Take Your Workspace From Drab to Fab With These 10 DIY Office Refresh Ideas

Feeling uninspired at work? Boost creativity by giving your boring office a chic update.

By: Chelsea Faulkner

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Did you know that redecorating can help generate new ideas and boost creativity? This is especially true in the places you spend the most time, like at work. Unfortunately, redecorating takes time and money that many of us just can't spare. But good news! There are tons of ways to make over your drab workspace by simply upcycling things you already have. Try a few of these chic DIY office supply refreshes to brighten your space and spark some much needed inspiration on a budget.

DIY Suede + Gold Leaf Mousepad

Photo by: Chelsea Costa Foy

Chelsea Costa Foy

Chelsea at the Lovely Indeed blog gave her old, worn-out mousepad a refresh with chic suede fabric and gold leaf polka dots.

Make This: DIY Suede & Gold Leaf Mousepad

Bar Cart Office Organizer

Use a Bar Cart as a Home Office Catch-All

It has multiple levels, it rolls, it might even fit under your desk – and who cares if it’s made for cocktails? A cute bar cart like this can be a great solution for your office supplies other essentials. You could even make the top into a coffee station.

Photo by: Danielle Moss

Danielle Moss

Complete with multiple levels and wheels, a cute bar cart is the perfect workspace storage solution. Roll it under your desk to maximize space or turn the top into a portable coffee station.

Get Inspired: Small Home Office Ideas

Easy Upcycled Quote Art

Upcyled old Painting

Learn how to customize a discarded painting from HGTV Magazine

From: HGTV Magazine

Photo by: Lara Robby/Studio D

Lara Robby/Studio D

Surrounding yourself with motivational words or phrases keeps the creative juices flowing long after the coffee has worn off. Take a cue from the crafting experts at HGTV Magazine and turn an old, tired painting into fun, inspirational word art for your desk or home office.

Make This: Upcycled Quote Art

DIY Stamped Notebooks

Photo by: Image Courtesy of Darby Smart

Image Courtesy of Darby Smart

Perfect for brainstorming, keeping appointments and remembering important points, a good notebook is an office essential. Give your plain notebooks a chic update with this fun DIY stamp and paint project from Darby Smart. Bonus: You get to make your own stamps!

Make This: DIY Printed Notebooks

Copper + Wood Magazine Rack

Photo by: Image Courtesy of Darby Smart

Image Courtesy of Darby Smart

Another genius DIY idea from Darby Smart, this wood and copper magazine rack is super simple to make and can be customized with your fabric of choice.

Make This: DIY Magazine Rack

DIY Desk Accessories

White and Yellow Containers Holding Desk Accessories

Stylish White and Yellow Desk Organizers

Use various containers like Mason jars, vases and tin cans to create a matching desk accessory set that will keep all your desk essentials organized and within reach.

Put mismatched containers to good use by transforming them into a single desk accessory set that corrals all your miscellaneous office supplies.

Make This: DIY Desk Accessories

Vintage Book Planter

Book crafts aren't for your rare or treasured tomes, but there are plenty of ways to repurpose damaged or unwanted volumes. Turn a book into an unexpected planter by cutting open the inside of an old book and adding a small succulent.

Bring some plant life to your drab workspace and display your love of literature with this work-appropriate book planter.

Make This: Vintage Book Planter

DIY Sawhorse Desk

Repurposed Door Makes Chic Desk

A simple trip to a salvage yard or antique store is all it takes to discover an interesting door that can easily be turned into a gorgeous desk. The desk is not only creative and functional, but a budget-friendly way to recycle an item that might have otherwise ended up in the trash.

Photo by: Photo courtesy of Meredith Perdue

Photo courtesy of Meredith Perdue

Looking for a chic, new desk that won’t break your budget? Make your own with two sawhorses, an old door and a piece of glass. Or check out some of these budget options.

Get Inspired: 17 Small Space-Friendly Desks Under $300

Glam Shelving

Office Supply DIY

The crafty editors at HGTV Magazine transformed a bookshelf

Photo by: Susan Pittard/Studio D (styled by Matthew Gleason)

Susan Pittard/Studio D (styled by Matthew Gleason)

Sometimes all you need is a can of paint to give your space an update. But if you can't paint your office's walls, paint the furniture instead. This metal bookshelf went from utilitarian to super chic with just a few coats of metallic gold acrylic paint.

Get Inspired: Amazing Office Supply DIYs

DIY Message Board

Memos at Hand

Paint an old picture frame to add a colorful outline to a ho-hum cork board. Or, consider removing the corkboard and attaching chicken wire to the back of the frame and clipping memos or favorite photos to it, like Ashley Campbell. This simple project requires paint, chicken wire, a staple gun and a bit of creativity.

Photo by: Photo courtesy of Ashley Campbell

Photo courtesy of Ashley Campbell

Are you drowning in a sea of sticky notes? Clean up the clutter with a personalized DIY bulletin board that keeps all of your memos in one spot. Using a staple gun, attach chicken wire to the back of a large picture frame, then clip on all your imporant reminders with small clothespins. It's also a stylish way to display your favorite photos!