Transforming Our Home Office: A Vibrant Mid-Century Modern Makeover for Productivity and Style

Welcome to our newly transformed home office! Today, I am incredibly excited to share the complete reveal of our colorful, mid-century modern inspired home office makeover. This project has been a labor of love, meticulously designed to create a space that truly inspires creativity, fosters productivity, and reflects our personal style.

For too long, this room was an unorganized space, a catch-all for anything without a home, often resembling a dumping ground filled with unpacked boxes. While we did manage to cobble together a functioning space last spring using some existing pieces – my old DIY treadle desk and various cast-offs like the teal drapes, maple dresser, and a black armchair – it never truly felt like a dedicated, inspiring home office. We even tackled a few small office DIY projects, such as turning the office closet into a charming little turquoise nook, hacking a new white Expedit bookcase, and building custom magazine storage bins. However, these were temporary fixes, and the room was longing for the comprehensive attention it deserved. Now, that dream has finally become a reality!

The Journey to an Inspiring Workspace: From Clutter to Creativity

A Look Back: The “Before” Office

Before diving into the glorious “after,” let’s take a moment to appreciate how far this room has come. The previous setup, while functional in a pinch, lacked cohesion, style, and the thoughtful organization essential for a productive environment. It was a clear demonstration of how a neglected space can impact daily workflow and overall well-being. This neglected area not only harbored clutter but also stifled creativity and efficiency, underscoring the critical need for a complete overhaul.

Our Vision: Crafting the Perfect Productive Retreat

After living with the makeshift setup for a while, my husband and I meticulously devised a wish list for our ideal home office. This comprehensive list aimed to address both our functional needs and aesthetic desires, ensuring the space would be both practical and beautiful:

Desk for two: With both of us frequently working from home, a shared workspace was paramount to maximize efficiency and allow us to collaborate or simply enjoy each other’s company while working.
Hidden cords and simplified tech: The previous tangle of wires was a constant source of frustration and visual clutter. Achieving a clean, minimalist look meant ingeniously concealing all cables and rethinking our tech footprint, eliminating the hulking printer that once dominated the desk.
Minimal office clutter: A tidy environment is crucial for mental clarity and focus. We aimed for an organized home office where every item had a designated place, promoting a serene and efficient workflow.
Space for Hubby’s great-grandfather’s trunk: This antique trunk holds immense sentimental value, and finding a suitable spot for it, despite limited space elsewhere, was a non-negotiable. We wanted to integrate this cherished family heirloom thoughtfully into the design.
Comfy chair to curl up in and read: Beyond work, we envisioned a cozy office reading nook where either of us could relax with a book or magazine, making the room a multi-functional retreat.
Uplifting color palette: To combat the drudgery of a dull workspace, we sought a vibrant, colorful home office design that would infuse energy and positivity into our days.
Design that feels cohesive with the rest of the lakehouse: Maintaining a consistent design aesthetic throughout our home was important, ensuring the office flowed seamlessly with the lakehouse’s overall mid-century modern inspired theme.
Room for a treadmill: Prioritizing health and wellness, we wanted to incorporate a treadmill into the space, offering an active alternative during work breaks or for dedicated workouts, making the most of our small home office.

Unveiling the Transformation: Our Mid-Century Modern Home Office

With our wish list firmly in hand, we embarked on the exciting journey of bringing this vision to life. The result is a space that exceeds all expectations – a vibrant, highly functional, and aesthetically pleasing home office that truly reflects our mid-century modern sensibilities. I can’t even walk down the hall without peeking my head in and smiling; working here is an absolute dream! While a few small projects remain for the coming months, the core transformation is complete, and I am utterly in love with our new home office. Here’s a closer look at every carefully chosen detail and DIY project:

The Statement Piece: Turquoise Tweed Back Tab Drapes

One of the most impactful elements in setting the colorful tone for our office is the exquisite turquoise tweed fabric that now adorns our windows. I’m almost embarrassed to admit that I ordered this stunning turquoise tweed fabric back in the spring of last year, showcasing how long this dream has been in the making! It’s the absolute perfect shade of turquoise, subtly shot through with shimmering cream threads, creating a soft yet vibrant hue that instantly uplifts the room. Using the same back tab curtain sewing tutorial we used for the original bedroom drapes (and my new green tweed curtains in the master bedroom), my mom and I expertly crafted a set for the office. Now, both bedrooms and the office share the same elegant style of window treatment, contributing to the cohesive design throughout the lakehouse. These drapes not only introduce a beautiful splash of color but also add a layer of texture and warmth, perfectly framing the inspiring workspace within.

