Finding Space for a Custom Home Office

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With more people working from home today than ever before, many are looking to add a home office to their house. Some may think that they don’t have enough space to make this happen; however, folks don’t need an entire room to add a home office. There are a few great tips and tricks that can turn almost any space into a comfortable, functional home office.

Turn a Laundry Room into a Home Office

One of the first places that should be looked at is the laundry room. With careful planning, along with some ingenuity, homeowners can take their laundry room and turn it into a functional home office. Clever carpentry can place a pull-out cabinet in the room along with a few heavy-duty drawer glides. By folding these key items into existing wall space, a seemingly small laundry room can turn into a beautiful home office. 

Looking at an Existing Bedroom

Another place that people can look for a home office is in their guest bedroom. This doesn’t mean that they need to take over the entire guest bedroom as their office space; however, the closet might offer some intriguing opportunities. Removing the door from the closet can add a significant amount of workable space. After all, some might not need a door in their closet at all. Then, think about using the closet rod to hang shelves and other useful items. Suddenly, with so much usable hanging space, the closet no longer seems nearly as crowded.

Put the Alcove to Use

Another great place to look for a home office is at an alcove. There are a lot of home structures that have quite a bit of awkward, recessed space. These nooks are great places to repurpose as a usable workspace for both adults and kids. This is a great location for kids to do their homework in addition to adults using this space to get their own work done. It might even be a good idea to add a double desk to increase the working space. A double desk will also create more room for storage and displays.

DIY Projects for home improvement in every room

No matter what room you’re working with, there are countless DIY projects for home improvement and decor. DIY home projects can help you save money while creating customized solutions for your exact needs and personal style.

If you’re interested in finding ways to beautify and enhance every room of the house, here are some suggestions to get you started.

Living room, kitchen & dining room DIY projects

A new paint job is one of the simplest and most effective DIY home improvement projects. If you want to transform your living room, just bring out the rollers and the brushes. The DIY option to update your house can be quite cheap and effortless to install.

Opt for neutral colors like beige and cream to brighten a space without limiting your other decorating choices.

Don’t forget, you can apply the same idea to kitchen cabinets, fireplace mantles and other surfaces. New paint is a cost-effective way to update the entire aesthetic of your living room, dining room or kitchen.

DIY laundry room ideas

Laundry rooms can offer some of the best opportunities for home improvement ideas. For example, install a cabinet above your washer or dryer for storage. If you have vertically stacked laundry machines, try adding adhesive or magnetic hooks to the sides.

To save space and add style, put your laundry detergent and fabric softener into mason jars or other small containers. Tucking the supplies away in storage bins or onto shelves will keep them easily accessible while decluttering the space.

Create a DIY memo board with chalk paint to record important reminders, laundry instructions and to-do lists.

DIY closet ideas

Improve any closet by adding DIY shelves with simple farmhouse brackets and wood planks. If you have cabinets in your basement or attic, increase their storage effectiveness by adding shelves or additional organization options.

Another easy DIY project is to transform your entrance closets into “mudrooms”. Adding hooks, baskets, or shelving is the most efficient method of helping everyone in your household stay organized and store their shoes, coats and other accessories.

For an added bonus, dedicate hooks for reusable shopping bags, spare keys and pet leashes.

DIY home improvement ideas can help you in any room of your home. Whether you want to improve functionality, storage or aesthetics, there is a DIY project perfect for you.

Your Guide to Garden Mirrors

Garden mirrors might seem like a new trend, but they’ve been popular among outdoor designers and gardeners for decades. With the wide variety of mirrors and mirrored surfaces available to add to your garden decor, you can incorporate this fun idea into your outdoor space. Here are the basics about garden mirrors and some ideas to inspire you.

Choosing Your Mirrors

Luckily, almost any mirror can function perfectly well in an outdoor space. Mirrors can stand up to hot summers and cold winters without breaking and won’t take any damage unless the backing gets wet. Moisture on the back side of the mirror might cause warping in especially rainy climates. Framed mirrors with exterior wood will benefit from a coat of protective seal. You can use clear polyurethane or a similar substance to protect these parts of the mirror from moisture damage.

