Most of us don’t have our own private room dedicated to a home office. With more and more of us getting laptops and even wireless printers these days, having rooms that can do double duty makes sense! If you need a place to sit and pay your bills, check out The Inspired Room every day {aw, thanks guys!} or just a spot to catch up on some paperwork, you can create little home office corners just about anywhere and everywhere in your house!
The key is to make them beautiful.
Since you need to enjoy sitting at your desk, let’s make it pretty! Why have a boring corner in which to work? How inspiring would that be? Give your space some visual punch with fun patterns and colors. And don’t forget a jar filled with fresh flowers as a special treat you give yourself!
Inspiration: Country Living
I love the egg crate shelving filling up the wall and the desk right out in the living room {above}. Living rooms can be such a waste of space, this solution makes great use of a blank wall and gives the room architectural detail!
This pull down hutch is a sweet little spot to check your email without leaving the kitchen or dining room! {Country Homes & Interiors}. Accessories like baskets, wood boxes and drawers can hide the unsightly.
If you have to have a desk in your bedroom, make it fit right in with your decor! Go for the “charming writing desk” look! {Homes & Gardens}
For storage, it is all about the containers. You can store your office supplies right out in the main rooms of the house if you have the right boxes to hide the clutter! Think you might forget what you put in those boxes? Attach pretty little labels to the outside of each one! {Homes & Gardens}
Woven baskets add texture, look pretty and make an office space just about anywhere. {Better Homes & Gardens}
With an office in plain view, it is fun to add some character! {Living Etc.}.
This corner invites you back in time to where we still had to use our brains for computers!
If you have the option, give yourself a room with a view!
This beautiful glimpse of the backyard would inspire me! {Country Homes & Interiors}
A wide hallway can be a great place to tuck in a few shelves and a workspace! {Better Homes & Gardens}
The tall wooden ladder gives it a punch of personality and function.
While older homes are often short on space, they tend to have lots of nooks and crannies! Put a cranny to use for your tiny home office! The all white look with pops of color keep it fresh and feminine. {Canadian House & Home}
Need some clever solutions for your home office? I put together another post full of home office ideas right here!
I also found a collection of great tips for home offices over at Canadian House & Home — head on over for more ideas!
So, where is YOUR home office? While I have a desk in my bedroom (yes, I know, I owe you all photos, but honestly my bedroom is not together yet — long story, I”ll share more soon), I tend to do most of my blogging work at the kitchen table or family room sofa! And on a nice day, I’ll be out on the porch! How about you?
I love the black desk with the vintage photos above it.
I just this afternoon posted a “sneak peek” photo of my new RED office. I feel so blessed to have my own office & I love the color red, it’s my favorite!
Stephanies inspiring blog post..seeing red
I love the black desk with the vintage photos above it.
I just this afternoon posted a “sneak peek” photo of my new RED office. I feel so blessed to have my own office & I love the color red, it’s my favorite!
Stephanies inspiring blog post..seeing red
Oops…forgot to say great post! Looking forward to your next one.
I am usually at the dining room table or on the living room sofa. At the moment it is the sofa…that lasts as long as the laptop battery then it is back to the table to be plugged in.
Having the laptop is wonderful though, sonce I used to use my husband’s workshop computer, tucked away in the basement. It is a nice enough room but far away from the activities of the house.
Becky K.s inspiring blog post..Outdoor Wednesday – Horse Rescue
I love the nooks and crannies! :) Beautiful spaces!
Cheles inspiring blog post..Mid-Week Shout Outs!
These photos are very inspiring. We have a fold-out secretary desk that we just set up in a corner of our living room — I would love to add more to the space and will use these as inspiration for sure!
Allegras inspiring blog post..Awesome Item of the Day
What inspirational, inspiring work spaces. Suddenly I’m looking around, thinking my environment needs a make-over. :-)
Our home is a U shaped ranch that opens up to a courtyard. My husband and I took it down to the studs, and we have spent the past three years re-doing the house. I have a desk area in the kitchen that used to be a wet-bar area. (not practical, unless I decide to have a martini party!) The desk has two shelves below to the left and a file cabinet built in to the right. I also have a HUGE PB style bulletin board above my desk to put everyone’s schedules and reminders on. Hubby even incorporated the light fixture that was in the hallway of my childhood home. (It’s from France)
OK, probably more information than you were looking for, but I love my little home office in the kitchen : )
Brightons inspiring blog post..Sneak peek into Anne’s beach girl room…
I love that space tucked under the alcove. I could get lost in there, staring out the window. I have a guest room that I’ve thought about turning into a space (office sounds too, I don’t know, just too) just for me. But what would I do with that giant queen-sized bed?
Deidras inspiring blog post..Digging Deep
There is a room in our “newish” super-old farmhouse designated as my office, but for now, I’m smack dab in the middle of the kitchen and living room. Great inspiration photos, as always!
Shannans inspiring blog post..The Big Three-Three
I love this post. It has inspired me to work on my home office. Thanks. Oh, I’m looking around and starting to get overwhelmed already. Let me go back and read the post again.:)
Deb
Debs inspiring blog post..INSIDE OF PANRY- DONE
I love the crisp clean look of all the rooms, perfect spaces for working and creating! It’s been stated, “clutter means you are out of control” all these rooms say, you are in control and have a beautiful place to do your work! Very nice pictures!
I think my favorite one is the first photo. It’s very simple, but I love the beautiful upholstered chair.
