Our excitement for the showhouse office plans has spilled over into our own workspace. Part of it is that our office has been looking a little neglected lately — we even borrowed the room’s armchair and Expedit for the nursery — and the chalkboard still says “Merry Christmas.” So yes, our office currently screams “I have it all together.”
We love tackling the office because it’s one of the house’s rooms with the most potential: lots of space and lots of light. With the baby due in about six weeks, we’re eager to consolidate our work life so it’s less likely to bleed into family time — simple rules like “no laptops on the dining table” feel more important than ever. Right now some of our business stuff is dispersed around the house (my accounting materials currently live in a kitchen cabinet because the desk wall lacks storage), so a true office setup would help contain that clutter.
This room is a place where we can skip a long Phase 1 and move straight into a meaningful Phase 2 update. Unlike a kitchen or bathroom, an office makeover doesn’t require expensive appliances or complicated plumbing and tile, so we can make changes that feel more permanent without years of planning. We believe this space can become both highly functional and beautiful, especially because it’s one of the brightest rooms in the house and has a lovely bay window at the back.
We want the bay window to remain a focal point since it’s centered in the room, but we’ve decided against adding a built-in bench seat. Our reasons:
- A bench wouldn’t be especially functional for an office.
- The window is shallow, which would make for a narrow, uncomfortable seat.
- It could conflict with where we sometimes put our Christmas tree — not a deal breaker but another compromise to consider.
The bay window delivers great light, but the room has other quirks to work around, like a doorway that sits off-center on the opposite side. We can’t have perfect symmetry everywhere.
The front wall of windows brings a lot of daylight as well, but because those windows sit low, it’s awkward to place furniture along that side without blocking light or creating a strange street view.
With the room’s constraints in mind, Sherry and I made a list of priorities that blend functionality with the light-filled character of the space:
- Two Desks: We need two true workstations. Sherry often spreads out at the kitchen table, but we want a dedicated desk for her so she can work comfortably. My small parson’s table could use more surface area and drawers too.
- Storage: We don’t have piles of paperwork, but we want better file storage to pull tax documents and side-gig papers out of kitchen cabinets and other random spots around the house.
- Big Meeting / Craft Table: A large table would give us a proper place for meetings, and also serve as a light-filled work surface for shooting and crafting smaller projects.
- Wall Organization: A sizable whiteboard, pinboard, or magnetboard would let us centralize calendars, to-dos, and project ideas so we can both see and coordinate easily.
- Doors: We love the idea of french doors for both style and sound control — useful for conference calls and focused work.
- Kid-Friendly Zone: Clara’s drawing desk currently lives here and is a nice way for us to “work together” on low-intensity days. We want a flexible area that grows with kids so the space remains useful as they get older.
With priorities defined, we began floor planning using a few room-planning apps. Below is a rough representation of the current layout — definitely room for improvement.
Our first idea was to build on the existing arrangement: keep a table centered in the bay window, enlarge it, add curtains, and wrap an L-shaped desk around the corner for built-in storage. That would create two workstations and maintain the window as a focal point.
But the corner desk felt cramped, and since it’s where we’d spend most of our time, we wanted something more comfortable and to actually be able to see out one of the windows while we work.
We also tested a symmetrical setup that put desks flanking the bay window. It looked nice in concept, but one desk landed in front of a low window (creating an odd street view) and the arrangement forced us to weave around a big table to reach our seats — not ideal.
We eventually revisited our original concept: continuous office storage along the back wall with integrated desk areas. The inspiration image we used included built-in cabinetry and a cozy, functional layout.
At first we worried this would throw off the bay window’s symmetry, but we realized we could balance the room by adding a complementary element in the opposite corner. This plan keeps the middle open for a large table that can be moved as needed and still lets us shift laptops to that table to enjoy the view if we want a change of scenery.
Update: People have asked where the baby’s workspace will be. Clara’s desk already has two chairs and is long enough for two kids — we’ve even squeezed in four when needed — so it will accommodate both kids when the time comes.
Update #2: Some have asked about glare from the back wall windows. John has been working there for nine months without an issue; the sun hits the floor several feet in front of his chair, not at screen level, so the glare hasn’t been a problem.
At the moment the built-in storage-with-desks concept feels like the best fit for how we work. Getting there will mean a lot of prep — namely painting dozens of blue window mullions (sixty-six, to be exact) and applying multiple coats — but we’re excited to move forward.
How would you prioritize a home office? Do you tuck a desk into a den corner, keep a laptop station in the kitchen, have a dedicated office, or stash work materials in a bedroom? We’re curious what setups others find most functional and comfortable.