Before & After: A Cluttered Catchall Becomes a Modern Workspace for Under $1,000

It’s okay to occasionally settle for some things, like a slightly cold takeout pizza or a Netflix series that’s actually super boring—but you shouldn’t have to settle for a space that doesn’t make you happy. At Dani Koch’s home, the room that she’d resigned herself to for too long was her office. It was a multi-purpose space that needed to serve a lot of different functions for the family, but the design just wasn’t cutting it.

“We put our thrifted desk in one corner and my pro race car driver husband’s racing simulator in another, so we called it an office,” Dani says. “I’d literally cringe every time I walked into this room with its ugly yellow paint, matching yellow trim, and white overspray from the ceiling.”

For just under $1,000, Dani and her husband managed to DIY a makeover for the entire space in about eight weeks. The first order of business was to refresh with a new paint color. They chose black (Sherwin-Williams’ Black Magic) for a sleek, modern finish and to allow her husband’s racing simulator to better blend into the space. For contrast, Dani painted the trim bright white; the couple added wood accents throughout for warmth.

While one corner was reserved for the simulator, a daybed took up another wall. Fitted with a charcoal gray sheet and stylish throw pillows, it’s positively dreamy. Dani then tackled the basic-but-large closet in the room, transforming it to serve as a working desk; its doors can be closed if guests stay over.

In the end, the space that once evoked dread for Dani is now a multi-functional room she adores. “I love that this room feels like a calming retreat now,” Dani says. “It’s inspiring to work in this room and it’s become my favorite space in our home.”

Inspired? Submit your own project here.