My New Office Area

Today’s Finish It Friday project is my new office area. If you follow Dogs Don’t Eat Pizza on Facebook, you know that my office area has been one of those “problem areas” in my home. I’m not finished yet, but here’s where I am now:

New office area - thediybungalow.com

So, why is this a problem area in my home? My office is in the guest room and, until now, I just didn’t have enough room to spread out and work. Here’s my craft space before:

New office and craft area - thediybungalow.com

This is the area in the guest room between the bathroom and the closet. I organized it well enough, but it is just too small in which to really do any work. I would move the chair and stand up at the table, or I’d just leave it altogether and go work at the kitchen table.

It was time for a change. I had a solid wood door in our storage room that I knew would be the perfect desk top. I needed some legs for the desk, so I first went to the thrift store. I found this file cabinet for $4.98!

New office area - thediybungalow.com

I gave the body of the cabinet a coat of Rust-oleum Universal gloss white spray paint + primer.

New office area - thediybungalow.com

And I painted the fronts of the drawers with Rust-oleum chalkboard spray paint:

New office area - thediybungalow.com

I liked the black and white paint combination, plus I wanted to write on the file drawers, to show what was in each one.

New office area - painted file cabinet - thediybungalow.com

For the other side of the desk, I bought a drawer unit at Ikea ($79).

I also wanted a new desk chair, because the blue plastic swivel chair just isn’t comfortable. I found this chair at the same thrift store as I found the file cabinet:

New office area - thediybungalow.com

The seat needs replacing, but it is otherwise in good shape. Not bad for $4.99! I found the same chair on Ballard Designs’ website for $279.00 for two. Score!

I moved the tripod lamp onto my desk – just because I love it so much and wanted it all to myself – and here’s where I am now:

New office area - thediybungalow.com

Same photo, with the cost/supplies breakdown:

New office area - thediybungalow.com

New office area - thediybungalow.com

Now I just have to tackle organizing it, and cleaning up the rest of the room, which is a disaster:

New office area - thediybungalow.com

What are you working on today or this weekend?

2 responses to “My New Office Area”

  1. Regus Avatar

    This proves that we could really create something nice out of used items. I was amazed how you have recycled the old wood door. Excellent job for this one!

    Like

    1. Karen Cooper Avatar
      Karen Cooper

      Thank you! The door makes for a great work surface – nice and big – and glass on top makes it a flat surface.

      Like

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I’m Karen

I’m a recovering lawyer. Join me on my DIY and organizing adventures!