Back in July, we moved out of our two-bedroom Montreal apartment for a bigger spot just outside the city. Given that we're living a new, work-from-home reality, having my own dedicated office space was extremely important. When it comes to decorating a new room, I try to repurpose furniture or items I already have on hand as possible—and I'm usually instantly convinced I did the right thing once I see the final results. For this makeover project, I gave myself a budget of $100 to change the look of the room completely. Here's how I did it with a few tricks I've learned along the way. Now please, step into my earthy and minimalist office.
1 - Collecting a few of our favourite things
When it comes time to remodel a room, I usually try to fill it up with items I find not only aesthetically pleasing, but that are special to me. Just like Marie Kondo says, when I see the object in question, it must spark joy. Usually that means filling the room with souvenirs from trips, special fabrics, books, photos, or artwork I’ve collected. I also try to play with colours, sizes, and textures all over the room. Using special objects helps set the overall mood of the room, and keeps me inspired for the next steps.
Cost: $0, because these objects are items I’ve had on hand for years.
2- The magic of paint
It’s amazing how easy it is to change up a room using paint. And it isn’t expensive, either. When we moved in, the office area was painted a cold grey. It made the room feel cramped and small. My first order of business was to paint everything all-white and let all that light come pouring in. For this, I used some leftover recycled paint I had—which, on top of being a budget-friendly move, is also a more environmentally-friendly choice too. You can find plenty of paint inspiration on Pinterest. And it doesn’t only mean painting walls, either. You can give life to a faded, worn-out piece of furniture or elevate the colour of accessory that no longer fits in with the space.
Cost: $21.99 + tax for a gallon of Boomerang recycled paint
3- Highlighting your windows
Another important, not-to-be-overlooked element is windows. You can give your room an instant wow factor just by positioning curtains and curtain rods intentionally—just let my before and after photos speak for themselves. I recommend setting the curtain rod higher and a little wider than the frame. Then, pull the curtains to the sides so that you don’t hide the window behind them. This also lets in as much light as possible. I prefer to use lightweight textiles to create an airy, dreamy feeling when it comes to curtains. When you open the windows and let in a gentle breeze, it invites such a calming feel into the space.
Cost: $10 for my new curtains and I used existing rods I already had.
4- The finishing touch
Paragraphe 4: Now that we've gathered a few of our favourite things, given the room a paint job, and installed suitable window treatments, it's time for the best part of all: decorating! Here, I decided to position my desk in the centre of the room to give the piece of furniture some presence and fill up the space. I tend to prefer working near a window rather than looking at a wall, but that's a personal preference. I find this can have a more luxurious effect.
Next, I used a rug to add a touch of colour, warmth, and comfort. I love using rugs when designing—the pay-off is beautiful, and it never creates unnecessary clutter. Lastly, I installed some decorations on the walls to give the room some personality. I like how these baskets look on the walls! Best of all, these cost only a few dollars at the second-hand store, and there are endless ways to use them. I also hung up a vintage piece of art from 1978, given to me by one of my home-staging clients. It's quite a unique find, but you can probably also find something similar at a thrift store—and they usually only cost about $15, including the frame.
I always rely on the rule of thirds when decorating a space. This means that every set of objects must come in threes. Let's take the area with the yellow table as an example: the table counts as one element, the lamp and two books are a second element, and the frame is the third. This is how I create balance. If you look closely, you’ll spot a secondary set: the lamp and the two books are their own three-piece unit.
Costs: Second-hand baskets, $6; vintage art from a thrift store: $15; plant pot cover, $15; round hanging mirror, $15.
You don't have to spend an arm and a leg to make a room that fits your needs. By reusing what you already have, repainting the walls, accentuating the windows, and strategically arranging decorative elements, you can achieve unbelievable results. Also, don't hesitate to use paint to change up an accessory or a piece of furniture. Just like that, you can create a whole new room for a fraction of the price. Don't forget to check out neighbourhood thrift stores to land some unique finds that won't break your budget. Finally, if you need a piece of furniture, I can't recommend browsing online ads enough before buying something brand new. When I do this, I save anywhere from 50% to 70% on the price tag.
