Our Ikea Office Makeover

  

TADA! Yes, I typed "tada". I wish I could stand next to these pictures with my hands spread wide and yell it. I've been impatiently waiting to share this makeover with you all, so here it is! Our office is my new favorite room in the house; I'd sleep here if the floors weren't so hard. Obviously it's much easier on the eyes now. The main reason it stole my heart? It is FUNCTIONAL! 

(Warning: My use of capital letters and exclamation points in this post is borderline obnoxious. I typically talk with my hands when excited, and since I can't do that through type I've resorted to overusing punctuation.)

With Stu often working from home and me spending quite a bit of time online, having an office in disarray was affecting both of us. Work and personal things were getting jumbled, documents misplaced, and a really nice printer was sadly stacked on the box it came in rather than a real piece of furniture. (I'm a bit embarrassed about that one.) Our office felt like a dorm room. Then came IKEA! (See-caps and exclamation point in one sentence. I know...I know.) We spent sixteen hours on the road, and our tax return barely hit the bank before it quickly vanished. BUT it was all worth it.

There is a SHE work space...

...And a HE work space. 

Can I just tell you how much I love having a desk all to MYSELF?!?! I realize this makes me sound like and indulgent office diva. I'm fully aware and care not. It. is. glorious.

This "eye chart" is actually a wall light fixture. Stu picked it out, jokingly at first. It ended up being the one thing we both loved and decided on without hesitation.  Now that we have two desks, I'm using my antique drop-leaf table as catch-all spot. (Do you recognize the little dipped ceramic pot? Also from IKEA. I should really get some compensation for this post.)

 

I found the red chairs several years ago at a local flea market for $20 and recovered them with some of my favorite Amy Butler fabric. They're not ideal office chairs, but they'll do for now. (Plus, I'm too emotionally attached to them since they were one of my first DIY projects, so they're staying.) 

The prints are from Winterberry Cottage on Etsy. This shop's prints are great and most are under $10. I had been wanting to frame pictures of our parents when they were in their 20's for some time and finally got that done. Stu just added a frame on his desk with a favorite picture of his dad, who passed away several years ago ...I just felt I needed to mention that.  

       

The metal crate was another flea market find. We filled it with empty milk jugs from our local creamery.

Do you see the delightful white lantern? I got it at a locally owned discount store for $3. Buy of the YEAR. It is terribly beat up at the top but still worth the price of a latte. Several items on the shelves were pulled from other rooms in the house. I typically get emails about where items were purchased, so I went ahead and listed where you can grab our office finds.

Product Sources:
Black and white striped tote bag: Hobby Lobby
Bulletin boards & magnetic dry erase board: Target

All items below from IKEA 
Desks: Numerar counter tops and Vika Alex drawer units
Shelving: Ekby Jarpen
Desk lamp: Arod
Eye Chart Light Fixture: Gyllen
Black frames: Ribba
Storage boxes: Kvarnvik

We're still looking for a rug, but I'm having trouble finding one in budget. I might end up spray painting one from Wal Mart. If I do, you all will be the first to know about it.

OK...I'm dying to hear what you think!

 
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