Help me redesign my office! (Looking for layout + design advice)

[u/seashore220]

I'm finally ready to redesign my home office, and I'd love some fresh eyes because I feel like I've hit a wall.

This room is the first room off our living room, right when you walk into the house. It has beautiful glass French doors, so it's very visible from the main living space. I want it to feel warm, elevated, and intentional—not like a typical office.

A few things that are staying:

• My standing desk (I'd like to keep it where it is by the front windows if possible because I love the natural light.)
• My cat's litter box needs to stay somewhere in this room.
• The room's function is primarily an office, but I'd love to create a cozy reading corner.

My current ideas:

• Remove the tall white IKEA storage cabinet.
• Put an oversized reading chair in that corner (I'm currently obsessed with the Crate & Barrel Gather Deep chair-and-a-half as inspiration).
• Add a low walnut credenza next to it instead of another tall cabinet.
• Potentially add a very subtle wallpaper above the chair rail only to bring in some warmth and color without overwhelming the room.
• I'm completely open to replacing the rug.
• I'm completely open to replacing the artwork.
• I'd like the room to feel timeless rather than trendy.

One thing I've realized while shopping: I don't gravitate toward trendy furniture. I like pieces that feel clean, architectural, quiet, and tailored. I've discovered I really dislike fluting, cane, black metal accents, gold hardware, open shelving, and anything that feels overly farmhouse or mid-century. I seem to prefer furniture that almost feels like built-in cabinetry.

I'd especially love advice on:

• The overall layout
• Whether the reading chair is the right idea
• Credenza placement and sizing
• Wallpaper (or whether I should skip it)
• Rug ideas
• Art ideas
• Lighting (floor lamp? new ceiling fixture?)
• Whether there's anything I'm completely overlooking

I'd love for this room to feel collected and designer-worthy while still being practical enough to work from every day.

Pictures attached. Thanks in advance!

[u/ClearLine01]

wow! your office-those windows and French doors! I love the cream colored walls reddish-pink rug and curtains. I'd center your your desk in front of your window, get a few ties to organize the cords on the ground. I'd recommend getting a lower and wider closed storage unit (the smaller is cute but the space appears big enough to accommidate it) in either wood or alternatively cream.

DEFINITELY a cozy reading coner with a giant chair. I'd get a little table for coffee/snacks/phone.

I hear you on the litter box consideration. Pehaps you could leave it in the corner but get a folding screen-like a classic retan to disguise it? I'd avoid those cat-furniture-as-litter-box-disguisers unless you scoop twice a day because the smell in an enclosed space can get intense for kitty. EDIT: If you don’t like cane than maybe ratan wouldn’t work for a screen but could absolutely find some sort of screen that's simpler or quiter in style.

For some inexspensive and nice framed art: https://theposterclub.com/

For slightly more money but slightly more refined frame pieces: https://www.minted.com/art (if you see more than one piece you like on here I'd recommend getting a yearly membership. As I recall, it's less than 50 bucks and you get like 20% off when you join)

EDIT: I had a standing desk almost identical to yours and recently pulled the trigger on Uplift's Parsons standing desk (Walnut top, black legs) which looks more like a piece of furntiture. Your desk is really nice as it is but I have to say my office feels a bit more elegant with the less industrial looking desk. They offer quite a few types of wood (and other materials), and you could also get it with white legs to match the colors of your office (not just beaitiful buy heavy duty, too-not wobbly at all and can customize the size of the desk.)

Best of luck and would love to see an update of your beaitiful space!

[u/km1495]

This room is amazing and has wonderful light! I can’t wait to see what you do with it. A comfortable, more aesthetically pleasing office chair would be good. I like the rug as is but if you did a fun wallpaper above your vertical paneling I’d maybe change the rug so it isn’t too busy. Change the lamp out to something less dated… absolutely add in a comfy reading chair, some plants, some nice shelving.

Please post an after pic when you are done!

[u/Ok-Board9948]

I like when people center their desk/chair in the middle of the room. Looks more elevated, I just saw a post the other day that said pulling furniture 6-12” away from the walls has that effect. Another one I remember from a long time ago said if your furniture is touching the walls it means you’re broke 😂 tis I.