This is the perfect post for me today! One perk of the little apartment that we live in is the extra “den” type room that we use as an office. But we’ll be losing that room soon – we’re moving on up in July. Thanks for the great ideas!
Kristen @ Beautifully Imperfects inspiring blog post..Reminicising
I use a walk in cedar closet as my office! Thankfully it had an outlet in it and I turned it into an office. The wall of shelves for clothes I use to stack my “crap” on. I had my friend build in a desk. It’s a little narrow in there, but it is all mine and I can just close the door and leave the mess behind. Kinda nice being surrounded by all cedar too!
Mary Jeans inspiring blog post..Rainy Day Projects
Gush, I love the 3rd image down. Now THAT is my kind of desk! Currently my little corner of the world is in our bedroom. I’m not sure I’m totally feeling it in here however and may move it BACK out to the living room. Perhaps you’ll remember my post about it, I quite enjoyed yours as well!
As always, wherever my “corner” may be, I’m the biggest fan of fresh flowers so I loved when you said this:
And don’t forget a jar filled with fresh flowers as a special treat you give yourself!
Hugs and happy Thursday! :)
Ang @ The Creative Mamas inspiring blog post..The Great Snack Attack.
Two of the corners in our living room are carved out for an office and the other my crafting space. The other two corners are the entry and TV . Lots of uses in one room. We make it work. Thanks for the beautiful photos!
So inspirational, as always! I love your blog. It is on my daily must see list! We recently moved to a new home and for the first time ever I have my very own office – completely dedicated to my needs! I love it. It is spring green and has lots of toile accents. I still have a lot of decorating to do — we just moved 6 weeks ago; but it is all mine and I love it! I have 2 little boys so it is truly the most girly thing in my house!
cribtaless inspiring blog post..Ella – June 2009
Love these ideas! We have just moved and are creating an office space in our bedroom. It is definitely a challenge, but it’s fun being creative with it, too!
Loras inspiring blog post..*A Work In Progress*
Great photos! Our office is in the kitchen at a counter height desk-it works great for bills and other projects and clever storage hides the clutter! Otherwise we just tote the laptop to the table or outside. The back porch is my favorite office space right now!
Ginas inspiring blog post..Matters of the Heart, Why my Heart is Important
What great work spaces! I love that room with the egg crates – could it be any more lovely? Great inspiration pics. Thanks! Hope your summer is great so far!
XOXO
Jen
jenjens inspiring blog post..Last Minute Father’s Day Gift : Photo on Canvas Tutorial
Thanks for always sharing your treasures with us so generously! (Your photo yesterday was perfect for my post; I’d been ill and was a bit down and the photos really cheered me up.)
I love the pull down hutch!
I have no home office. I converted a coat cupboard into a computer space with L-shaped shelves, a desk top and a pull out keyboard shelf, but I have a laptop now that’s turned me into a nomad. I’m currently designing the guts of a freestanding pine wardrobe conversion so that I can house the lap top and have a mini desk space. These photos inspired me but left a lingering touch of sadness as I used to have a whole study to myself in our last house. The laptop’s not the problem; it’s the pile of books and papers I seem to be permanently surrounded by when I hunt for quotes and bits and bobs I’ve studied. :(
janice|Sharing the Journeys inspiring blog post..Guest House
Wonderful tips! And the images are just so inspiring!
I run a small hair bow business out of my home, so I found one spare corner of our tiny apartment and made designated it for my crafty endeavors. It makes such a difference when the cuteness of your own space is enough to inspire you!
http://mrspriss.com/2009/03/30/my-crafty-area/
… gotta love typos. :)
Mrs. Prisss inspiring blog post..Just adding a few more lovelies to my shop…
i need to “make” an office. now, the computer is in the dining room/school room/storage/office and it’s not good. Must.Get.Creative! :)
Jen@Balancing Beauty and Bedlams inspiring blog post..Father’s Day Tradition – Father’s Day Cake
It is where I now sit. My beloved garden room. And mine has to be cozy and filled with warmth to spend most of my time in here!
Brenda
Brenda Kulas inspiring blog post..Thursday Themes & Junk Party
if only mine looked like ANY of those, I am seriously study challenged, it is a mess though I keep the actual desk pretty tidy and clean…
Sarah
abeachcottages inspiring blog post..Beach Cottage Breakfast Room & More Vintage Furniture
Oooh, I like the one with a view best! Thanks for sharing! :)
susans inspiring blog post..Bold and Beautiful Kitchen Appliances
I added that first photo as part of my weeks best post with a link to you! Have a great weekend!
Rachel Folletts inspiring blog post..Weeks Best! June 14th-19th
I am in the midst of redoing my office and I found so many great ideas from these wonderful images.
Laura Ingalls Gunns inspiring blog post..Ribbon Covered Chandeliers
Love the beautiful inspiration photos! I am all set up in the sitting area of my bedroom. One day, I will pretty it up and post it. I am very at home in my room, it’s on the first level and I am in a bay window, so I can be nosey and enjoy the scenery all day long!
Have a great weekend Melissa!
~Misti
Misti of Studio M Designs inspiring blog post..I confess my love of…
I love looking at home offices lately as we will be down-sizing (soon) and the only room I am visualizing right now is how I want my home office to look. Having been in a spare room (that is now packed up and I’m working out of boxes), I look forward to a dedicated area just for my office. Great pics!