10 Tips for a Cozy Cottage-Style Home Office
By Kathryn Bechen
Would you rather have a comfortable cottage style home office instead of one with
an industrial blue chair and metal filing cabinets? My 10 tips will get you started.
1. Bright White. Paint your old brown wooden desk and wooden chair white with a
satin finish paint. It will brighten up your room immediately and the satin finish
will be more durable and easy to clean than flat paint.
2. Charming Chair. Buy a twin sheet and pillowcase in your favorite cottage style
print. Put the pillowcase over the back of any regular office style chair (the kind
without arms). Fold the sheet in a square and place it on the seat. Both can easily be
removed for washing.
3. Creative Containers. Look through your kitchen cabinets to find any pretty
containers to hold pens, highlighters, scissors, stamps, etc. Mugs and small pitchers
work well.
4. Rug Regard. Purchase a colorful cotton rug to spruce up the floor and add
happy color.
5. Pretty Paint. Paint your walls your favorite color. Color is important for
productivity as well as calm.
6. File Faux. Consider whitewashing your wooden filing cabinets using ½ paint and
½ water and applying with a soft rag. Metal filing cabinets can be taken to a body
shop and spray painted a pleasing color.
7. Art Smart. Hang some of your favorite art in your office for enjoyment. Frame old
greeting cards or your children’s artwork for a quick dollarwise solution. Frame
your certificates in favorite frames.
8. Screen It. Hide your copier, fax, and other office equipment behind a white
shuttered screen when not in use.
9. Lamp Luster. Buy an inexpensive floral lampshade for an old lamp you already
have.
10. Flower Finesse. Buy fresh flowers for your home office to add cheer and
happiness while you work. I bought a sweet bouquet at the grocery store today for
just $4.99.
Put on your thinking cap and you’ll be sure to come up with your own creative
ideas for creating a warm and inviting cottage style home office for yourself that
you’ll want to spend time in every day.
Meet the writer:
Visit www.KathrynBechenDesigns.com to sign up for Kathryn's full color photo e-
newsletter of decorating tips and resources, and to view her color photo blog.
Kathryn is an interior decorating consultant, former professional organizer, and
published author who has been interviewed by and featured in San Diego Home &
Garden Lifestyles magazine, the Omaha World Herald, RealtyTimes.com and
others. Her originally authored articles have been published in newspapers and
across the Internet and she has recently released the e-book, Moving With Ease.
By Kathryn Bechen
Would you rather have a comfortable cottage style home office instead of one with
an industrial blue chair and metal filing cabinets? My 10 tips will get you started.
1. Bright White. Paint your old brown wooden desk and wooden chair white with a
satin finish paint. It will brighten up your room immediately and the satin finish
will be more durable and easy to clean than flat paint.
2. Charming Chair. Buy a twin sheet and pillowcase in your favorite cottage style
print. Put the pillowcase over the back of any regular office style chair (the kind
without arms). Fold the sheet in a square and place it on the seat. Both can easily be
removed for washing.
3. Creative Containers. Look through your kitchen cabinets to find any pretty
containers to hold pens, highlighters, scissors, stamps, etc. Mugs and small pitchers
work well.
4. Rug Regard. Purchase a colorful cotton rug to spruce up the floor and add
happy color.
5. Pretty Paint. Paint your walls your favorite color. Color is important for
productivity as well as calm.
6. File Faux. Consider whitewashing your wooden filing cabinets using ½ paint and
½ water and applying with a soft rag. Metal filing cabinets can be taken to a body
shop and spray painted a pleasing color.
7. Art Smart. Hang some of your favorite art in your office for enjoyment. Frame old
greeting cards or your children’s artwork for a quick dollarwise solution. Frame
your certificates in favorite frames.
8. Screen It. Hide your copier, fax, and other office equipment behind a white
shuttered screen when not in use.
9. Lamp Luster. Buy an inexpensive floral lampshade for an old lamp you already
have.
10. Flower Finesse. Buy fresh flowers for your home office to add cheer and
happiness while you work. I bought a sweet bouquet at the grocery store today for
just $4.99.
Put on your thinking cap and you’ll be sure to come up with your own creative
ideas for creating a warm and inviting cottage style home office for yourself that
you’ll want to spend time in every day.
Meet the writer:
Visit www.KathrynBechenDesigns.com to sign up for Kathryn's full color photo e-
newsletter of decorating tips and resources, and to view her color photo blog.
Kathryn is an interior decorating consultant, former professional organizer, and
published author who has been interviewed by and featured in San Diego Home &
Garden Lifestyles magazine, the Omaha World Herald, RealtyTimes.com and
others. Her originally authored articles have been published in newspapers and
across the Internet and she has recently released the e-book, Moving With Ease.
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