Home Office Makeover on a Budget!
Hii, it's Remi here!
It’s been such a crazy year, and many of us are still working from home full-time. If you didn’t work at home before the pandemic, there’s a good chance you’ve just set up office space on the fly.
How’s that space working so far? Do you feel productive, efficient, and comfortable in your home office space? Or do you struggle to find what you need because there’s so much clutter?
Last month, Nate and I had a blast helping our friends April and Conrad (and their cute dog Dozer) spruce up their home office without shelling out tons of cash. These two own their own business, and they’re working around the clock, so I had to find a way to make the space comfortable, creative, and super productive! The total for this project came out to $1526.59 (they originally gave me a $2K budget), so I'm stoked that we are $500 under!
In this post, I’ll show you how a few small changes can completely change the energy of the space. I was lucky to have Nate with me to do some of the heavy lifting, but you don’t need to be a construction expert for this type of makeover!
I hope this post gives you some cool ideas for leveling up your home office — all it takes are a few small changes to make your space feel open and creative! Plus, I’ll give you links to all the furniture and decor we used at April and Conrad’s, so if you love what I did, you can copy it at home! (Dozer the dog not included though, sorry haha!!)
First, Let’s Make a Budget
A good way to guide your project is to set a limit on how much you’re willing to spend. If you know your max, you can prioritize what items are most important and stop yourself from buying things you don’t need. Here’s something to think about: What are some ways you can do more with less?
Home Makeover Tip #1: Start with What You Want to Keep
The easiest way to stick to a budget is to minimize how much you have to buy, versus what you can just keep and repurpose. Stuff you don’t want anymore you can sell (hello, bigger budget!), donate, or refurbish with a coat of paint. Think about what furniture pieces you can sell to upgrade certain furniture, and look around the house to see if you have existing pieces that can be used in other ways.
At April and Conrad’s, the only thing they said they wanted to keep was their desk chairs. They also had two shelving units in their closet that they weren’t using, so we were able to move those into their creative space to store their fabrics and office supplies. Sometimes just moving what you have around the room can help you see things in a different light!
What Are Your Must-Haves?
When I got to April and Conrad’s apartment, I first wanted to find out what their goals were for their home office makeover. It’s soooo important to go into a home makeover with a clear plan and end goal. If you’re starting this process in your own home, begin with an idea of what you want to accomplish with your home office makeover. What are your goals? Do you want this space to be inspiring, better organized, equipped for phone calls, or just a little more comfortable? Here were Conrad’s goals:
“We use this place as a home office, and so we really took the time to put anything [together] nicely. We just kind of organized it based on what we need right now, but we want it to feel more comfortable.” - Conrad
April and Conrad had just been making this space work as they needed it to. As a result, things felt a little disorganized and out of place. I know I’ve felt this same frustration in some of my own spaces.April and Conrad moved things around depending on what’s going on during the day, and it felt a little haphazard and thrown together — not ideal for getting things done. April and Conrad needed a space that is both creative and inviting — it’s their home, after all!
I think it’s really important to figure out what you need to have in your home office to be productive. We all work differently, and working from home is wayyy different than being in the office.
Here are some things to think about: What would inspire you to sit down and get to work every morning? Is having lots of natural light non-negotiable? Are you wanting to stay focused and away from distractions? Do you need a lot of storage space?
The number one thing that April and Connor told me they wanted furniture-wise was a desk that felt a little sturdier. That was the one big purchase they wanted to spend a little more of their budget on. We went with this beautiful Scandinavian Designs Gammel Desk. They also wanted a mirror for the entryway, a shoe rack, and lots of organization.
Home Makeover Tip #2: Designate a Space for Work
It’s so tempting when working from home to just roll out of bed and open your laptop. I know I’m guilty of sometimes working from the bed of the couch. And that totally makes sense if you don’t have a comfortable place to work!
Everyone has their own preferences when it comes to their workspace, but for me, I think it’s so important to designate a separate space for your home office. When I work from my bed, I can tell I’m just less productive. And, studies have shown that combining your workspace with your leisure space can disrupt your sleep cycle and negatively affect your productivity. So preferably, you’ll invest in a comfortable desk and chair! Your posture will THANK you.
I also find it helpful to invest in a supply drawer and filing system for your papers. This keeps your work life separate from your personal life. In April and Conrad’s apartment, I got them LOTS of storage and organization! Here’s what I used in April and Conrad’s apartment:
When you have a space to work and a container to store your work things, you no longer feel overwhelmed. When you’re done with work, you’re completely done, and when you start work, it’s much easier to focus without all the clutter!
Finally, Add Some Flair
To put the finishing touches on April and Conrad’s home office makeover, I went to Cost Plus Home Market to find little knickknacks and plants and decor. I went for some throw pillows, coat hooks, and a throw rug in light cream colors to give April and Conrad’s office a soothing, minimalist vibe.
I’d recommend doing the decorating last because you'll know how much of your budget you have left after you spend on more expensive items, like your desk and storage space. I look for two things in the decorating phase: fresh touches (like plants!) and things that will help keep everything tidy. Here are some of the cool finds I got for April and Conrad:
In this home office makeover, it was important to me to make sure there was a place for everything: pens, papers, supplies, planners, misc, electronics. Cool touches like the key and coin plate make it easy to keep your space neat and tidy.
Home Makeover Tip #3: Freshen Up With Plants!
I’m a big fan of having plants in your home office — or any room, really! They make the space feel fresh and full of energy, and did you know there are also health benefits to sharing an office with plants?
Indoor plants are scientifically shown to reduce stress, help us focus, and may even purify the air. And, you don’t need a green thumb to keep an indoor plant alive! Here are some examples of easy-care indoor plants:
Chinese evergreen
Jade plant
Fiddle leaf fig
Money tree (Guiana chestnut)
Yucca
Air plants
Spider plant
Peace lily
Snake plant
Aloe
Even a cactus would work! Those guys need barely attention. Of course, you could always go for an artificial plant — whatever works for you! I like adding little touches of color here and there, and plants are the perfect way to do that.
The BIG Reveal: Before and After
Ok, so back to April and Conrad’s apartment. The biggest changes we made were getting a better desk, moving things around to help the room flow better, and adding TONS of storage — for shoes, keys, papers, you name it. Now, everything has its place, and April and Conrad have the space to accomplish BIG things. Even Dozer got a doggy bed upgrade from Casper!!
So many of us started working from home unexpectedly, and just made it work. I respect the hustle — adjusting to this new normal has definitely not been easy! But it might be time to reevaluate your home office set up. Check in and see if the way you’ve been working is really helping you achieve all your goals. The good news is that it doesn’t take a ton of money to change things around and refresh your energy. Repurpose what you can, sell what you can’t use anymore, clear out those closets, and add a little life to your home office to make it feel totally new!
I hope this post inspires you to create the space you need to work like a boss. Remember — you don’t need to spend a lot to make big changes happen. What you do need to do is prioritize space for your work life where you can focus separately from the rest of your life. And have fun with it! This is a great chance to express your personal style and get creative.
I would LOVE to see your home office makeovers! Show us how you’re switching it up, and if you’re comfortable, share your budget so we can see how you made it work. Tag me on Instagram @rrayyme, and feel free to comment below!
