But, there’s another benefit to building your own wood home office furniture that goes way beyond saving money or getting to use the saw… You can customize it. I don’t know about you, but when I spend a pretty penny on a new piece of furniture, I’m always afraid to change it (the same is definitely not true of the pieces I pick up from the thrift store–stay tuned for a tutorial on faux gold leafing a chair to see just how irreverent I am when a piece isn’t brand new and pricey). Plus, often times the size is just off enough to be annoying–like, when you have 32″ for an entry bench, but can only find a bench that’s 18″.

So, being able to choose all your own colors, modify the size to fit your space, and getting solid wood furniture for the cost of materials? Sign me up!

What’s more, Ana regularly features projects her readers have made which means you get to see just how doable those projects are (especially since many of her readers are first-time furniture builders).

And she has a wide variety of plans perfect for your office space. Here are my favorites. (All images from Pottery Barn or West Elm.)

Secretary

A secretary desk is the perfect solution for small offices (or offices that are on display, like those in living rooms or bedrooms), and this one is no exception. Though I love it in PBs white, I think it’d also look smashing in navy or eggplant, with a brighter color on the inside. Though the PB hardware is lovely, it would also look sweet with something a little fancier.

Get Ana’s plans and materials list here.

Project Table

In Ana’s plan, she adds a drawer to the desktop so that you can easily store pens and other desk stuff, which is such a smart idea. See, building it yourself lets you make sure that your home office furniture suits your needs perfectly instead of having to compromise.

Get Ana’s plans, including materials list, here.

Apex Bookshelf

This bookshelf is lovely with its sleek, modern lines, but what I especially like is the way it’s so airy looking–it won’t overwhelm a small space the way a more solid bookcase might. Plus, I priced the supplies at my local Home Depot and it’s really inexpensive to build–well under $50. (Though that’ll vary by market.)

Check out Ana’s plans here.

What’s your favorite?

Beware: you’ll spend quite a long time on Ana’s site if you have any interest in building home office furniture. So, now that I’ve warned you, why not visit Knock Off Wood and choose your favorites?

If you’ve ever snuck into the conference room to use the table in there (I did a lot of that at my first magazine job), or taken a project to the dining room, you’d probably enjoy a home office table as well.

These are my five favorite tables for the  home office.

The gorgeous Pottery Barn Montego Pedestal Table extends to 65″ long with the included leaf. That’s plenty of space for meeting with clients, or really spreading out a project.

It only comes in the one finish, which is a shame as I think it’d look especially lovely in a darker color, but look at that fantastic hand-turned base! Of course, the trouble with a table with a leaf is that you have to find a place to *store* the leaf, but I think this one’s worth the extra hassle.



This Wisteria Spindle Leg Table in blue has a delicate, fairy tale look. It’s perfect for smaller spaces as it’s just 22 inches deep.

Because it’s hand-finished, each piece feels more one-of-a-kind than some mass produced furniture and that gives this table the air of high quality wood office furniture. The legs are also quite elegant and would be right at home in an office with less modern furniture.



Looking for something more modern than the first two? How about the CB2 Silverado? With it’s sleek silver “sawhorse” base and clear glass top, this one will be right at home in a modern home office.

Round tables look lovely with hanging pendant lights, and I think the designer-recommended Firefly Pendant Lamp might be just the ticket to keep the sophisticated industrial look going.



The stylish drop-leaf Harvest Table from DWR would look smashing in a home office–it’s got simple lines, and a space-saving shape which means you could push it up against a wall when you don’t need all that sprawling room, and pull it out when you did.

I love drop leaf styles because then you don’t have to find a safe place for the table leaves.



The counter-height Umbria table from World Market has space-saving storage underneath with the two shelves. Its compact square size (44″ x 44″) means you could tuck it neatly into a corner, and it would make a fantastic mailing station. Whenever I have to do a mailing, I always high tail it to the kitchen island (after cleaning it carefully, of course) because its so much more comfortable to do that sort of work standing up, with a counter-height surface. If you find yourself doing projects standing up and slouching over a table or desk, this table would be a perfect upgrade to your home office if you have the space.