Be Mindful of Wildlife

A major concern for using garden mirrors is how it affects local wildlife. Avoid placing mirrors in the direct flight paths of birds. Instead, use them along the sides of common pathways and cover them partially with plants to create the illusion of more space without adding potential collision hazards.

Design Ideas

  • Use a shower door mirror along a back fence to reflect the view back into the yard. This can make the illusion of double the space without all the garden maintenance. Plus, shower door mirrors are already water-protected and easy to find at hardware stores.

  • Try hanging multiple smaller mirrors along a fence or wall just like you would hang art. Mix up the sizes, shapes and frame styles to create a fun, eclectic look that bounces the light around and makes the space feel larger.

  • Use a convex mirror to reflect around corners or simply create some visual interest with a slightly warped image. Just like in retail stores and parking lots, a convex mirror can show you a much larger amount of space than a flat mirror can. While this makes for an excellent decorative piece, it’s also useful for safety when working in cramped gardening spaces.

  • Add a faux door mirror at the end of a pathway to create a sense of mystery as well as visually extending the yard space. You can either repurpose an actual door or attach a mirror to a larger frame. Surrounding the “door” with lush plant life will enhance the whimsical feel this adds to the garden.

  • To double your hanging vines or flower volume, place a mirror right behind a trellis. While partially obscured, the mirror will reflect the plants on the trellis while scattering the light around the space.

If you’re thinking about trying out a mirror in your garden, these tips are a great place to begin. With garden mirrors, you can add a bit of shine and make any outdoor space seem larger than it is.

Tiny Home Decorating: 3 Expert Tips

Living in a small space requires the right habits and mindset. It’s helpful for those in small homes, rooms or apartments, but for those who live in tiny houses it’s essential. If you’re thinking about a tiny house for yourself or already have one you want to decorate, we’ve put together some design tips to help.

Wall Shelving

Tiny house living requires you to use your wall space as efficiently as possible. Even in a house without expansive empty walls you can squeeze a lot of storage—and decor—into a space with the right design strategies. Minimalist floating shelves are ideal for tiny houses because they take up a small amount of space themselves and allow the objects on the shelf to get the most visibility. For storage, you can pair floating shelves with small bins or baskets. You can also attach hooks to the underside of the shelves to hang things like kitchen utensils, potted plants and more. Wall shelves are the best way to get the most usable space out of your tiny home while still showing off your favorite things.

Light Colors

When choosing colors for your tiny home, stick to light colors. The lighter and brighter a space is, the larger it appears. This is most important for walls and large fixtures. Choose white or a light beige that will be easy to complement with other colors and patterns. You can also choose your favorite pale shade of green or blue to add a bit of color while still keeping the space feeling open and airy.

For fabric choices, for texture rather than colorful patterns. Keeping a mostly monochromatic palette but mixing textures will keep the design visually interesting without adding clutter. This doesn’t mean you can’t add some vibrant color here and there, however. Throw pillows or convertible storage furniture like ottomans are perfect choices for mixing in a bolder color choice.

Hidden & Convertible Furniture

Furniture is often the greatest challenge to making space in a tiny house while still liking the design. Luckily there are plenty of options for furniture that you can either use for multiple purposes or hide completely. Sofa beds are a staple of tiny home living and the modern options have excellent features like memory foam and automated mechanisms for quick and easy changes. You can also hide useful surfaces in walls, cabinets or other furniture pieces. You can install a small fold-out desk or even create extra counter space in the kitchen with a countertop on hinges. Many of these clever space-saving solutions are available to purchase from retailers ready-made, but they also make excellent DIY projects for those who want to build something completely custom.

The perfect way to decorate a tiny house will be different for everyone. The right design choices depend on multiple factors, including the number of occupants and the architectural style of the home. While decor is ultimately up to your own preference, these basic tips will help you get started on creating a tiny space you will love to call home.