"Design Happens"

Erin Loechner

Featured Blogger for Design Happens

Sep 14

Design For Mankind Office DIY: A Surprising Desk Makeover

By now, you realize that Ken and I like things a bit… quirky.

DIY Office Desk Makeover- Erin Loechner

A smart DIY for an inspiring office.

Never the couple to leave a piece of store-bought furniture untouched, we’re big fans of customization in all forms — even when it’s not an entirely necessary upgrade.

DIY Office Desk Makeover- Erin Loechner

It's a perfectly good desk, right? Eh.

Take, for instance, our existing, run-of-the-mill office desk. It’s perfectly functional, but a bit… boring. And when you work from home, an office should be anything but boring. This weekend, Ken and I put our heads together to create a unique desk that we’d be proud to work at daily. Behold! We pulled it off:

DIY Office Desk Makeover- Erin Loechner

A vast improvement in our eyes.

Inspired by this quirky place setting placemat, we loved the idea of creating a silhouette-based illustration that would make us smile, while reminding us to keep our desk clean and tidy. With a designated spot for our phones, beverages, headphones and laptops, the desk leaves the rest to the imagination.

DIY Office Desk Makeover- Erin Loechner

Custom decals worked like a charm.

Surprisingly, the process was simple to pull off. After building a new desktop (we wanted something more modular, less curvy and a bit longer), Ken crafted custom decals using wax paper and painter’s tape. We secured the decals and after a few blasts with our paint sprayer, the project was complete.

DIY Office Desk Makeover- Erin Loechner

So cute, yes?

Proof that, sometimes, form is just as important as function. Especially when it makes you smile while responding to endless amounts of emails!

DIY Office Desk Makeover- Erin Loechner

A place for everything... and everything in its place.

What do you think, friends? An inspiring DIY or a total waste of time?

Share your thoughts below!

Posted at 11:30 am

  • Permalink
  • 23 Comments

23 Comments

  1. I love this. :) My friends did something similar in their kitchen with a pegboard where they hang their pans and cooking utensils.

    Briana@HGTV on September 14, 2011 at 11:56 AM
  2. Oh I LOVE the pegboard idea! So cute!

    erin loechner on September 14, 2011 at 12:07 PM
  3. I think the desk is adorable–as are the two of you!

    tea_austen on September 14, 2011 at 12:10 PM
  4. Fantastic! And maybe a waste of time but if this is…then isn't all art just a waste of time? I say bravo! Love it (and your pink headphones).

    Lili@HGTV on September 14, 2011 at 12:15 PM
  5. Ha – thanks, Lili! Pink headphones are a must. :)

    erin loechner on September 14, 2011 at 12:16 PM
  6. This makes me smile. Very fun!

    whistlerpotpie on September 14, 2011 at 12:16 PM
  7. Of COURSE you have adorbs pink headphones. Of course! I love this idea, Ern.

    Marianne@HGTV on September 14, 2011 at 12:28 PM
    • I love it so much I spelled your name wrong.

      Marianne@HGTV on September 14, 2011 at 12:28 PM
  8. the clean freak in me says this is in no way a waste of time.

    realistically, i visualize empty spots on the desk, and 5" high junk piled about it. ;) and somehow still losing my phone.

    Lori on September 14, 2011 at 12:47 PM
  9. Ha! I love that, Lori! :)

    erin loechner on September 14, 2011 at 1:52 PM
  10. This reminds me of my theater days. Backstage the prop table would be covered in brown craft paper with an outline of each prop drawn with a sharpie along with the prop name. That way no props went MIA. Everything in the right place.

    anna@HGTV.com on September 14, 2011 at 2:27 PM
    • (Wow, you had good stage managers.)

      Briana@HGTV on September 14, 2011 at 2:31 PM
  11. Very funky and brings loads of personality to an otherwise boring piece. Nice work! http://www.ohgorgeousbaby.blogspot.com

    Fee on September 15, 2011 at 7:56 AM
  12. Best !! greetzzz from Poland :)

    alekzz on September 15, 2011 at 8:48 AM
  13. I love what you have done with this desk! It perfectly complements the bold interior architecture of your space –the orthogonal planes provide yet another pleasing layer to your office.

    Dani@HGTV.com on September 15, 2011 at 11:20 AM
  14. Thank you, all!

    erin loechner on September 15, 2011 at 7:38 PM
  15. welcome!

    reedforest on September 17, 2011 at 7:52 PM
  16. It is easy to see that you are impassioned about your writing. I wish I had got your ability to write. I look forward to more updates and will be returning. diet fitness articles

    ceejay90 on September 17, 2011 at 11:09 PM
  17. It's OK if you want to customize a newly bought furniture. Though I'm in a fix that after remodeling it, how much effective it will be. Naturally things don't want to stay in a order of mine. :(

    Arav on September 24, 2011 at 1:05 PM
  18. I preferred the original desk – light woodgrain and curved interior and all. I would have left the curve and delineated ONLY the target areas, perhaps with an animal print (zebra? snakeskin?) Spraypainting a new desk white is not on my list of creative acts.

    eufamystic on October 26, 2011 at 12:46 PM
  19. For improving a home a lots of things are involved like kitchen remodeling,Bathroom remodeling, choosing best floor or whether it'll be of Wood or tile's and so on. For these purpose,here a lots of stuff to get the right direction to choose the best option. And I more liked the step by step approach for every details.

    tile

    Oyan on October 28, 2011 at 7:20 AM
  20. For improving a home a lots of things are involved like kitchen remodeling,Bathroom remodeling, choosing best floor or whether it'll be of Wood or tile's and so on. For these purpose,here a lots of stuff to get the right direction to choose the best option. And I more liked the step by step approach for every details.

    hardwood floors

    Oyan on October 28, 2011 at 7:21 AM
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