The Heart of the Office: Our DIY Solid Walnut Waterfall Desk

With the curtains perfectly squared away, our next major undertaking was designing and building the ultimate DIY office desk. After carefully figuring out the ideal proportions and measurements for a dual workspace, my husband and his dad helped me construct a magnificent solid walnut waterfall desk. We utilized high-quality solid walnut countertop from Craft-Art, which lends an incredible richness and durability to the piece. The waterfall design, where the wood grain flows seamlessly from the top down the sides, creates a sophisticated and truly mid-century modern aesthetic, making this desk the undisputed focal point of our new office.

One of our top priorities was achieving a truly clutter-free workspace, which meant innovative cable management was essential. Remember how I mentioned that all cords would be hidden with our simple desk design? The magic lies in the clever little inset panel of walnut wood we added to the back of the desk. To illustrate, I pulled the desk away from the wall so you can see exactly how we implemented this system: we used screws to affix our power bar behind the panel, and then screw-in hooks were strategically placed to corral all the wires. This simple yet highly effective cable management system ensures that everything is neatly tucked away between the wall and the inset walnut panel. From the front or side, not a single cord is visible – only the tiny tails of our laptop and lamp cords disappear seamlessly behind the desk, contributing to a pristine and organized home office.

The main power bar cord runs down one leg of the desk to the left, where it discreetly plugs into the wall. To further enhance the clean aesthetic, I have a woven storage basket tucked in this corner. This not only provides a convenient spot to collect paper for recycling or burning but also perfectly conceals the outlet and plug, ensuring no unsightly wires are ever exposed. As much as I enjoyed my old DIY treadle sewing machine base desk, corralling all the wires was always a challenge. I absolutely love how all of our cables and potential junk are now completely hidden with this thoughtful walnut waterfall desk design.

You might also notice the absence of my large monitor and external keyboard. While these were essential for my dissertation work, which involved writing a 300+ page document, I’ve found that these days I prefer the simplicity and portability of just using my laptop. Similarly, the need to print hundreds of pages or scan dozens of book chapters is a thing of the past. We gave my old beast of a laser printer to my dad and invested in a sleek wireless color inkjet printer, which I keep discreetly off the desk, tucked away within the reading nook. This strategic simplification of our tech setup has been instrumental in achieving a truly minimalist office design.

I considered building a small desk organizer, but I quickly realized I didn’t need one. Almost everything I require for work is on my laptop, and when I’m making lists (many of which are now digital), a beautiful pen and notebook suffice, easily stored away at the end of the day. My brain simply cannot function effectively with a messy desk. Yet, for years, my workspace was perpetually piled high with exams to mark and illegible research notes scribbled on receipts in the middle of the night. As a perpetual student until just a few years ago, I’ve dreamed of a clean, uncluttered desk like this for two decades. It feels absolutely wonderful!

Stylish & Supportive: Modern White Leather Desk Chairs

To complement our dual-person desk, I really wanted a matching pair of desk chairs for my husband and me. We settled on two incredibly soft white leather mid-back chairs by Meelano from Wayfair. These chairs, which are also available in different colors and with a gold base finish, have quickly become a favorite feature of the room. I absolutely love these chairs! Their smaller scale is perfectly suited to the modest size of our office, preventing the room from feeling overcrowded. The mid-century inspired design seamlessly complements the aesthetic we’re cultivating throughout the lakehouse, and their cream leather upholstery ties in beautifully with the cream leather furniture in our living room, creating a harmonious flow between spaces. Beyond their striking appearance, these chairs are genuinely comfortable. While they aren’t as “loungey” as my old armchair – which was comfortable enough to lose hours watching videos or reading blogs – they promote a more focused posture. These days, I’m more determined to tackle tasks efficiently and move away from sitting for prolonged periods, aligning with my personal health objectives. In a way, I appreciate that while these chairs are fabulous, they don’t tempt me to kick my feet up and take a nap like their predecessor did.

Another thoughtful design feature I particularly appreciate is the brushed aluminum handle integrated into the back of each chair. Because the chairs are light-colored, this handle allows us to easily pull them out or adjust them without constantly touching the white leather, helping to preserve their pristine appearance. It’s these clever design touches that elevate the functionality and longevity of the furniture, showcasing true mid-century modern influence.