What do you think? Would a table have a place in your home office? Or do you work in a room (like the dining room) that has one already?

Custom-built cabinets by Direct Discount Cabinets

Office bookcases are one good storage solution, especially when you use coordinated boxes to wrangle the small stuff and keep it from looking messy. But, sometimes, you really need closed storage and that means home office cabinets.

Sure, you can go to your local home improvement store and pick up ready-made cabinets. But these are designed for kitchens which means their dimensions might not be right for your space.

Another option is to have the cabinets custom-built by a local carpenter. The great thing about this option is that then your cabinets will fit your space perfectly. Typically, kitchen cabinets are too deep for most home office needs, so having something shallower built will probably make for more convenient storage. This option will probably cost less than you’re expecting and will let you customize every last detail from the door style to wood choice to whether you have pull out shelves to how many drawers you have.

Your third option is to take a look at some of the gorgeous pre-built options on the market. There are some great home office cabinets available these days from retailers ranging from Pottery Barn to Ballard Designs. Of the three options, this is usually the priciest, but you’ll certainly get lots of use from the additional storage and it may be well worth it.

One consideration about either of the first two options is that, depending on your house, a built-in home office may increase your home’s value while the furniture styles of the third choice are best if, for instance, you’re using the third bedroom and plan to convert it back to a bedroom when you sell your home.

So, what do you think? Are home office cabinets right for your space? And which option sounds like the best fit?

After all, there’s a big fireplace in there (perfect for stockings) and plenty of room for a tree or other decorations. Whichever winter holidays you decorate for (if you do), it can definitely be a treat to include the room you spend so much time in every day. Perhaps you can do this by using decorations from other rooms, or maybe you’ll decide to head out and buy some new stuff.

Here’s some of what’s catching my eye when I think about how I’d like to decorate my home office for the holidays this year.

A Forest of Glass Trees

Aren’t these gorgeous? They’re from Wisteria and have such an ethereal, delicate look. The largest is 22″ tall, so you’ll need a bit of room to display these–they’d look elegant atop a mantle or perhaps on a bookshelf.

A Pink Fantasy Tree

Like something straight out of a Dr. Seuss book, this pink tree from Target has completely charmed me. I love how playful it is. Plus, it’s not your typical Christmas tree which makes it perfect for a space like home office–what better way to make it clear you don’t work in a cubical than with a tree you’d never find in a stuffy office?

Clear Acrylic Snowflakes

There’s simply no better time of year to add lots of glitz and glitter than winter. I adore most of Jamali Garden’s home accessories, but especially love these acrylic snowflakes. In a cluster, they’d bounce light, especially hung high (for safety) above candles. They also have gorgeous crystal garlands that would be easy to use to adorn bookshelves or even your desk.

So, what do you think? Do you plan to decorate your home office for the holidays this year? How?

But, I bet you skip your home office when you’re doing this seasonal nesting. Most of us do. And that’s unfortunate–after all, if you work from home, you spend a lot of time in this room. And cozying it up can make a big difference in your productivity and how the room feels.

So, this year, why not pick up a few accessories that make your home office warmer and more homey for the fall and winter season? Here are some of our favorites.

A hand-knit throw from Toast amps up the snuggle factor when thrown over your desk chair (or draped over your lap).

Velvet drapes have the added bonus of insulating your office better than sheerer fabrics, and they bring an elegance that will keep things cozy into spring.

This wool rug from Brocade Home has a delicate, laser-cut pattern, which makes it perfect for keeping the floors warm and yet not feeling too heavy.

What’s your favorite way to make your home office cozier as the temperature dips and the leaves fall?

Breakfast nook as home office

Flowers are always a nice touch for the home office

Home office organization gone colorful.

(All images linked to source.)

Here’s how Denise describes the situation:

We need help! We have a wide entry hall and that’s the only space in our whole house that really works as an office. The kids and I work on the same laptop (Denise does part time bookkeeping, the kids do homework and play games) and I’d love a longer desk area so both kids can be working there together. Right now, we use my old college desk but it’s deeper than I’d like for the space, and a lot shorter than is ideal. One thing I do like is that the desk has a bit of storage–if you can’t find something long and narrow with storage, we’ll need another resting spot for pens and paper because I hate having that stuff out in the open.

