Isn’t it funny how our interests change as we get older? When I was 16, the thought of interior design would have made me start snoring on the spot. Now I love poring over home decor sites, perusing the Nate Berkus collections at Target, and taking a peek inside the homes of others to get an idea of their own personal style. My home office has been a recent project of mine, especially since I started my own business. It’s where I spend a great deal of time, so I wanted it to be bright, happy, and invoke creativity while still feeling grown up. Here’s the before picture with the previous owners’ furniture:

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Quite dull, no?  As with our master bedroom, we kept the beige walls for the time being, but I spruced things up a bit with lighter furniture and colorful artwork.  It was also a proud day when I hung my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees right next to a framed print of my business logo.  That was a #girlboss moment, for sure.

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Pardon the clutter, but my desk space is filled with papers, books, photos of my children, and a large collection of number two pencils.  I actually hate writing with mechanical pencils; the way they write on paper makes me shudder.  I’m also obsessed with Sharpie pens and always have at least two or three laying around.  Add to that my Erin Condren planner and my office is constantly a sort of organized chaos.  The life of a small business owner, am I right?
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The opposite side of my office is a bit of a gallery wall with seating for the occasional visitor.  The scripture prints are from Naptime Diaries, and the portrait of Mary was a gift.  My mother actually gave it to my husband for Christmas one year as a bit of an inside joke.  It was originally my Grandma Smith’s, and one time while we were visiting her Orlando jokingly asked if he could have it.  My no-nonsense, World War II-surviving grandmother gave him a straight answer: nope.  When she passed away my mom thought it would be appropriate to give it to Orlando in her memory, since she truly loved Orlando despite her stern response that day. 🙂

 

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I wish I could tell you the final wall in my office has some chic decor, but it’s actually a very non-photogenic dry erase board.  It comes in handy for brainstorming sessions, but it’s not exactly HGTV-worthy.  What’s your favorite design tips for a home office?  This space is still a work in progress, so tell me all your secrets!

XO,

A