When we bought our home seven years ago, I knew that one of my biggest projects would be designing my husband’s work-from-home office. Before the pandemic changed the world, my husband already had a remote job, so creating a space where he could work comfortably and be inspired was top priority for me.

I wanted his office to reflect his passions—his love for travel, sports, and President Obama of course—while also offering a functional, efficient environment that supported his work. Since working from home was something he was accustomed to long before it became the norm for so many, I felt the pressure to design a space that was both practical and personal.

Agreeable Gray… More Like Unagreeable Gray!

When we first moved in, the room designated for my husband's office was painted in Agreeable Gray by Sherwin-Williams. While it’s a neutral color that works for many spaces, I was never a fan of it, and I knew it wasn’t the right fit for this space. I wanted his office to feel cozy and sophisticated, so it had to go!

With my husband working remotely, we couldn’t afford to treat his office as an afterthought—it had to work immediately. With daily Zoom calls and a full workload, I had to think fast. I pulled together a temporary setup using decor we already had from our old apartment, added a better light fixture for those endless video calls, and called it a day—for the moment. It wasn’t perfect, but it worked. And honestly, that quick fix became a blessing in disguise. It gave me the breathing room to really think through what the space would become. As he settled into the temporary setup, I started to visualize a design that reflected not just his job needs, but his personality and passions too. That extra time made all the difference in creating a space that felt intentional and inspiring.

The Before:

The Paint Color That Set the Tone

First, I started with the paint color. I knew I wanted something dark and dramatic, but not quite black. Since his office gets so much natural light throughout the day, I knew I could get away with a dark grey shade. After much deliberation, I settled on Dark Secret by Behr, and I had to say, I had absolutely no regrets. The rich, moody hue brought a sense of sophistication to the room, while still feeling bold and charming.

The painting process itself, however, was a different story. It took me a full month—four Saturdays and four Sundays to be exact—to tackle the job of painting the walls, ceiling, and three doors. Looking back, I didn’t mind the DIY painting at all; in fact, it was oddly therapeutic for me. There’s something satisfying about getting your hands dirty and taking ownership of a space in such a hands-on way. But I’ll be honest, after all those weekends of painting, I wished I had hired someone to help. It was a lot of work, and I definitely underestimated how time-consuming it would be. Still, despite the long hours and physical effort, it was totally worth it. I knew how much this office would mean to my husband, and seeing it come together with each coat of paint made the whole process feel rewarding.

Drapery That Complements the Mood

The curtain rods from West Elm were already up, so the next step was finding drapery that complemented the vibe. I swapped out the purple velvet curtains for charcoal grey ones from Amazon. They were not only the perfect color, but also incredibly affordable, helping me achieve a luxe look without the hefty price tag.

A Timeless Treasure: The Furniture Piece That Endures

Furniture is an investment, and I wanted pieces that would last for many years to come. We kept our 5-drawer dresser made of real wood in Black, from Nadeau Furniture in Marietta. Their craftsmanship is top-notch, and I love that it's a sturdy, timeless piece. Plus, it’s something I know we’ll never have to replace—and that’s something we could pass down to the next generation.

Cozy, Chic, and Affordable

The bedding needed to elevate the room, but I didn’t want to spend a fortune. I found a green velvet quilt and matching euro sham at the West Elm Outlet in Dawsonville. The lush texture added a rich pop of color, while still being surprisingly affordable. To finish the look, I mixed in a black stripe pillow from Love Pillow Art and a stylish find from HomeGoods—bringing in that cozy-yet-chic vibe I was after.

Bold, Bright, and Just Right

The lighting was the next challenge. With the dark grey walls, I wanted a light fixture in gold to add warmth and a bit of glamour. As a fan of mid-century modern design, I knew I had to find something that was both affordable and stylish. A trip to the West Elm Outlet led me to the perfect solution: a Sputnik chandelier for just $200, well within my budget of $300. It was everything I wanted—modern, striking, and stylish.

I’ll admit it—installing the chandelier by myself was a little intimidating at first. It was heavier than I expected, and all those spiky details made it look more complicated than it probably was. Still, I was determined to prove I could do it on my own.

My husband thought I was nuts, but I insisted—and made him stand underneath me just in case I took a tumble off the ladder.

It took some patience and a fair bit of balancing, but when I finally got it installed, the sense of accomplishment was totally worth it. Every moment of doubt melted away the second I flipped the switch and saw it light up.

Curating Walls with Meaning: Artwork That Tells a Story

Curating the artwork was my final step, and it took a little longer since I wanted to make sure the pieces reflected my husband’s personality. I reframed most of the art using black frames from HomeGoods, which tied everything together beautifully. We had some travel photos from Iceland and Vancouver already, but I needed to add something more personal.

My husband is a huge fan of sports, so I made sure to incorporate that into the decor. His Kaepernick jersey was custom framed at Michaels, and I knew I couldn’t leave out his favorite basketball player, Kobe Bryant. We also had to include a nod to one of his heroes—President Barack Obama. Etsy is always my go-to for finding affordable artwork by local artists, and I found that perfect Obama piece there by Rebecca Holopter. For Kobe Bryant art I used a talented Black female visual artist, Halimah Smith, from her website, artpce.com. It was a great way to support her work while getting the piece I needed.

