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Home Lifestyle

My New Home Office!

Posted:8/23/17
Updated:7/16/20

This post is sponsored by Michigan Retailers Association in support of Buy Nearby. All opinions expressed, as always, are my own. Thank you for your support in these partnerships! 

New and colorful HOME OFFICE! A happy space transformed with laminate oak flooring and colorful accents.

Guys! I have an office 😀 Well, I’ve had an office before but THIS office is special. This is the first office I’ve had that I am making my own. In past dwellings, there either wasn’t a dedicated space for an office or I didn’t take the time to invest in furnishing or decorating. I always had this excuse that I did’t want to take the time and money to make an office look like “home” when we were probably just going to move again anyways. Not the best excuse because I really didn’t ever truly love the space I worked in, which also affected my focus and ability to get things done.

But now that we are homeowners and can renovate, it was time to create a home office space that I truly love.

Welcome to my colorful new home office!

A big item on my “home office” checklist was to put in some new flooring. As I was searching through Pinterest for home office ideas I came across lots of beautiful spaces with fun rugs. But we had high-pile carpet and putting a rug over carpet? I don’t know much about interior design but I am pretty sure that is a no-go. So the big thing that had to happen in the office to really transform the space was new flooring.

I purchased my grey oak laminate flooring from Gilbert’s– a local hardware store in Dewitt and Owosso.I’m sure when you think about doing big home projects like putting in a new floor, you initially turn to the big-box stores, but we really need to start thinking local first. More often than not you’re going to find what you need at those smaller hardware stores, and at comparable prices. Being a small business owner myself and teaching at a local fitness studio downtown in Lansing, I know the importance of supporting those people and their businesses as much as we can.

And I could not be happier with how the flooring turned out! It is exactly what I wanted. Not to mention less expensive than those big retailers 😉

(HUGE thanks to Mr. FMK and our long-time friend for installing the floor!)

New flooring from Gilbert's Hardware. #ad #ibuynearbymi

Of course, as soon as we laid the rug down, Mr. FMK looked at me with those eyes and said, “Seriously? We put flooring in just for you to cover it up?!” But I know most of you understand, right?

I am actually quite obsessed with the the rug. It looks perfect on top of the grey oak flooring, and I love all the colors in it! It also makes it easy to decorate and accent the rest of the room, using colors from the rug.

Love my new home office space! Grey oak laminate flooring plus a colorful rug really makes the room pop.

Again, I’ve never truly decorated a room to it’s full potential before so I feel like I still have a ways to go. But I also feel SO happy with how it has come together so far. I am feeling extremely grateful to not only have a space like this but also to be able to share it with you guys!

I’m still gathering ideas on how I want to finish up some walls and what other accents I can do.

I was also a little hesitant with the new “mid-century modern” trend but how cute is this loveseat…

Pulled in the colors from the rug into the throw pillows for the loveseat!

I also had a lot of input from my interior designer sister. She helped me figure out where to put things on the walls. I snapped her countless times asking her opinion on various items. Thank goodness for technology because I would have been a little lost. I can design clothing and create fun recipes but when it comes to designing an entire room, I need help.

My new home office! DESK: IKEA storage drawer + "oak" butcher block and hairpin legs from Etsy shop. Accessories: Target.

All in all though, I love everything. The grey oak flooring allowed me to transform this home office into exactly the space I was dreaming up.

LOVE how my new home office turned out! Putting in the grey oak laminate flooring completely transformed the room!

Oh but wait!

Michigan Residents!

Want a chance to win a $500 Discover gift card?

October 7-8 is I BuyNearby weekend! The weekend is all about showing your Mitten pride, and helping support your community and local businesses. To enter, simply share an image on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram of you shopping at your favorite local Michigan retailer during that weekend (October 7-8) and use the hashtag #ibuynearby. That’s it! Winners will be selected at random.

(Michigan residents only) 

Cute little global and modern decor helped tie in everything in this home office space.

let’s chat

  • Do you try to shop local and support your community’s small businesses?
  • Have you had a space that you were able to transform and make your own? 
  • If you are looking to redo and renovate, which room is on the top of your list?!

This post contains some affiliate links. Should you choose to purchase through said links, I will receive a small commission. Thank you for your support in helping keep Fit Mitten Kitchen up and running. 

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Reader Interactions

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  1. Brie @ Lean, Clean, & Brie says

    8/23/2017 at 6:24 am

    I absolutely love how your home office turned out! I have loved following along the whole process on your Instagram stories and now seeing it all put together looks amazing!!

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      8/23/2017 at 1:48 pm

      Aw thanks so much Brie!! <3

      Reply
  2. Virjinia Harp says

    8/23/2017 at 9:54 am

    I really love the color of the walls! And the flooring with the carpet really brings the room together. I have my own little nook in our house. It isn’t quite as decorated but it may be a task for next summer!

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      8/23/2017 at 1:48 pm

      Thanks Virjinia! Decorating tasks take me forever so I completely understand 🙂 Hopefully you can get to it soon!

      Reply
  3. Katie says

    8/23/2017 at 1:20 pm

    I love your new office! I can’t wait to own my own place and really decorate how I want!

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      8/23/2017 at 1:47 pm

      Thanks so much Katie! As stressful as home ownership can be at times, it really feels good to make a space your own 🙂

      Reply
  4. Jenna says

    8/23/2017 at 6:51 pm

    LOOKS AWESOME ASH! Love the carpet and the plant 😉 haha

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      8/29/2017 at 10:08 am

      Thanks Jenna! Lol I hope I can keep the thing alive 😀

      Reply
  5. Rachel says

    8/23/2017 at 8:28 pm

    I love it! It’s so pretty and peaceful.

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      8/29/2017 at 10:08 am

      Thank you Rachel! I’m pretty happy with it 🙂

      Reply
  6. Emily says

    8/25/2017 at 1:21 am

    Now this is definitely an office I’d want to work in; I love how you used so many of your favorite classic colors in it Ashley. You did such a tasteful job.

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      8/29/2017 at 10:08 am

      Thank you Emily!!

      Reply
  7. Ashley @ The Small Town Foodie says

    8/29/2017 at 10:08 am

    It’s absolutely beautiful!!! Our house is too small for me to have my own office now, but I’ll definitely be getting some inspiration from this when I finally have one. Super impressed with your decorating skills.

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      8/29/2017 at 10:09 am

      Having an office space (especially when working from home) can be such a game changer!
      But thank you! I definitely had some input from my sister, but the colors are all me, lol 😉

      Reply
  8. Laura says

    8/29/2017 at 10:31 am

    I’d work here every day! So fresh and clean and pretty!

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      8/30/2017 at 8:15 am

      😀 Thanks Laura!

      Reply
  9. Georgie | The Home Cook's Kitchen says

    8/29/2017 at 11:25 am

    I love it! love the color and the decor! it’s the first time I’ve had a proper home office and it’s SUCH a nice feeling 🙂

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      8/30/2017 at 7:54 am

      Isn’t it wonderful to have a designated space?!

      Reply
  10. Jorden says

    8/29/2017 at 12:23 pm

    So beautiful!! Where did you get your desk from?

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      8/30/2017 at 7:58 am

      Thanks Jorden! I actually pieced it together. It is the IKEA Alex Storage Desk, an IKEA Butcher Block, and 28″ steel hairpin legs from Etsy 🙂 We just screwed the legs into the desk and set it on top of the drawer on the other end. It does need a piece of support steel throughout the middle though to keep it from bowing (something we still need to add!)

      Reply
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