My style is really modern, but the living room is currently furnished in a Pottery Barn style–if you can keep the office space clean but also homey, that’d be perfect. As you can see, we’ve partially stripped the 60-year-old wallpaper (grass cloth), so we need to finish that project and then we’ll need a wall color. I’d also like a new ceiling light fixture as the one that’s there currently is pretty darn ugly. The ceilings in the hall aren’t high, so it’ll need to be something close to the ceiling instead of something that dangles.

We have a budget of $1000. I’m happy to hunt for bargains at the thrift store, so feel free to suggest a piece or two that you think I should find something “similar to.”

Thanks!

So, what we need in this case is a long narrow workspace, plenty of accessible storage and seating for two. Also, because there’s no outlet in the entry hall, Denise plans to have an electrician come out and wire one. Here’s what I put together for Denise and her family.

Since Denise’s budget is important, I’ve included current prices on each item–notice, we bring the whole thing in under budget!

1. One of the best ways to make two (kid-friendly) workspaces in a tight space is to use a bench because it takes up less room than two chairs. Along with relatively modern lines and a low price tag, this piano bench also has the benefit of hidden storage under the seat making it a real asset in the space. $110
2. This darling speech bubble message board brings a spot of playfulness to the space–it adheres to the wall and works as a chalkboard for sharing messages. $15
3. The Pottery Barn Wall-Mounted Craft Organizer has plenty of nooks and crannies to store all the small school/work related stuff like paperclips and rubber bands. $229
4. The Ikea sofa table has just the right dimensions for the space–it’s both a lot longer and a lot narrower than the current desk, and it also has that extra shelf for more storage. $199
5. Instead of a ceiling fixture, I recommend Denise have the electrician install three of these wall sconces. They’ll provide both better task lighting and can function as mood lighting. Overhead fixtures tend to be a bit glaring for living rooms and the sleek lines and friendly price of the Turner Sconces are perfect for the space. Plus, this means we won’t need a desk lamp which would take up space we can’t spare. $49/each
6. For the wall color, the current living room is a warm beige, and I suggest bringing the aqua that’s used heavily in the living room (as accents) into the entry as a light color on the walls. One with plenty of green, like Sherwin Williams’ Hazel will go nicely with the carpeting, though Denise plans to replace that with tile in the next year or two.
7. And, of course, we need flowers! Though this is the entry way and something fresh would be especially lovely, since we’re mixing kids and computers, I recommend something that doesn’t require water like these coffee filter roses.

So, there you have it, a tiny workspace for just $700. To save additional money, Denise could scour Craig’s List for the sofa table–you’ll usually save about 40% that way and can often find the furniture in good condition. A second hand piano bench is also a good option.

That’s how we’d bring modern yet warm style to Denise’s tiny office space. If you happen to be in the mood for a board of your own, click here to score some home office decorating advice for yourself.

Image by Emdot on Flickr

“Jessica, I really liked your recent mood board, but I was surprised to see you included a couch. I guess I just think couches belong in the living room, not the office. Am I way off base, here?”

Thanks for asking, Juanita, and I bet you’re not the only one wondering about that! Here’s my thinking.

If you have a small home office, you probably won’t have room for a couch and there’s no reason to fret over its lack. But, if you have a large space, there are a lot of great reasons to consider bringing in a couch:

1. It makes for really comfy seating for guests and you get to enjoy it, too. When I’m working on a project and need a break, I often curl up in the big comfy chair in the corner with my sketchpad. (My office isn’t big enough for a couch.) Having a seating area that’s not at my desk is a boon to my creativity because it means I can still be working but not in the same “Working” mindset that my desk inspires.
2. A couch is easier to decorate around than several occassional chairs. Many home offices incorporate guest seating, and a couch makes great use of space if you were planning on two or three chairs. (Obviously, if you only have room for one chair, even a loveseat is out of the question.) In a pinch, you can often squeeze an extra person onto a couch but you don’t get that flexibility with chairs (if you have a three-seater couch, you’ll usually have room for four, if you have three chairs, you won’t have room for four).
3. A couch looks more “homey” than typical office occassional chairs while still looking polished and professional. In other words, when you do have clients in your office, they won’t think a couch looks too casual. (And those chairs sold for offices–ick!)

