Whether working from home full-time or on a hybrid schedule, an office space has become an essential part of most homes. But the days of a simple desk and solid chair are long gone. Home offices today often include state-of-the-art equipment like ergonomic chairs and standing desks. And while these pieces offer functionality, they often lack style. However, a little creativity goes a long way. For example, take this standing desk makeover by creator Crystal King (@chrystalking_). With a vision and plan in mind, she was able to transform her standing desk into something chic.

Takeaways New Hide ▲

Standing desks can be

transformed with creative

DIY decor techniques

Peel-and-stick wallpaper adds

instant style to plain

desk surfaces

Detailed planning helps turn

neglected corners into cozy

office nooks

Chunky industrial elements

can become sculptural features

with simple upgrades

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❯

If you have a standing desk, you may share Crystal’s sentiment about it being less than stylish. In a recent transformative video, she remarked, “Why are all standing desks so ugly?” Though the desks are built for function over fashion, she has a strong point. As someone who works from home, I can attest that finding a stylish version isn’t easy. But Crystal took matters into her own hands, ultimately transforming her standard desk into an artsy, sculptural version.

@chrystalking_

well that turned out better than I thought it would 🙈 nothing like a cheeky bank holiday DIY, this standing desk has been bothering me for almost a year so I’m happy it’s finally got a little glow up! what do you think?! Here’s a list of where everything’s from: Salad bowls & picture shelves : @IKEAUK 
Peel and stick wallpaper: @Dunelm
Varnish: @B&Q #interiordesign #diy #homedecor #walkingpad #creatorsearchinsights

♬ Walking Around – Instrumental Version – Eldar Kedem

The Vision & Plan

Standing desks are bulky items, so she planned to disguise their industrial elements to give them a designer feel. With a chicer look, the desk would become the focal point of her new corner office. Like any designer, she began with a mockup of her dream cozy work nook to guide her through the process. This initial step is crucial as it allowed her to see how the desk could transform the neglected corner.

Building the Standing Desk Makeover

As a decor and DIY enthusiast, Crystal is no stranger to handiwork. After removing the legs, she cut down the tabletop with a jigsaw power tool to make it look sleeker. The upgrades to the tabletop continued as she refreshed the bland gray surface with a marble-printed peel-and-stick wallpaper.

Once the tabletop was complete, it was time to focus on the legs. Her original vision featured legs with a spherical design, which is trendy in maximalist decor today. She used a popular IKEA hack to recreate the look, featuring wooden salad bowls, which she planned to stack on the legs similar to beads on a string.

The Final Details

Crystal opted for a few coats of stain to give her desk an authentic and luxe appearance, allowing each coat to dry down before applying the next. Finally, she assembled the desk and added two floating shelves to complete her cozy office nook.