Cheap way to re-do a room?

[SDSorority]

Does anyone have any tips that make re-doing a home office budget friendly? I will be working from home over the next few months (putting it out there! It's gonna happen!!) and I want to make over my home office to be a more comfortable place. Right now it's just a catch-all clutter room....

Any advice would be fantastic!!!

 

[4Seasons]

I've worked from home for 20 years, and came back a couple weeks ago from a conference where one of the sessions I attended focused on organizing your home based business. Whatever area you are using to work from, the first thing to do is REMOVE EVERYTHING from that area and put back first only your essentials (desk, chair, computer, etc.) Then one by one decide what is crucial and what can be located in another area (i.e. things that only need to be accessed occasionally, like archived files, reference material, etc.)
Make sure your office is located (if you can) in an area that's not "grand central" in your home. Also make sure it's light, bright and conducive to productivity. Figure out an organization system (that works best for you, not everyone works the same way) and get everything in order so you are on the right track from day 1.
I came home from this conference on a Saturday evening and spent the entire next day doing just this, and what a world of difference it's made for me!

 

[robsmom]

I am not sure what you already have or need but my recommendations:

If you have bookshelves, consider buying basket sets and using those to organize your office "stuff". You can get set's with liners at Target or Walmart for reasonable prices. I have one larger basket that has printer paper in it, and one with construction paper (for my son). Smaller baskets have pencils and other supplies. I use baskets for papers that need to be filed as well.

If I could go back and buy new furniture, I would keep the baskets but I would have credenza with closing doors instead of shelves. Would love to be able to just close off the stuff.

I found that buying a new desk lamp did a lot for making the office brighter. A new coat of paint can do wonders as well.

Keep your desktop as clear as possible. Computer, Printer, Phone, lamp and maybe a pencil holder. I have found that I don't actually use a stapler, tape, paperclips, etc. or a regular basis so why do I need them out. Put them in a drawer.

 

[Evi]

if its a smaller room you could ask around for paint. I know this sounds odd but alot of people buy more paint then they think they need and don't really want to hold onto it. Me being one of those people if I have extra paint I usually only save enough for touch ups because I know if I paint again I will most likely change the color. Then you can get free paint or check home dept for mistake mixed paint they sell them for less then regular paint cans.

For office furniture I'd go with Ikea or craigslist. With the warmer weather lots of estate sales you may just make out like a bandit and get some fab furniture really inexpensively. Ikea also has a return been area where they sell floor models and returns.

Search online for DIY projects from building furniture to changing fixtures. When we purchased our home we changed all the light fixtures ourselves it may not sound like much to some people but if I had paid an electrician to come out and do it for us it would have cost a lot.

I just noticed comment on baskets above I just priced out baskets everywhere from pottery barn to christmas tree shop and Michael's has the best quality baskets for the price if you hold off till they go onsale or buy them with coupons you can get them 50% off.

 

[Just_Trish]

IKEA has some fabulous office arrangements. I have a small room (about 8X9) and was able to get 2 desks in my office thanks to some ideas I saw there. Now I have one for crafting and one for computing.

 

[OceanAnnie]

Check out the book, More Splash Than Cash! It has so many great, frugal ideas. I liked it so much, I got the book about window treatments too. More Splash Than Cash Window Treatments.

http://www.amazon.com/More-Splash-T...=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1272496819&sr=1-1

http://www.amazon.com/More-Splash-T...=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1272496819&sr=1-2

HTH!

 

[Taja]

I've worked from home for 20 years, and came back a couple weeks ago from a conference where one of the sessions I attended focused on organizing your home based business. Whatever area you are using to work from, the first thing to do is REMOVE EVERYTHING from that area and put back first only your essentials (desk, chair, computer, etc.) Then one by one decide what is crucial and what can be located in another area (i.e. things that only need to be accessed occasionally, like archived files, reference material, etc.)
Make sure your office is located (if you can) in an area that's not "grand central" in your home. Also make sure it's light, bright and conducive to productivity. Figure out an organization system (that works best for you, not everyone works the same way) and get everything in order so you are on the right track from day 1.
I came home from this conference on a Saturday evening and spent the entire next day doing just this, and what a world of difference it's made for me!

Have to agree with this.

Assess what you have after emptying the room. If the items you need were not already in the room, can you pull a desk or table and chair from another room? A bookcase would be handy, and baskets (or dishpans form the dollar store) can be useful for corralling smaller items. Depending on the location, you may need additional lighting. Can you use a lamp from another room?

When you gather all of the items, look at the colors and textures. Do they work together reasonably well? Paint is the least expensive option to change the room, so use the colors in the furnishings you've collected to give direction to the walls/ceilings. You'll be stuck with the flooring and draperies--at least for now--so be sure to consider those, as well. You also can paint or refinish the furniture fairly inexpensively.

My first home office was a nook in my apartment bedroom. The desk was a piece of wood (sanded and finished) on two used (and repainted) filing cabinets. I borrowed a chair from the dining area when I was using the desk and returned it when I finished. I also had a small, three-shelf bookcase, which held everything not in the filing cabinets. Not beautiful, but certainly serviceable! *LOL*