| A home office can be a corner of the kitchen used to | | | | homey and comfortable. If you are decorating in a |
| pay bills and sort recipes or it can be a separate room | | | | country style you have the opportunity to repurpose |
| dedicated to work. Whatever space you have for | | | | items as inventive storage pieces. |
| your home office, decorating it in a country style is | | | | Use an old toolbox for desktop supplies such as paper |
| sure to make time spent in this room much more | | | | clips, tacks, envelopes, staplers etc. The handle makes |
| pleasant. | | | | it easy to transport this piece to other areas of the |
| There are several versions of country style. You may | | | | office as needed. An old silverware divider meant for |
| be familiar with French country design with its mix of | | | | drawers makes a great catch-all in your office. The |
| patterns, primary colors, woven chair seats and | | | | long and narrow spaces can hold pens and pencils, |
| over-stuffed furniture. Italian country offers a more | | | | rulers, and scissors. These are often pretty enough to |
| rustic style featuring plaster walls, distressed furniture | | | | sit on top of your desk or file cabinet. |
| and rooster art. | | | | Hang baskets or old metal buckets on the wall to |
| American country style often conjures up visions of | | | | collect magazines, outgoing mail, blueprints, etc. They |
| rustic furniture, plaid fabrics and hand crafted items. | | | | can be labeled very easily and make for interesting |
| While this is certainly true, American country style | | | | wall décor. Vintage doorknobs can be used as pegs |
| decorating can also be very sophisticated. | | | | to hold the baskets. |
| All these styles have one thing in common and that is | | | | Search for old wooden file cabinets. These can be |
| to create a comfortable and inviting space to relax | | | | used to support a desktop, as an end table next to a |
| and enjoy life. As an added bonus, being surrounded | | | | chair or sofa or simply placed against the wall as |
| by things you love can also make your work hours | | | | storage units. |
| much more productive. | | | | If you have bookcases or built-ins, consider adding old |
| Decorating for Functionality | | | | shutters or screen doors as a unique way to hide the |
| First and foremost, a home office must be functional. | | | | items on the shelves. |
| You will need a place to work, store files and supplies | | | | Home Office Country Lighting |
| and possibly meet with clients. | | | | Lighting is important in any room in your home, |
| A desk or work surface can be constructed from | | | | especially in the office. A combination of task lighting |
| many different items. For a simple and rustic look, use | | | | and ambient lighting will make it more comfortable to |
| an old door as your desktop. It can be supported with | | | | work. |
| old oak file cabinets, stacks of vintage luggage, small | | | | A swing arm wall sconce makes it possible for you to |
| step ladders, a stack of books or even an old | | | | direct the light where you need it. This can be placed |
| sawhorse. Regardless of what type of support you | | | | next to your desk or reading chair. |
| use be sure the door is properly secured. A piece of | | | | An old pharmacy lamp next to your sofa or chair adds |
| glass or a desk blotter can be added to the top to | | | | to the vintage feel of the room and is small enough to |
| create a smooth work surface. | | | | be used in any size space. |
| A weathered old farm table or library table makes a | | | | Country Wall Decor |
| wonderful desk in a country style office, offering plenty | | | | These accessories may include coordinating wall |
| of desktop space. The most affordable option is to | | | | decor such as photographs and prints, shelf items such |
| simply use a piece of plywood supported by two file | | | | as souvenirs collected from travels, family photos or |
| cabinets. The plywood can be stained or painted and | | | | interesting and unique items such as wall maps of the |
| distressed to create a vintage look. For a more | | | | world or places you have visited. |
| feminine look, hang curtains around the edges to hide | | | | Consider wrapping everyday binders in burlap or muslin |
| the file cabinets. | | | | for a homespun look, or use fabric that coordinates |
| Search your local antique stores and the internet for | | | | with the rest of the room. |
| an old desk. The aged patina and scratches from | | | | Your New Comfortably Decorated Home Office |
| years of use may just inspire you to work harder. | | | | Beware! Decorating your home office in a country |
| A desk chair is an obvious must. To soften the look of | | | | style may create a space so comfortable and inviting |
| a standard office chair, make slipcovers or a pretty | | | | that you find yourself working overtime hours or |
| chair pad to coordinate with the room. | | | | spending non-work related time in this room just |
| Functional Accessories | | | | reading and relaxing. Don't forget to use the rest of the |
| As with other rooms in your home, a home office | | | | rooms in your house - or better yet, redecorate them |
| needs to be accessorized in order to make it feel | | | | to match your new country office. |