5 Ways to Redo Your Home Office Without Hassle
Is your home office lackluster or affecting your workflow? Designing a new-for-you office space doesn’t have to be expensive or cause you a hassle.
When you redecorate a space, it’s easy to get caught up in the little details of wanting to make the room perfect. But dwelling on details makes the whole process of redoing your home office more difficult. So, save time, money and materials by taking the easy road to redoing your home office with these five tips.
Pick Only One Luxury Item
Don’t spend hundreds of dollars redoing your office from top to bottom. Choose one luxury item you can’t do without splurging on, such as a new desk or office chair. You could also purchase an oriental rug to use as the focal point in a room.
Simple splurging extends to other areas, such as a remodeling job to create a reading nook by a window with a perfect view, or hiring an artist to create a mural.
Marry Function and Fashion
Modern minimalism and shabby chic are aspects of the do-it-yourself movement. Keeping it simple with function doesn’t mean you have to lose your sense of fashion.
Minimalism allows a space to breathe and draws your eye to the essential elements of a room, your desk, chair, shelving and a piece of wall art or beautiful hardwood floors. For example, overhead shelves are a wonderful way to create space and organize your files and inventory, while giving your eye a line to follow and open up space.
Repurposed items offer whimsy and can also save money. For example, keep a treasured heirloom in the family by upholstering a busy chair with a simpler pattern, or turn an old dresser into a bookshelf by removing the drawers and installing panels for the books. The idea of repurposing also applies to wall space: Transform an old closet into a series of shelves with a foldout panel to use as a desk.
Use Upscale Painting Tools Without Breaking the Bank
Pans, paint cans, rags, brushes and hand rollers are all classic and essential painting job materials, but these supplies go to waste as quickly as you use them, and buying more can get expensive.
Many people believe it’s best to hire a professional when you want a quality paint job. However, you could save more money by doing it yourself, and save time with hard-to-reach areas by using a compressed paint gun. All you need to do is look for a compressor with 30-50 psig for your paint gun, and your ornate desk or cabinets will have an even paint surface without bumps.
Plastic bags are great for storing paintbrushes so you don’t waste the brush or paint, and garbage bags will cover painting tins to preserve the paint. A drill attachment also makes it easier to stir paint and keep its texture consistent.
Don’t Opt for Hard-to-Install Hardwood Flooring
Restoring old hardwood flooring is expensive, but can lead to a beautiful finished product. The costs of installing new hardwood can also add up quickly. To save money, choose laminate flooring that snaps together and that you can install yourself. Some of these flooring types also include recycled woods and are highly sustainable.
No matter what flooring you choose, strike a balance between affordability and longevity. It’s possible, and you’ll save more money, sweat and tears if you do.
Go Bargain Shopping
Ready? Get set to bargain shop.
Thrift and other secondhand shops offer beautiful pieces of furniture and other items, but you may have to stick your head in a few shops first to find what you need. That’s part of the fun.
For a simple splurge, and if you’re looking for a piece of furniture to steal the show, hit up auctions or antique stores to find that perfect desk. Another option is to search for estate sales online or in the newspaper.
On Saturday and Sunday, wake up at the crack of dawn to eat breakfast, and buy an Americano while you’re at it — you’re going to need the espresso to stay awake. It’s yard sale time.
Many yard sales are announced on Craigslist, in the newspaper or in yard sale social media groups. Otherwise, pick a neighborhood, and have fun spotting creative neon poster board or cardboard yard sale signs. Wooden furniture is the best investment, since you can always repaint or refinish it. Make a morning of it, and you’ll come across many affordable finds.
Redoing your home office doesn’t have to be an expensive hassle. When splurging, focus on one must-have item, such as a new desk or a decorative area rug. Save money by upgrading your painting tools with easy hacks, and pick laminate floors over hardwood to make installation a snap. Marry function with fashion, and repurpose items you already have or find while bargain shopping.
Your home office should be a place where productivity, inspiration and positivity are part of your workflow. You have permission to take the redo easy road, and have fun while doing it.
