As I continue my adventures in painting the new home office en suite, I have completed the first phase of the color makeover. Eight walls and 3.5 gallons (including the paint in my hair, on my clothes, and of course, the layer that found its way to the bottom of my feet). Don’t ask — it’s a skill.
The benefits of DIY painting include 1) cost reduction, 2) extended timeline, and 3) ability to change your mind with minimal third-party expense (so…that purple didn’t work out the way you expected…head back to the big-box home-improvement store of your choice!).
I can now call my handyman for estimates on the ceilings, doors, and trim, three jobs that are totally worth the expert assist. Why am I going on about paint color for my home office? When was the last time your employer asked you what you thought about the colors of the four walls in the corporate setting? Better yet, when was the last time those suckers got a refresh? There, ’nuff said.
But I will agree with you that now that the color level-up is almost complete, it’s time to move to the next stages of the upgrade: floors and more. The bedrooms still have the original carpets from 2006. Two kids, five dogs, and several teenage guests later, it’s time to say goodbye to the old carpets and hello to the new, improved hard surface.
Carpeting has its uses, and I’ve spent my fair share of nights sleeping on some of the worst. However, in a home office space with multifaceted purposes, plush cottony fibers can just slow you down and make clean-up far more dramatic than is necessary. I’m opting for engineered floors, which will provide an old-world vibe in a vintage decor space.
Classic darker colors with strategic, layered distress markings will provide an aged look for the room’s foundation and anchor the muted vanilla walls to vintage white trim and ceilings. This look allows the room to transform easily from office to bedroom when space needs change or ownership transfers.
Colorful area rugs strategically placed can provide the warmth, beauty, and comfort of traditional bedroom carpeting.
Pro tip: Hard surfaces are also easier to navigate in a traditional office chair. Try rolling back from your desk while locked in battle with berber. Go on, I’ll wait. Hard surfaces can also double as additional workspace: flatter surface than carpet, with multiple purposes and easier to clean (up) than carpet.
Now, hardwoods can be expensive, I totally get it. Engineered floors, bamboo, and even ceramic tile (yes tile) can mimic the visual appearance of hardwoods and are just as beautiful. Of course, the @Home Worker needs to consider the connecting rooms and entrances to the home office. Take pictures of any tile, carpet, etc. that touches the threshold of your office. Why? Two reasons: 1) you may want to sell the home in the future, and complimentary textures and features improve the resell value of the home; and 2) you don’t want the last thing you see first thing in the morning before “going to work” to be mismatched flooring that gives you a an “epic fail” feeling. (Trust me, you’ll thank me some day.)
I’ve done the easy part, painting with a bit of aerobic add-on, but now comes the expensive, yet exciting, phase. In the next three weeks, I plan to secure the painters to complete the remaining drywall and trim transformation and then start shopping for floors. Total budget: $5,000.00. Let’s see if I can make that happen.
Until then, stay cozy in the comfort of your own Home @ Work space.
Ciao,
M