I was so close to skipping this fall’s edition of the One Room Challenge (ORC) hosted by Calling It Home. I literally decided a day ago as I was taking these “Before” photos. If you’ve never heard of the ORC, you can read all the details here. In a nutshell, 20 official design bloggers take this bi-annual challenge, sharing their progress every Wednesday for 6 weeks. Guest participants like myself can also participate during this same 6 week period. This year’s reveal will take place the week of November 5th! Time is already ticking…
Before I get into the details of the space I’m making over, I’d like to share the 5 makeovers I’ve completed during the past several years! I’m still so pleased with the results…hence, the reason it is always difficult not to participate in the ORC. You really hold yourself accountable to finishing a project within a timeframe!
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- Master Bedroom
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- Guest Bath
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- Girl’s Bedroom
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- Outdoor Patio
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- Girls’ Shared Room
You can visit “reveal posts” here: Master Bedroom // Guest Bath // Girl’s Bedroom // Outdoor Patio // Girls’ Shared Bedroom
Let’s get to the space I’m making over!
Every time I make over a space in our home, I’m always stating the obvious detail … the small space. This makeover takes the cake when it comes to space constraints! It’s not even a whole room… it’s our living room corner. This is the area I’ve decided to create my very own “CORNER OFFICE.” Actually, it’s more like a Corner Multi-Purpose Area. 😉
We have a large bookcase that I’ve been using to store a variety of things. You name it, it’s being stored there.
We purchased this Ikea bookcase over 10 years ago. It’s still in great condition … surprisingly. Like most of my recent makeovers, I’m looking to lighten the color palette of this piece of furniture.
My first plan of action is to “purge and organize” this bookcase.
The most time-consuming project during this challenge involves repainting this massive bookcase. I don’t even want to think about where I’ll be painting it. I’m sure it’ll be in the living room since moving it elsewhere will be such a pain!
Alongside our bookcase, we are currently using this garage-sale find as a side table. Inside those drawers, you’ll find my 10 year old’s supply of Nerf guns and darts. I…kid…you…not! 😉
For this makeover, I will be removing the side table and replacing it with a writing desk. The challenge is to find a desk that looks more like a console table rather than an office table. After all, this is a space in our living room. I don’t want this area to look cluttered with office-like details. Am I making sense? 🙂
Do you see the hair brushes on the table? Well, it’s one of the reasons why I want this to serve as my corner office/ multipurpose area. Not only will I place my laptop on my writing desk, I plan to store my daughters’ hair ties and brushes there too. Why?
I style my 2 daughters’ hair in our living room every day. Side note: They are almost 8 and 11. Should I still be doing their hair??
My To Do list for this 6 week challenge:
- Purge and organize bookcase items
- Clean, Sand and Prime bookcase
- Repaint bookcase
- Purchase and assemble writing desk
- Repurpose vintage armchair or buy new one
- Purchase small accent rug
- Purchase organization files/cubes for bookcase
- Paint and install wall storage shelves
- Create small wall art decor
- Style corner office for reveal post
Next week, I’ll be sharing some “Inspirational Photos” for my corner office makeover.
As with my previous One Room Challenge makeovers, I’m doing this challenge in Real Time. For additonal content and sneak peeks, please be sure to follow along my Instagram and Facebook accounts. I’m excited to be sharing the progress of my first ever “Corner Office!” 😀 Thanks for following along, lovely readers! Before you go, please check out Week 1’s posts from the 20 designers here and the guest participants here. Thank you Linda (Calling It Home) and Better Home and Garden for co-hosting this challenge!
What do you think about my corner office makeover? Would you have an office area in your living room? I’d love to hear your thoughts! 
I love how you are carving out a home office space for yourself in your living room – it’s such a creative way to give yourself an extra “room” in your house. Looking forward to following your progress, best of luck to you, my fellow home office ORC participant!
Love your plan! It will be all worth it in the end, as you know! And yes to the hair styling. I was helping my daughter with her’s all the way through high school. Some nights I moaned and groaned, but it made for great mother/daughter bonding moments. It goes by so stinking fast, so drink it all in while you can! My daughter is away at college and I miss those times!
Thanks so much, Kristy!
I can so relate to your post! I have two girls also (11 and 9) and I also think “why am I still brushing and styling your hair?” I am also doing the ORC challenge as a home office. I don’t think I’m going to tackle painting my bookshelf, but I do have a similar one in my office and it’s also become a catch-all room. Good luck with your transformation!
Thanks so much! I’m so glad we’re doing this together! Good luck with your home office! And the concensus seems to be “keep doing their hair.” They do grow up so fast. We can’t be doing their hair when they’re in their 20’s right? 😉
Glad to be tackling this challenge together!
Same here – thank you!
The painted shelves will look amazing when done! And yes, keep doing their hair 😉
Thanks so much, Sarah!
Love that you are doing the ORC again. There are slim desks that resemble consoles, you will be happy to have the 1 or 2 drawers in them, makes life easier to have convenient storage. And YES! keep doing your daughter’s hair-they grow up so fast and it’s time together. Maybe they can do their own hair on the weekends if you want them to have that skill.
Thanks so much for you comment, Deb! The kids do grow up so quickly. Having them do their own hair on weekends is a great suggestion! Thanks for following along this challenge! Enjoy your weekend 🙂
looks like fun and yay you are doing it again! I have a pair of similar side tables too. lets do it together in 6 weeks!
Looking forward to seeing everyone’s completed projects. Good luck Tim & I look forward to following along your progress!
I can’t wait to see how this turns out, especially the painted shelves!!
Thanks so much, Nicole!
Your bookcase is going to be fantastic when it’s painted! I can’t wait to see how your room turns out!
Thanks so much, Emy!
I am loving this plan. It’s going to be such usable space when completed. Looking forward to following along.
Thanks, Libbie! I can’t wait to finally get this space updated.
Look like a fun project for this season on the ORC, I am very excited to see the book case once you get it all refinished.
Thanks so much, Jen! Good luck with your project!
Love your plan. It’s going to be a fatastic corner! And don’t let your heart be troubled about painting the bookcase…it will go quickly. I’m going to keep cheerleading you through it. XO ~~ Susie from The Chelsea Project
Thanks so much for the encouragement, Susie! You’re the best! Xox