Dining Room Turned Home Office: Styling Details and Favorite Finds

Yesterday I shared our dining room after its transformation into a functional home office. The part I love most about any room makeover is the final step—bringing together all the little details and accessories that make the space feel complete. I experiment with placement, swap items around, and tweak until the room has the right balance of function and personality. For this office I mixed a few new purchases with pieces I already had on hand. Below are the styling choices, sources, and small touches that tie the room together.

Wall art sets the tone—here I added a Bike Print Canvas found at Target (on sale for $24.99). Graphic prints like this are an easy, budget-friendly way to introduce a focal point and personal style without overwhelming the space. Consider one bold piece instead of several small, competing prints for a cleaner, modern look.

Small storage and organization are important in a workspace. I picked up cute little pails with chalkboard labels from Target’s $1.00 section—perfect for corralling pens, clips, and other desktop clutter. Using uniform containers keeps the desktop visually calm while making it easy to find what you need.

For mail and notes I installed a corkboard and mail center I found at Homesense. I originally bought it as a gift for a friend ($16.99), but it works perfectly here—sometimes the right item finds you. The jute dispenser is a sentimental piece: my grandma’s old rolling pin mounted on insulators, repurposed to hold twine. Repurposing meaningful objects adds character and a story to the room.

I also made a Pottery Barn–inspired message center to keep schedules, notes, and inspiration in one place. It was created alongside similar rustic message boards and is a simple DIY that adds both charm and organization to the office wall.

Tidy storage makes working more pleasant. I placed a pretty fabric drawer organizer—purchased at Homesense as a set of three—on the desk to keep supplies and papers out of sight but within reach. Fabric organizers are lightweight, attractive, and can be swapped for seasonal color updates.

Living elements like plants soften a workspace. I added a topiary tree—a Mother’s Day gift that usually stands by the front door. It brings a fresh, sculptural touch to the desk area. If you plan to keep a topiary indoors, place it near natural light and check its water needs; some varieties adapt well to indoor conditions, while others prefer outdoor air.

Small prints and inspirational quotes personalize the space without overwhelming it. I used a free printable titled “Love the Journey” to add a positive accent near the desk—an inexpensive way to introduce typography and color into the room.

An orange lamp from Target (picked up on clearance for $14.99) brings a pop of color and task lighting to the workspace. I complemented it with a small piece of bright fabric from Fabricland (about $4.50 for half a meter) to tie the color into the desk vignette. Accent color choices like this can energize the room and create a cohesive palette.

These finishing touches—artwork, clever storage, repurposed family pieces, and a few affordable buys—turned our former dining room into a functional and inviting home office. If you’re updating your space, focus on one or two focal pieces, add functional storage, and include personal items that tell a story. Did I miss anything you’d add? I’d love to hear what small details make your workspace feel complete.