Our enthusiasm for the showhouse office plans has started rubbing off on our own office. Part of why it looks a little sad right now is because we’ve borrowed both its armchair and Expedit for the nursery, and the chalkboard still reads “Merry Christmas.” So yeah—our office is not exactly giving “fully organized.”
We love this room because it’s one of the most promising spaces in the house: it’s large, bright, and has a lovely bay window. With the baby due in about six weeks, we want to consolidate our work life so it doesn’t spill into family time. Small rules like “no laptops at the dining table” are part of that, and we’d rather not keep important accounting and paperwork in a kitchen cabinet because the desk wall lacks storage.
We plan to skip a Phase 1 update and go straight to Phase 2. An office makeover doesn’t require the same time and expense as a kitchen or bathroom renovation, so we feel confident we can create a long-term solution now. (We do still take our time on kitchens and bathrooms.)
This room has real potential to be both beautiful and functional thanks to the abundant light and the centered bay window. We want to keep the window as a focal point, but we’ve decided not to add a built-in bench for a few reasons:
- It wouldn’t be very functional for an office.
- The window ledge is quite shallow, so the seat would be narrow and uncomfortable.
- It could block the space where our Christmas tree typically goes, which is a small concern but not a deal breaker.
There are some challenges to work around, too: the doorway on the opposite wall isn’t centered, and the tall front windows are set low to the floor, making it difficult to place furniture without blocking light or creating odd street views.
With those constraints in mind, we listed our priorities. Some items are carried over from our previous office, while others reflect the larger, brighter space.
- Two Desks: We need room for both of us to work comfortably. Sherry often works at the kitchen table, but we want her to have a dedicated workspace here where she can spread out. My small parson’s table could also benefit from more surface area and storage.
- Storage: We don’t have a lot of paper, but we do want better file storage to pull scattered documents—tax records, side-gig paperwork—out of hiding and into one place.
- A Big Meeting / Craft Table: We want a central table for meetings and small projects. This would keep those activities out of the kitchen or dining room, and the natural light in this room makes it ideal for photographing small projects.
- Organizing Wall: A large whiteboard, pinboard, or magnetic surface for shared to-dos, calendars, and ideas will help us coordinate. Right now each of us uses separate phones and notebooks, so a communal system will bring us onto the same page.
- Doors: French doors would suit the room’s character and add soundproofing for conference calls or focused work sessions.
- Kid-Friendly Zone: Clara’s drawing desk is already in here on occasion, and we’d like a flexible area that works for small children and can evolve as they grow.
Once priorities were clear, we began floor planning using a few apps (I’ll share those tools in another post). We experimented with several layouts. Initially we thought about keeping the table centered in the bay window—potentially upgrading to a larger table with curtains and wrapping an L-shaped desk around the corner to add storage.
That corner-desk option felt cramped, and since we’d be spending most of our time there, we wanted something more comfortable and that would let us enjoy at least one window view. We tried making the desks the visual focus by placing two separate desks flanking the bay window, but one desk would sit in front of a low window and block street view, and access would be awkward around the meeting table.
Finally, we revisited our original concept: built-in office storage across the back wall with integrated desk areas. We originally worried that this would unbalance the bay window, but discovered we could preserve symmetry by placing a complementary element in the opposite corner. This layout leaves the center of the room open for a large table that can be moved or removed as needed, and gives us the option to work at the table for a better window view when desired.
Update: Clara’s desk already seats two and can accommodate more kids when needed, so it will work for our growing family.
Update #2: Concerns about glare have been minimal—John has worked along the back wall for months without problems because the sunlight hits the floor several feet away from his chair rather than at screen level.
We’re leaning toward the built-in storage-with-desks layout because it best suits how we work, though first we’ll need to tackle a lot of trim painting—sixty-six window mullions, in fact—and multiple coats will be required.
What are your home office priorities? Do you have a tucked-away desk in a den, a small laptop area in the kitchen, or a dedicated room? Have you kept work in the bedroom, or chosen a different solution? We’d love to hear how others balance work and home life in their spaces.