I've gotten myself in the habit of never having to print anything, so I only need a very small filing system for things like tax returns. Ultimately I wound up using our kitchen table as my "office" when I had to do conference calls. This worked okay except that the kitchen counter then became a magnet for electronic charging --- family of 4 with 4 iPhones, 2 iPads, and 5 MACs... gets crazy! -- as well as bills waiting to be paid.

My final requirement is that when I'm doing video conferences there's something interesting behind me, a nice piece of art perhaps.

Writing this out is helping me clarify what I want. I suggest you think through how you really work, before you redecorate this office.

Here are some photos of our designs that should get you started.

Elegant Custom Desk Design · More Info

Custom Desk Design · More Info

Custom Home Office Desk · More Info

To make a small room appear bigger then paint it in 1 color

Colors also effect the mood of the room. That blue may be too calming for you. Pick a bright cheerful color that inspires you or a nice neutral to keep focused, or white to be bright & open feeling.

old post.

I painted my office ceiling a very pale haint blue to keep the evil spirits away.