Do you have an office? In your home? Do you use it? If you don’t, why not? If you do, what is it that you love about it? All these are questions I need to figure out with myself and I’d LOVE for you peeps to chime in on what words for you and what doesn’t. Here is my dilemma.
Point #1. I have turned the bedroom ACROSS from my bedroom (which is on the first floor) (which began as a nursery) into a guest bedroom/ office. There is a full sized bed with an armoire full of my s**t, plus my desk and makeshift work area. I feel cramped and stuffed. Is it overstuffed? Not really… but I feel a BED in there stuffs it. Does that make sense? … no pictures of this. I’m too embarrassed! But for the past 3 – 4 years or so, this what I have been working with.
Point #2. We HAVE an actual OFFICE upstairs, overlooking off of the playroom (which is like another big family room), and the office has that oak paneled ceiling, with the wood moulded wainscot, a very “Ralph Lauren” type of look with build in book cases and all… We always joked about it calling it the “Oval Office” because of the shape of it, and it’s magnificent view of the pool and yard. It’s all windows for the most part. Does anyone use this fancy office with MONSTER desk? No. Why? Because NO one is hardly ever up there. The kids are always downstairs, never hanging up there. It seems very isolated. Think of the song I AM A ROCK…. I AM AN ISLAND. You get my drift? But OH so perfect for my needs.
Point #3. I utilize a laptop. I love my MacBook Pro because it’s MOBILE. I can whip this little bad boy and hang out w my family in the family room (downstairs) so really, MANY times, my office is the kitchen table, the sofa, or wherever it is I’m doing STUFF on my computer. I’m telling you this because I don’t always need to be in my office when I do things… I can be very flexible at times too. Just sayin.
Point #4. I also have a desk in the kitchen that is really all house stuff, plus HIS junk, so count the kitchen desk OUT. It’s also not a place where I can have quiet and privacy if I want it. I truly want to be able to close the door and just have quiet if I need to. So kitchen desk is out. Same goes with Mudroom Desk. Way too out in the open. And not enough space to store all my s**t.
So here is where I need your help….
1. Do I keep my office in the “Guest Bedroom/Office” and maybe get rid of the bed and get some kinda sleeper sofa thingy??? Or keep the bed in there and In case guests come??? and redo it (because I have ideas on colors and looks!!!)… Do the OFFICE/GUEST ROOM Combo in other words?
2. Do I use the “Oval Office”, repaint the moldings into the dreamy ideas I have for that??? (old fashioned Greek parents are saying OH NO!! RUIN THE BEAUTIFUL WOODWORK???… I say YES!) And be isolated (which makes me think I won’t use the room after all….) … TAKE MY BUSINESS UPSTAIRS in other words?
In the meantime…. I did find some pics, courtesy of Pinterest of offices and guest bedrooms combined.
I’d REALLY love your thoughts…. so please chime in and help a girl…
Your advice?
Omg, I have the same dilemma with my guest room/office/grandbaby’s room!!! Not sure what I want to do with it… so I’ve been just putting stuff in there but eventually I want to redo it… I would love to know what your followers say…
Love ya!
What about re-decorating the office upstairs and turning IT into the guest bedroom? Then your office would be downstairs where you’ll use it, and the guests, when they come, can have the beautiful views? Just a thought…
We had tossed that idea around here before, and I like it! So let me ask you this then. In your opinion, if that was your room as a guest, what would you think about using a bathroom in one of the kids rooms OR downstairs then…. because there is no bathroom not in a bedroom up there. 🙁 Brainiac thinking on our part back then, right? Would that bother you? Not having a bathroom super close to you?
Hmmm… Having a private bathroom for guests is ideal but not always possible. I guess it would depend on your guests. And your kids! Most of our guests are family and they really don’t care about sharing a kid’s bath. Also most guests – ours at least- don’t stay very long, so it’s not that big of an inconvenience for the child who had to share. Besides, if the guest room is fabulous then they probably won’t care if they have to cross the hall to get to the bath. Also, would it be possible to add a door to one of the baths from the hall?
Irene….I have same dilemma also…..I agree with the convenience of a laptop and all other mobile devices, smart pads etc….one can office anywhere. However, I know you are like me that you would like to have a special place to go and have all your creative things stored and just be for you. I have an extra guest room that would make a nice study, however, not much natural light comes thru and I would have to add some piece of furniture to conceal my things…as you know…closet will not work in there….I love that first pic you posted and would love to do something like that. We have a huge office with all the wall to wall paneled wood but it’s really very masculine and not really for me….I much prefer the colors you have posted here. I am excited to see what you decide…you always create such beautiful spaces…..keep us all posted. Marie B