The space you surround yourself with, especially on a daily basis is so important! To have a space that inspires me, helps me stay productive, exudes a sense of calmness is something that I’ve been trying to create while still living at home. And not going to lie, is challenging.
We’ve recently moved houses (prior to this whole pandemic, thank god), and I finally have a working space that I can decorate similar to an aesthetic that really speaks to me. It’s a small filming space that’s the perfect size for me to create more video content for my feeds. It took me a bit of time to figure out the layout, and now that my setup is complete, I’m ready to give you a peek into my home office!
During the decor process, I wanted to ensure that I was budgeting items, and not overspending. I am a girl who loves a good deal and when shopping, I love to compare prices and stay open to spending a little more on pieces that are unique or with a price that is justifiable.
I’m so excited to share the space and how you can decorate your home office on a budget:
Can you find Stylish + Comfortable Furniture on a Budget?
Yes. Yes, you can.
One thing that was extremely important to me when I first began to decorate my home office was to keep it neat, airy, stylish, but also comfortable. By comfortable, I don’t mean squishy bean bag chairs (though tempting) or a couch that allows me to lie down all day.
I wanted furniture that would be good for my back when sitting at a desk all day but also comfortable enough so I didn’t feel stiff and over adjusted. As well, I was leaning towards white furniture because it’s easier for photos and videos.
Wanting to stick to a budget and not spending if I didn’t need to, I improvised. And this is something you can do as well when putting together ideas for your space.
Pinterest is your BFF for Decor Inspo
I love Pinterest for ideas, especially DIY ideas. It’s also a great place for decor inspiration and to get all those creative ideas flowing. You can find me on Pinterest HERE.
Call me the repinning queen because there was so much inspo that I was able to find and save to my boards. Same goes for Instagram. I had to consider the type of space I have, and how the room is in the basement, and hence, doesn’t have much natural lighting.
As well, the home office/filming space doubled up as a closet where I placed most of my clothes and beauty products, as well as my large mirror.
Attach your Heart to your Office Decor With DIY Projects
I love using DIY projects to decorate my home office. Not only is it an inexpensive way to get decor, but it also gives your office a personalized feel that you can’t get with just bought pieces. Being able to make something yourself that you get to display in your work space feels like the best accomplishment.
To bring some creativity and art into my space, you could try to create a DIY art wall from your own photos! You can print your favourite photos and quotes and hunt down some photo frames from Amazon or local craft stores that deliver!
Another simple DIY is to take your empty candle containers and convert them into storage or plant pots! Lots of candle containers have really cool designs that you can incorporate back into your office space. I’ve pinned a few to my DIY board that you can find HERE.
Some of the pieces in my home office are DIYs and some are affordable buys after extensive searching!
Here’s where my furniture is from :
The story of my desk is a funny one.
The desk actually initially had orange drawers and cupboard doors. The frame is white and the desk is originally my younger brother’s. He didn’t want it anymore and so, instead of dumping it, I figured I could use it. Though, I couldn’t stand the orange pop of colour because it didn’t match the vibe of the room.
Lucky for me, Elbert actually owns the EXACT desk, but he has white drawers and cupboard doors. We did the whole switcharoo and we exchanged the drawer doors.
Moral of the story, think of the items you already have available and think of ways to enhance what you already have. Maybe you can trade it with someone, or find cheap parts on Facebook Marketplace/Craigslist. OR paint it the colour you want and turn it into a fun DIY. Great ideas during this time of social distancing while avoiding being in a creative rut.
Most of my office is actually furnished with Ikea, H&M Home, Chapters, Opposite Wall and yes, the dollar store! You’d be surprised what amazing goodies you can get there.
The gorgeous white mirror in the space is from JYSK and is very affordable. I find that if you’re looking to get new furniture, Ikea, or thrifting and repurposing items work great. JYSK furniture is alright, but I love the mirrors. I got mine way back before the move and it was on sale for $40! I was dying to get the stunning gold accent mirror from Anthropologie but it’s WAY over budget. If anything, I’d probably spray paint my mirror to get the same look.
When searching for items, I like to find furniture and decor that could fit with any theme. This way in a few years if I want to switch it up, I don’t have to replace everything. My core pieces like posters, decor accents, and organizational tools would still fit into any space.
I’m a big fan of modern decor so I kept my office white with accents of gold and pink.
Stop impulse purchases and do lots of research before buying!
We found my beautiful, adjustable white chair completely by chance!
The chair was probably the piece that took the longest to find. I looked at Structube, Ikea, West Elm, you name it, and nothing really ever fit. It was either not the style I was looking for, or it was way too expensive.
Plus, I was very specific with the look and practicality of what I wanted. I needed a chair that was comfortable, aesthetic but also adjustable for when I wanted to reach the table or adjust depending on camera height.
On a casual Saturday evening, we were walking and stumbled upon this brightly lit neon CLOSING SALE sign. It was for a dollar store that was shutting down and throwing prices. And behold, there was one beautiful white chair on sale.
To make the chair look more expensive, I threw on my older white fuzzy throw on top and it’s perfect!
Patience does pay off.
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Buy Decor and Furniture with a Purpose
I know we all love the little desk decor and cute gold paper clips, but are they actually useful? Or would that take up space and eventually get brushed aside.
Even though I wanted to decorate my home office with chic pieces that pop, I had to ask myself if it could also serve a purpose.
The purpose for me was photographic quality. I wanted to utilize this space for photography and that guided my whole search for items. From all the browsing for inspiration, I knew I wanted a space that I could display my perfumes, have gold accent decor, and use fashion books to complete the feel.
My budget, from the start was for accent decor.
I searched EVERYWHERE for this stunning gold mirror tray. I knew I wanted it to house my perfumes and for photos. Among the stores I looked for included Winners, random dollar stores, CB2, you name it. I finally found the perfect one on H&M Home online!
Etsy has a great selection as well, especially if you’re looking for rustic european chic vibes, but shipping can be pretty pricey!
My marble table is from Winners, which has an incredible selection of marble pieces that are affordable!
The fashion books are definitely splurges, but I did find one on sale! Both are from Chapters, but if you’re looking for a deal or second hand books, do search on Amazon.
To the window, to the wall!
PS: I don’t have a window, hence no natural light in my filming room.
You’d be surprised what good lighting does for your mental health! Not just that, it can make working at home much more comfortable and bright!
I live in the basement at home, and as I said before, there isn’t a window for the filming room. Hence, I needed to improvise. Having good lighting is so important for taking photos and creating videos. Lighting can change the whole look and feel of something so I knew I had to ensure the decor in my office space also worked to brighten the room.
If you have windows in your home office, use them! For me, I’ve always had my camera lighting set up and ring light from before and so they’ve been my go to. The lighting equipment is also from Amazon! Good ol’ Amazon.
My wall art is one of my favourite things about my home office/filming space. It has made SUCH a huge difference in the feel of the space and has added my personality into the room. These pieces are from Opposite Wall– a Canadian online store that has an array of artistic designs that fit all personalities!
Don’t want to spend? Get crafty and paint your own!
So friends,
I hope this gives you a bit of inspiration on how you can decorate your home office! In doing so, I hope it lifts your spirits, and gives you a creative boost during this time!
Give me a quick office tour when you’re done on IG! I can’t wait to see what your space looks like!
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Until next time,
xoxo Sam