8 Country-Inspired Home Office Ideas

Creative thinking lets you skip the office supply store and shop in your own basement for desk accessories. Here, a fold-up yardstick makes for an imaginative card file.

Keep your work surface clear of paper and office paraphernalia with a desk organizer. An old-fashioned toolbox will keep your space working like a well-oiled machine. These small compartments are divided even further by bud vases and petite juice glasses that hold tiny must-haves such as pushpins and paper clips. Larger openings hold note pads and stationery.

Sort important papers by year in three-ring binders. Use write-on key-ring tags (available at craft and scrapbooking stores) to label each notebook and make everything easy to find at a glance.

Instead of investing in an expensive piece of furniture, top a pair of file cabinets with a piece of plywood cut to fit. Dress the desk in a fabric skirt and add a glass top for sophisticated work surface with ample storage below. (For more feminine appeal, upholster a standard-issue office chair in floral fabric.)

An old door finds new life as a hardworking tabletop when perched on a pair of sawhorses. Want the same look but are short a door? Create a similar office table by finishing a slab of plywood and drilling large holes to keep scissors, pens, and other tools at your fingertips.

Upgrade a run-of-the-mill corkboard with a fabric remnant that complements your office color scheme. Use the space to tack up business cards, inspirational photos, and fabric samples. Then use a large tote as a creative substitute for a basket or bin -- perfect for corralling larger items such as blueprints.

Formerly an enclosed porch, this cozy home office was designed with storage in mind -- including pullout shelves for electronics and deep drawers beneath a built-in bench. It also proves that any small, unclaimed corner can be put to use with clever thinking.

An at-home work space doesn't need an entire room. Set up your office in any open corner with a space-saving armoire. Be sure to outfit it with shelves, boxes, and bins to keep necessities in order. Don't forget about the inside of the doors -- they're ideal for hanging memo boards, shallow bins for file folders, and artwork. When the day is done, close the doors and leave the work behind.