Thrilled to finally walk you through my home office! This happens to be one of the last spaces in our house I haven't revealed yet, simply because it gradually turned into a dumping ground (or perhaps a hiding spot?) for random items.
For a full twelve months, this space sat stubbornly on my agenda. Every time I got it nearly presentable, we'd hastily whip the rest of the house into shape and—well, you know how that ended.
But here's why I'm sharing all this: to encourage anyone else out there with "that one room" haunting them. There were moments when I was ready to throw in the towel and surrender to the chaos. But recently, though, I kicked off a 100-day challenge centered on transforming aspects of my life that frustrate me, that I feel embarrassed about, and that I keep postponing. And would you believe it—the moment I got this room roughly three-quarters of the way there, I felt an entirely fresh wave of JOY every single day walking in for my Skype calls and email replies. Pure happiness!
The takeaway? If I can rescue my most hopeless space, you absolutely can too!
Before I dive into the details, let's take a moment for the before-and-after! The complete set of pre-makeover snapshots is available right here.
Can you believe it? We closed on this house exactly three years ago this week! The instant I spotted this little library nook, I knew it was destined to become my workspace. A massive space isn't necessary for me (this is even tinier than a typical bedroom) since I naturally spread my work throughout the house. What I truly require, however, is abundant storage for supplies.
Originally, the walls were powder blue and so was the carpeting. The dark shelving only deepened the gloomy atmosphere. The very first project after moving in was giving every piece of wood a white paint job and rolling fresh white onto the walls too.
Painting our floors white is a decision I haven't regretted once. Dust vanishes, pet fur becomes invisible, and the whole room feels more luminous.
I aimed to keep things as crisp and white as I could, since minimal clutter helps me focus. Still, I craved a hint of rainbow—hence these curated display shelves. Vibrant pieces destined for photo styling live on these shelves. Naturally, gold earned its own tier—I count it as a color (and so is white… my rules, after all).
Here you have a wider angle and a tighter shot! The rainbow shelving blends nostalgic treasures: an abstract canvas from my niece, a waffle house mug my husband gave me… even the cake topper from our wedding day makes an appearance. You'll also spot dinnerware and glassware gathered throughout my blogging years, plus a few current inspirations—pink '90s sunglasses among them.
Shop the sources: Gold Cactus, Gold Hand Jewelry Holder, Gold Hands Vase, Woven Bowl (adoring The Little Market!), Pink '90s Sunnies. You'll find plenty of vintage alongside treasures from CB2, Target, Home Goods, and Anthropologie collected over previous seasons.
Next, let's explore the towering wall of shelving… my storage bins are largely from Ikea, just so you know. The step stool also hails from Ikea. Our childhood photo collection lives in boxes perched up high, our pre-Nova Polaroids occupy another container, and magazines that have featured us are tucked away in the file boxes.
The light fixture comes from Sazerac Stitches—it's actually the same one I used to have elsewhere in this room. Months after we captured those initial tour photos, I realized the fixture was within reach of little hands from the top bunk. I swapped it for a smaller flush mount, and my office adopted this one in the process.
Beyond that, every craft category has its dedicated box: tape and glue together, felt on its own, embroidery floss separately, jewelry-making bits in another. Honestly, this is the most organized my supplies have ever been. I'm thrilled because the system is starting to prevent me from purchasing duplicates of things I already own (a habit I struggled with for years—truly the worst).
Another thing I adore: I can tackle nearly any project involving embroidery, yarn, stamping, paper, clay, or fabric paint. The truth is, most spur-of-the-moment creations don't even require a craft store run. I AM OBSESSED WITH THIS!
For me, crafts fall into two categories: practical makes (typically to save cash—or to get precisely what you want when stores come up short) and "cozy comfort crafts." Comfort crafts come alive during TV marathons or lazy Sunday afternoons when the kids are napping. These are my absolute favorite, which is why I always have a stock of pretty yarn, felt, paper, and basic fabric ready for whenever inspiration strikes!
Metal locker baskets work beautifully for stashing colorful supplies—yarn, for instance.
I'm also a devoted collector of vintage '70s craft books—they're packed with the most delightful cozy project ideas. I should feature them in a post someday; they're genuinely special!
My purse hangs in the office because Nova is in a stage where she'll yank out anything she can reach (genuinely terrifying, ha). The door visible here leads to the hallway where the bedrooms are situated. Directly opposite sits the entry from our living room (with its turquoise flooring). I have the option of closing both doors for privacy or leaving them open so the space essentially becomes a passageway that everyone uses (we switch between both modes).
