I don’t have a home office per se. It’s more of a nook I carved out. I’m not organized enough to have an entire room dedicated to working, so instead I like carving out cozy spaces I can use as I see fit. I needed a space for deep work, a place I could shut out the rest of the world and sit and think for hours when necessary.

This space serves two purposes. It’s next to our bed and serves as my nightstand, as well as my desk when I work. I know what they say about not working in your bedroom, but with five children, no basement and no attic, our house doesn’t allow for that. The only place I can shut myself away from the world is the bedroom.

Finding Space Where You Can

Carving out a workspace doesn’t always mean an entire office. Sometimes it’s a nook, a window ledge, or a corner you style to work for you. The beauty of small, multi-purpose spaces is that they force you to be intentional. Every piece has to earn its place.

Inspiration from Ralph Lauren

When we designed our bedroom, we wanted it to feel like a world away from the rest of the house. With the hot sun beating down on the front of our home all day, we leaned into the idea of a cozy English countryside retreat. Think: dark jewel tones, layers of florals and plaids, and that nostalgic mood pulled straight from 1990s Ralph Lauren catalogs.

That inspiration carried over to my workspace. I wanted the perfect desk to feel as though it belonged in that layered, storybook setting – elegant but also lived-in and timeless.

The Hunt: Thrifting the Perfect Desk

My dream desk was pretty specific. I wanted an antique, with a black leather top, brass railings, minimal drawers and open bottom. Instead of buying new, I searched Facebook Marketplace for months. It took patience, but eventually the right piece popped up. That’s the beauty of shopping second hand: when you finally find the one, it feels like a victory. For this particular desk, I searched words like “antique desk” and “regency desk. “

Tips for sourcing a desk or other work essentials:

• Save search alerts for keywords like “campaign desk,” “vintage secretary,” or “wood writing desk” depending on the style you’re searching for.

• Find a picture of a desk you like on sites like Chairish and use words from those descriptions to train your algorithm.

• Be patient—finding the right scale and style can take time.

• Always measure your space before buying so you know exactly what will fit. (Remember to measure your car, too!)

• Estate sales and thrift shops can surprise you with unique finds.

 

Styling the Workspace

Once the desk was in place, styling came naturally. I leaned into the Ralph Lauren mood already established in the room, layering in small details for warmth and personality. A banker’s lamp thrifted on a trip to Palm Beach anchors one side, while a brass lamp with a white shade (found at Consign Charleston for just $5 ) sits on the other.

Above the desk, a vintage floral oil painting I picked up in Cleveland via Craigslist back in 2020 brings in color and charm. The white ruffled milk glass vase is an older thrifted piece from years ago, filled with roses my son gifted me on Mother’s Day. Milk glass is very affordable and adds vintage charm to just about any space and mixes seamlessly with a variety of decor styles. A simple desk organizer from Home Goods keeps everything tidy without distracting from the collected feel. I don’t like to make any space too serious so I keep these silly black and white photos of me and my daughter from the Jersey Shore tucked in to the painting. I don’t need things too perfect and love adding a touch of fun a space. After all, it’s not a museum and it brings me joy every time I see it.

Easy Ralph Lauren–inspired accents to add:

• A small brass lamp with a pleated shade (an easily thrifted find)

• Stacks of vintage books (bonus if they’re green, navy, or red)

• A leather catchall tray or picture frame

• A plaid throw draped over a nearby chair

• Fresh flowers or a candle for a touch of romance

Manifesting Free Chairs

We had been searching for a pair of leather chairs for our room and I had just joked to my husband that week that my budget was $0. He chuckled as he normally does when I say something ridiculous but I knew we could find something affordable if we waited.

 

One day, driving from our offices to the warehouse, I spotted them on the side of Wappoo Road — two beautiful old chairs, just waiting to be rescued. A local attorney’s office had closed, and they were dragging furniture out to the curb. At first, only one chair was there, but I had a hunch another would soon follow. Sure enough, when I drove back later, I was right. I couldn’t believe my luck! They were already fairly clean, but I still brought them home, gave them a good scrub, and let them bake in the sun for a few days.

The wood was in excellent condition, and the worn leather had exactly the kind of patina I love. The scroll lines and nailhead details gave them so much character, and even though I couldn’t find the manufacturer, it didn’t matter one bit. They were perfect — and the price couldn’t have been better: free.

To style them slightly, I added an equestrian needle point pillow I found on eBay and a throw we already owned.

Making It Work for You

At the end of the day, your workspace doesn’t need to follow strict design rules. What matters is that it works for you. My little nook is both practical and inspiring to me. It’s layered with details I love, yet simple enough to keep me focused.

Even the small touches make a difference. I keep a plug behind the chair, with my power cord ready for my laptop, iPad, phone, and headphones. When I’m done, I roll it up and tuck it away. Out of sight, but easy to grab when I need it. This way, I don’t wake up looking at all my electronics first thing.

For additional storage, I use decorative boxes to store stationary and office supplies, but I keep it to a minimum to avoid it feeling cluttered under my feet.

Creating this space didn’t happen overnight. It was a creative process that took time, evolved slowly, and came together piece by piece. That’s the beauty of thrifting—you can’t rush it, and no one can truly replicate the result. Every vintage find adds character and makes the space uniquely your own.

This corner shows you don’t need a full office to create something special. With a little patience, creativity, and a hint of Ralph Lauren charm, even the smallest nook can become a retreat for focus and inspiration.