From Guest Room to Dream Workspace: My Office Redesign Story
I’ve been making some big organizational moves around my house lately—all part of the long-game prep for welcoming our first bébé. First up? Saying goodbye to my sunny third-floor home office and hello to a totally reimagined setup on the ground floor.
Yep, it’s the classic room switcheroo: my office is becoming the nursery, and our guest room is becoming my new workspace. But I didn’t just want to make it work. I wanted it to work beautifully.
Whether I’m reorganizing for a client here in Seattle or rethinking my own space, here’s the process I use to get from “meh” to “ohhh, this feels good.”
Step 1: Brain Dump What the Space Needs to Do
Before picking a paint color, moving a single piece of furniture, or buying any organizing supplies, I make a list of what this room needs to do—both practically and emotionally.
For this new office-slash-guest-room, I knew I needed:
A wide desk with room to sprawl (creativity needs space!)
A monitor (downsized from my old double-wide setup)
Storage for essentials—printer, shredder, mail supplies, books
Aesthetic details that energize me (because vibes matter)
A comfy queen-sized sleep setup for occasional guests (“occasional” being the key word here)
As much natural light as possible (the original office was flooded with sunshine—this one? Ground-floor, fence-facing. Challenge accepted.)
Visual privacy (because staring at parked cars isn’t exactly inspiring)
BEFORE: Our previous guest room setup
Step 2: Collect Inspiration (and Let Yourself Dream)
Pinterest and Instagram are my go-to sources when I’m in dream-and-scheme mode. But here’s the trick: I ask myself, “What would make this space feel like me—not just like a backup plan?”
Themes that kept showing up in my office space inspiration pictures:
Large-scale art
Mixed wood tones
Pops of color and plants
Soft lighting from multiple sources (bonus points for funky lamps)
A cozy corner desk
Low, wrap-around shelving and maybe even a floor-to-ceiling shelf
The North Star guiding all of this?
I didn’t want to design a guest room that also has a desk.
I needed a home office that feels intentional, light-filled, and inspiring—with the ability to host, not the obligation.
Some of my inspiration pictures for my office space.
Why This Matters: Design for the Everyday, Not the Exception
Too often, we organize our homes around rare moments (like hosting guests once a year) instead of how we live every day.
When your space reflects your real life—not some idealized version of it—you show up differently. More calm. More creative. More you.
This is what I love most about my work as a Seattle-area home organizer and certified KonMari Consultant: helping people design homes that support their current season of life, not just the one they used to live in or think they “should” be in.
Ask Yourself:
Is there a room in your home that could use a little rethinking?
Something that isn’t quite working—but maybe could, with a fresh perspective?
Sometimes, the best thing we can do for our homes (and ourselves) is to get honest about what we actually need.
And then design from there.
Need help reimagining a room?
Whether you’re in Seattle or remote, I’d love to help you press reset on a space that no longer fits. My organizing sessions are part KonMari magic, part mindset support, and fully judgment-free. Let’s make your space feel like it’s working for you again.