This particular shelf has been the single greatest improvement to my office! It's a custom build (so unfortunately not a tutorial-ready DIY, but I'll describe it as clearly as I can). The shelving on its left side is a Martha Stewart storage unit I brought over from my old office. I still adore it and use it, though I always wished it were bigger and offered some counter space. Collin came to the rescue by building DIY pull-out drawers next to it, plus one countertop bridging both pieces (now firmly attached as one). This felt like my true "figure it out" breakthrough moment for this room. The instant Collin modified this piece and tacked on one shelf above, the room's functionality multiplied tenfold.
Within these drawers, you'll find my entire Oui Fresh sample collection, ongoing projects, paperwork awaiting organization, a whole drawer devoted to Nova's artwork (!!!!), and at the base sits a larger drawer housing my precious wide-format printer.
Desk accessories linked: Camera, Woven Vase, Pencil Cup and Tray, Dance It Out print (from Ashley G—it's graced every office I've had so far…), David Bowie print I crafted myself from an online image, and naturally, a painting by Nova.
This image reveals how everything comes together harmoniously. Now, let's transition to the desk wall.
My desk runs on the smaller side, but experience has taught me this is sufficient. Each morning, I clear it off, switch on my diffuser, and grab a coffee to kickstart the day. I make an effort to keep the surface uncluttered, but when things pile up, the ten minutes it takes to reset to zero is ALWAYS worthwhile.
Since the exact desk I own isn't available, here are a few budget-friendly white alternatives: I adore this one and the reviews are excellent for the price point. This one nearly made it home with me… my aesthetic rarely leans "industrial," but the clean simplicity appeals to me. This one is darling if you want built-in shelving.
Just left of the desk sits my recently crafted mini photo art and a woven basket serving as a wastebasket. I discovered it locally at Apple & Oak—it's by Xinh & Co (her baskets are stocked throughout Nashville, and they're my absolute favorite).
My essential oils live to the right of my mood board. Now that Nova is part of our world, the elevated storage has been a lifesaver… she's bizarrely drawn to essential oil bottles, so we either keep them high up or completely tucked away. The oil shelf originated on Etsy (sadly, the seller's account has been removed… but here are alternative options and here's another straightforward choice). Having my oils meticulously organized is essential since I reach for them daily.
Beside my desk on the right, a ceramic planter holds my gift wrap stash. Generally, I gravitate toward versatile wrapping paper suited for any occasion, leaning heavily on neutrals. Yet I can never resist a marbled option when it catches my eye.
My white-and-gold office chair is a beloved piece. After nearly three years, it still looks immaculate, though that's largely because I avoid dark denim while working… basically never (lol). This was a recurring issue in our former office space… countless chairs turned darker from people's denim. Consider yourself warned if dark jeans are your go-to. I belong to the camp that swaps out of jeans the second I walk through the door—denim and I simply don't get along comfort-wise. Dresses are my preference, and I cherish having at least one workday a week in sweatpants. #blessed
Chair shopping links: an identical-looking option, plus a comparable alternative at a friendlier price point.
The rug comes from Coco Carpets, and I am head over heels for it. Vintage Moroccan rugs hold a special place in my heart—they've accompanied me through countless homes. The color palette on this one is truly distinctive (I'm captivated by orange tones in rugs), and I'll cherish it always (eventually passing it on to its next home someday). This outlook on home goods resonates deeply with me… there's beauty in investing in pieces meant to be passed along, not discarded after a season or two.
Nearly every oil in my collection is Oui Fresh, and I currently have an expanded selection I'm using to develop ideas for blend formulas (creating blends is a goal we're excited about, so right now we're experimenting with various diffuser combinations).
This diffuser tops the list of every one I've tested (we own several models since we run them in nearly every room). Rocks and minerals also make a strong showing in my office. I won't claim to be an authority on them, but they're a passion I enjoy collecting purely for the joy of it. Oh, and two non-negotiables always live on my desk: Herbivore Rose Quartz Oil and Oui Fresh lip gloss.
Alright, I think that covers everything for today! The positive energy this refreshed space is channeling into my work is such a gift. I deliberated for ages about adding color or a feature wall, but in this case, I'm convinced that less truly IS more. As the saying goes… "clear eyes… full hearts… can't lose." (That quote is actually about painting your walls white, by the way—please don't Google it.)
Sending love! Thank you for tagging along on this office tour. xx — Elsie
Credits // Author: Elsie Larson, Photography: Amber Ulmer. Photo editing: A Color Story Desktop.
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