Would you rather have a comfortable cottage style home office instead of one with an industrial blue chair and metal filing cabinets? My 10 tips will get you started.

1. Bright White. Paint your old brown wooden desk and wooden chair white with a satin finish paint. It will brighten up your room immediately and the satin finish will be more durable and easy to clean than flat paint.

2. Charming Chair. Buy a twin sheet and pillowcase in your favorite cottage style print. Put the pillowcase over the back of any regular office style chair (the kind without arms). Fold the sheet in a square and place it on the seat. Both can easily be removed for washing.

3. Creative Containers. Look through your kitchen cabinets to find any pretty containers to hold pens, highlighters, scissors, stamps, etc. Mugs and small pitchers work well.

4. Rug Regard. Purchase a colorful cotton rug to spruce up the floor and add happy color.

5. Pretty Paint. Paint your walls your favorite color. Color is important for productivity as well as calm.

6. File Faux. Consider whitewashing your wooden filing cabinets using paint and water and applying with a soft rag. Metal filing cabinets can be taken to a body shop and spray painted a pleasing color.

7. Art Smart. Hang some of your favorite art in your office for enjoyment. Frame old greeting cards or your childrens artwork for a quick dollarwise solution. Frame your certificates in favorite frames.

8. Screen It. Hide your copier, fax, and other office equipment behind a white shuttered screen when not in use.

9. Lamp Luster. Buy an inexpensive floral lampshade for an old lamp you already have.

10. Flower Finesse. Buy fresh flowers for your home office to add cheer and happiness while you work. I bought a sweet bouquet at the grocery store today for just $4.99. -contd-

Put on your thinking cap and youll be sure to come up with your own creative ideas for creating a warm and inviting cottage style home office for yourself that youll want to spend time in every day.

C 2006 Kathryn Bechen Designs. All rights reserved worldwide.

Kathryn Bechen

Kathryn Bechen, founder of Kathryn Bechen Designs.com, is a certified interior decorating consultant, author, and former founder of her own professional organizing company, Organized With Ease. She has been interviewed by and featured in San Diego Home & Garden Lifestyles magazine, the Omaha World Herald, RealtyTimes.com, and numerous other publications. Her originally authored articles have appeared in newspapers and across the internet and she is also the author of the e-book, Moving With Ease: The 8 Week Plan for an Organized & Stress-Free Move Whether You Hire a Mover or Do It Yourself! She and her husband Steve have moved 11 times in 25 years of marriage and she has fully organized and decorated each residence. In addition, she has taught seminars and spoken to groups of up to 400. Kathryn offers a FREE full color monthly e-newsletter and a color photo blog of home decorating tips and resources available via her website listed below.