Many readers asked to see photos of my small corner office in the den—our informal living room—so here’s an updated look. Before we built a dedicated office/guest room/playroom, this corner was my full-time workspace. Back then it was a compact setup with a laptop, an older printer and a few file boxes. It was practical, but it wasn’t meant to be permanent:
From Full-Time Workspace to Casual Corner Desk
We kept the desk in the den when we moved the main office to another room, turning the space into a casual spot for weekend web browsing, letter writing and other small tasks. Because it’s part of the living area, it also seems perfect for Clara to use for drawing or homework while we cook or hang out nearby. The layout stayed familiar, but several practical items were removed: the landline phone, the bulky printer (we switched to a wireless model in the new office) and the stack of boxes that once crowded the space.
One small change that refreshed the corner was swapping the artwork. We replaced a homemade palm print with a coral leaf print, which brought a slightly different color and mood to the area. It’s a simple swap, but art can really shift the feel of a room without much effort or cost.
The lighting also evolved. The old desk lamp moved into the main office, and the gourd lamp that previously lived on the side table now sits on the den desk. It provides a soft, creamy glow that warms the corner and creates a cozy atmosphere in the evenings. The oversized silhouette of the gourd lamp balances the room nicely since it matches the height and form of the floor lamp across the den. We love how the warm light makes the space inviting when we watch TV or unwind at night.
Another detail that makes the photos feel richer is that the after shots were taken with our newer camera, which captures the ambiance more accurately than before. Improved photos can make a familiar corner feel fresh and more appealing, but the real change comes from clearing clutter and making thoughtful swaps with items we already own.
Small Upgrades, Big Impact
This corner desk proves that you don’t need a huge investment to refresh a space. Moving a lamp, changing a print, and removing unnecessary office equipment made the area functionally and visually lighter. It now serves as a flexible zone for casual computing, card writing and kid-friendly projects—a small, multipurpose hub integrated into family life.
A quick personal note about the gold and white notebook that appears in the foreground of the photos: I picked it up on clearance at Anthropologie and have been using it as a gratitude journal for the last two years. It may sound corny, but jotting down a few things I’m thankful for each day helps me stay mindful and appreciative. I haven’t been able to keep a traditional diary, but this simple practice of listing a few happy moments is easy to maintain and meaningful.
So that’s the story of our small den desk: pared down, rearranged, and repurposed into a cozy, multipurpose corner. Do you have a desk in a living area that doubles as a homework station, a card-writing nook, or a casual workspace? I’d love to hear how you make that shared space work for your family.
Psst — for a peek at the rest of the den, check the update about our new rug on the blog.