Illuminating Design: Sculptural White Desk Lamps

When selecting desk lamps, I had two key criteria: they needed to be tall – just in case I ever decided to bring back that ginormous monitor – and they needed to have a small footprint, given our desk is fairly compact. I initially rounded up a bunch of gorgeous mid-century modern inspired table lamps and was on the verge of ordering one when I stumbled upon the perfect Stilnovo lamps on Wayfair. These lamps effortlessly exude a sleek, mid-century modern vibe, making them ideal for our office design. Their slim, elegant design and creamy white finish perfectly complement the white leather chairs, creating a harmonious and sophisticated aesthetic. I’ve always admired the iconic Serge Mouille lamps, and these Stilnovo lamps offer a strikingly similar sculptural look, but at a much more realistic and accessible price point. The simple yet ingenious design allows their height to be adjusted quite dramatically, providing versatile lighting options depending on our needs.

A Corner for Comfort and Heritage: The Reading Nook

The office “nook,” which was previously a turquoise-painted closet, is now designated for our treadmill and some vertical storage. This meant that Hubby’s great-grandpa’s antique trunk needed a new, prominent home within the main office space. While its traditional style isn’t strictly mid-century modern, it holds deep sentimental value for my husband, making it incredibly special to us. Finding room for it was a priority, and it has proven to be incredibly practical, now housing my sleek new wireless printer and other essential office supplies, helping to maintain our minimal office clutter goal.

Above the trunk, I hung a soft abstract painting that I created specifically for a magazine feature years ago. Its gentle colors and organic forms provide a lovely contrast to the more structured elements of the room. I’m considering painting something new for this spot when I hibernate in January, but for now, it adds a beautiful personal touch.

Beside the trunk, we tucked the displaced velvet chair from the living room. It needed a new home, and we needed a cozy chair to curl up in – a perfect match! This chair is deceptively comfortable, and I absolutely love that if I’m working, my husband can relax and read a magazine or a book in here without needing his laptop. This new office design has inadvertently led to us spending more quality time together, and that’s a wonderful unexpected bonus. Furthermore, it feels incredibly satisfying that I was able to utilize existing furniture and art to decorate this inviting corner; my only new splurge was the stylish Modernica planter.

The corner needed a touch of nature to truly come alive, and when I added this giant, low-light-loving peace lily, the entire office seemed to breathe. The lush greenery brings a fresh, organic element into the space, perfectly balancing the clean lines of the mid-century modern aesthetic. I already have one of these iconic Modernica planters in the dining room, so its inclusion here further contributes to that sense of flow and cohesiveness that I strive to create throughout our home, linking spaces with consistent, thoughtful design elements.

Organized & Chic: Our IKEA Expedit Bookcase Hack

My white Ikea Expedit bookcase remains a steadfast and beloved fixture in the office. It continues to demonstrate its versatility and the enduring appeal of clever IKEA Expedit hacks. Our DIY plywood magazine storage bins and the charming turquoise Ikea hack “doors” are still going strong, providing both practical storage and a pop of color. My collection of vintage Strawberry Hill Pottery has grown slightly, adding a touch of personalized character to the shelves, but otherwise, not much has changed with this reliable piece. I usually hang a calendar on the left side, but I removed it for these photos so you can appreciate the clean lines and organized display without distraction.

The Impact of a Thoughtfully Designed Home Office

Whew! That completes the comprehensive tour of our refreshed and reimagined home office. I used a wide-angle lens to capture the room as a whole (so please excuse any minor distorted proportions!), allowing you to appreciate the full scope of this mid-century modern office makeover. This is the inviting view you get when you walk by the office, a testament to how an intentional design can transform a once overlooked space into a source of daily inspiration. The cohesive blend of DIY elements, carefully selected furniture, and vibrant accents has created an environment that is not only visually stunning but also incredibly functional. This space now actively contributes to our productivity and well-being, proving that a well-designed home office is truly an investment in a more focused and joyful work-life balance.

SOURCES: Bringing Our Vision to Life

Waterfall Desk: DIY Project
Chairs: Leather Mid-Back Chairs by Meelano from Wayfair
Lamps: Stilnovo from Wayfair
Artwork (above desk): Bert Weir
Artwork (above trunk): DIY Project
Curtains: DIY Project (fabric from U-fab)
Velvet Chair: Vintage Makeover Project
Pillow: BlueBelle Gray
Walnut Planter: Modernica
Trunk: Antique
Bookcase: Ikea Expedit
Magazine Storage: DIY Project
Turquoise Bookcase “Doors”: DIY Project
Ceiling Fixture: Ikea Vanadin

Mid-Century Modern Office Gets a Colorful Refresh