Vintage Home Office Decorating Ideas
One of the most neglected rooms in the home in terms of decorating is the home office. Many people view a home office as a functional space that doesn't require much thought. At the same time, office furniture and appliances are often built to be useful and inexpensive rather than aesthetically attractive. However, you can turn your home office into a comfortable, inviting space by borrowing design ideas from vintage styles. Does this Spark an idea?
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Wooden Desks
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While most contemporary office desks are made of metal of particle board, a traditional wooden desk can serve as a vintage centerpiece to even the most modern home office. Antique oak and pine desks can be stained to any shade and are instantly more interesting and old-fashioned than most office desks available from furniture makers today. One of the disadvantages of an older desk is that it will lack computer-friendly features like a keyboard tray or openings for cables and wires, but a few carefully placed holes and some rearranging is all you'll need to do to make a vintage desk your everyday workstation.
Use of Wood
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You can use wood elsewhere in the office to give it a warm feeling that metal or plastic office fixtures lack. If your home office has wooden accents like molding or window frames, don't paint them, even if they're in minor need of repair. Instead apply a new coat of lacquer or varnish to protect them in their current state and allow the natural wood to show through. As a rule, replacing other materials with natural wood will give your home office a timeless, vintage look.
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Wallpaper
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Consider using wallpaper instead of paint in your office. Patterned wallpapers were once common in all rooms of a house, but today they are largely ignored in favor of latex paint. Vertical stripes can help make a room seem taller and expand the space. Checkered or diamond patterns can add interest while bringing a geometric art deco touch to the office. If wallpaper is too expensive or labor-intensive, use a textured painting method on the walls.
Vintage Accessories
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Finally, round out your home office with vintage accessories. Your computer and telephone may be modern, but try to find a stainless steel or brushed aluminum stapler instead of a modern black one. Thankfully such vintage-inspired items are available from major office supply chains. Other vintage accessories can include a wire mesh trash can, wooden paper tray and a mechanical, key-wound clock.
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