Really, for me, it’s a question of space–if you have the room for a couch, I think it’s a smart choice because it’s more flexible and more comfortable. It does tend to be a high-er end look (for instance, partner-level lawyers offices often have couches) which is why it can be a little uncomfortable for some people. But, the truth is, a couch usually isn’t much more expensive than a similar number of well made chairs (a three-seater couch vs three chairs, for instance) and the end result is a clean, cohesive look.

So, Juanita, and anyone else who was wondering, that’s why I think a couch absolutely has a place in the home office under the right circumstances.

Big floral arrangements can be pricey, though, especially for what you’re getting. So, my preference is to buy wholesale fresh flowers, arrange them myself, and wind up with flowers for every room in the house. These days, you can find a lot of wholesale flower suppliers on the internet who mostly specialize in wedding flowers–that means they tend to have a wide selection of beautiful blooms that arrive fresh and ready for display.

Here are some great choices for your home office:

Fresh Tulips

If you have a modern home office, tulips have a clean shape that fits in beautifully. And, if you pick up 100 or more stems, you’ll be able to decorate your whole house with them. For the most modern look, tall clear glass vases let you see those dramatic green stems.

Ranunculus

Ranunculus are my favorite flowers–all those petals, the gorgeous, rich colors they come in, the way they’re a pretty easy bulb to grow. They’re also popular for weddings which means you can get great prices on them when you buy at least 100 stems. They look gorgeous in shapely white vases, and I think they look best when you mix colors together.

Roses

Roses are typically everyone’s first choice, and it’s no wonder. They’re dramatic and lush and long-lasting and they usually smell wonderfully. Move beyond the typical red or yellow roses you see so often with these fairytale pink apricot stems. Green roses are also gorgeous, especially in a shabby chic office, but they’re a little more expensive than more common colors.

What are your favorite fresh flowers for decorating a home office?

Last month, we asked what you look for in a desk and, not surprisingly, the results were as varied as our readers:

• 23% of you said you like a large desk–in fact, you voted, “The Bigger, The Better!”
• 18% of you said you need something small and so you watch the measurements carefully to ensure a desk will fit your space.
• 37% of you crave a desk with plenty of smart storage
• 12% of you prioritize a desk’s style over all other details
• 11% of you look for uniqueness in a desk and care most about that

Note: Numbers add up to more than 100% because of rounding

What we enjoyed most around the office were the comments you left on the survey form. From several annonymous commenters, we heard:

I love a big desk I can spread out on. It’s important that there’s space for the computer, my project, and all the resource files. Plus, I usually have a magazine open and at least one “back-burner” project on my desk. The best desk I’ve found so far: a dining room table! Plenty of room, and you can sit along it anywhere.

I have a drafting table that I love working on–with the work I do, I don’t need to be able to keep it at a slope, but it’s nice to be able to stand up while I’m doing my work.

Lots of storage is a must! Otherwise, my office looks like a tornado swept through. I love my pedestal desk because of all the drawers.

Among the commentors who left their names, Jenny said:

Uniqueness!!! I will seriously gouge my eyes out if I see another of those “sawhorse” desks. Bah. It was a clever idea when the materials were cheap, sure. But have you seen the price tags on some of those desks??

Pam said:

Solid wood. I know that wasn’t one of the options but nothing’s so distasteful to me as working on one of those cardboard contraptions. Give me solid wood or give me the floor, I say.

Yolanda said:

I work in a corner of our guest bedroom, so size and storage are key. But, it’s also really important that the style go with the rest of the room–I didn’t want my workspace sticking out like a sore thumb.

Thanks so much to everyone who took the time to fill out the survey–it was awesome reading your responses and your feedback will definitely play a role in the desks we feature here.

Enjoy your copy of “Designing the Perfect Desk: Elements Every Home Office Needs” as our thanks for your participation.

Didn’t get a chance to participate this time? Never fear! We’re already planning our next survey so you can score a copy of our delicious book, too.