Finally, during a shopping trip to HomeGoods, I stumbled upon a stunning green cloth dinner napkin from Ghana, which I framed myself to add a bit of global flair and vibrant color to the space.

A Striking Console Table

Under the TV, I wanted something that made a statement. I didn’t want just any ordinary piece—I wanted something unique. After searching around, I found a stunning black console table at Nadeau Furniture in Buckhead. Its sleek, bold design fit perfectly with the vibe of the room, and it was exactly what the space needed.

The Swivel & Desk Chair That Won Me Over

One of the main priorities for the office was creating a spot where my husband could take a quick break from work, relax, and catch up on his favorite ESPN highlights. A swivel chair was an absolute must. After some searching, I discovered TOV Furniture, and I was hooked on their wide selection of stylish and functional chairs. Their motto, "Don’t be boring," immediately caught my attention, and I was sold.

What made it even better? At the time, TOV Furniture had an open box site! I scored a black swivel chair for just $250 with free shipping—what a steal. Not only did it fit the vibe of the room perfectly, but it was also functional and affordable. I love shopping online, and TOV made it easy to support a women-owned brand while getting exactly what I needed.

Another trip to the West Elm Outlet led me to the perfect solution for his office chair: their Slope Leather Swivel Office Chair for under $160. It was regularly priced on their website for $499, so it was a huge bargain!

One Leather Ottoman, Endless Style

Every great swivel chair needs an equally great companion, so I wanted something to place next to my husband’s swivel chair for his drinks when he’s watching TV or taking a break. That’s when I stopped by Intaglia Home Collection in Midtown Atlanta, a real gem for modern furniture. They had the perfect leather ottoman—sleek, practical, and just the right touch to elevate the space. It’s functional and looked great in the room, adding a bit of texture to the otherwise clean lines of the furniture.

One Wall, Big Impact

Something was missing above the bed, and I knew I needed to add more depth and dimension to the space. That’s when I reached out to The Boardroom Accent Walls, a company I’ve worked with numerous times before. They were absolute pros when it came to creating my custom accent wall, and once again, they came through for me. The installation was seamless, and the final result—a timeless, three-dimensional wall—gave the office the depth and style it needed to feel complete.

Layered in Style: The Area Rug That Tied It All Together

The area rug was the last piece I needed to complete the space. I had a specific vision in mind—something colorful to enhance the deep, moody rich grey in the room, but also something unique. I knew I didn’t want a traditional square shaped rug, so I opted for a round one. After some searching, I hit the jackpot on Ruggable.com, where I found Justina Blakeney’s Magdalena Peach & Berry round area rug. The colors were exactly what I had in mind, and the bonus? It’s machine washable! No more worrying about spills—this rug was as practical as it was beautiful.

A Personal, Cozy Office

When his office was finally completed in 3 months, it became my husband’s favorite room in the house. It’s a space where he feels energized and inspired, surrounded by reminders of his passions. The balance of travel and sports elements, combined with a functional layout, has made it a place he enjoys spending time in, whether he’s working or simply relaxing.

In the end, designing this office was more than just creating a space for his remote work—it was about creating an environment where my husband could feel motivated and connected to the things that bring him joy. I’m so glad I took the time to curate a space that truly represented him, and I hope it continues to make him happy for years to come.

The Design Details:

Design: Its Not Complicated Organizing

Professional Photography: Marc Mauldin Photography, Inc.

3D Accent Wall: The Boardroom Accent Walls, Atlanta

Paint: Behr, Dark Secret

Lush Velvet Wave Quilt & Sham: West Elm Outlet, Dawsonville

Accent Pillows(Bed): Love Pillow Art @Etsy, Turkey. West Elm Outlet. HomeGoods.

Bed Legs: Estelle Slim 170, PrettyPegs.com

Cut Velvet Archways Pillow & Red Throw (Swivel Chair): West Elm Outlet, Dawsonville.

5-Drawer Dresser, Black: Nadeau Furniture, Marietta

Black Console Table: Nadeau Furniture, Buckhead

Lighting: Sputnik Chandelier (34”), West Elm Outlet

Round Area Rug: Ruggable.com, Justina Blakeney - Magdalena Peach & Berry

Black Swivel Chair: TOV Furniture

Leather Ottoman: Intaglia Home Collection, Atlanta

Desk Chair: West Elm Outlet, Dawsonville - Slope Leather Swivel Office Chair, Nut

Artwork: Rebecca Holopter @Etsy - Obama. Artpce.com - Kobe Print & Plant Mom Print.

Black Mobile Desk: CB2

3-Tier Rolling Cart: The Container Store, Black

Live Plants: Easyplant.com

Black Planters: HomeGoods

Black & Gold Vases, Metal Studded Boxes: HomeGoods.

I’d love to hear from you! Drop a comment below and share your experience, your favorite design tips, or even a piece that holds deep meaning in your home. Let’s inspire each other to create more spaces that feel like us.

And if this post sparked some ideas for your next project, feel free to share it with a friend who needs a little design encouragement. 💛

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