How I Transformed My Home Office into a Magical Fairy Writing Space
From BigLaw stress cave to enchanted writing sanctuary - here's how fairy lights and a little imagination revolutionized my home office
I never thought a TikTok video about fairy lights would completely transform my writing life, but here we are.
When I resigned from my BigLaw partnership in 2023 and decided to focus on writing full-time (read more here), I knew my lawyer home office had to go.
The Problem: A Room Full of Stressful Memories
The problem wasn’t that it was bland; I could never live or work in a bland space. When I first moved in, I invested in some chic Room & Board furniture, painted one wall hot pink and framed my law and masters degree diplomas with pink glitter matting. One of the best compliments I ever received as a lawyer was: "Your Zoom background looks like Architectural Digest Barbie.”
However, the room held memories of stressful deals, tense negotiations, endless COVID Zooms and 90-hour work weeks. Too many binders full of precedent and timesheets stacked to the ceiling.
To become a novelist, I needed a completely different physical space. But I didn't know exactly what. An antique wooden secretary desk? Dark oak paneling? I wanted to use what I already owned but make it more. . . writerly.
The Inspiration: A Magical Writing Exercise
Design inspiration occurred during a workshop with The Novelry (one of the many writing programs I’ve done over the past 2.5 years; I love learning!)
In it, we were instructed to close our eyes and imagine the most magical, happy place we'd ever been. The one place our memories return to, the place in which we’d want to stay forever. The image that sprang to my mind was a chic Positano hotel room with expansive windows overlooking a fuchsia sunset, the balcony strung with twinkling fairy lights.
My happy place, Positano Italy
The instructor then suggested we find a way of replicating the vibe of our magical place in our very own workspace. I immediately ordered a bunch of plastic lemon trees, but it didn’t quite do the trick.
Shortly after this Novelry workshop, I enrolled in Ingrid Fetell Joy's "Design a Home You Love" course to help kickstart some other home design projects I’d been postponing while working as a lawyer. During one of her visualization exercises, that same magical room appeared again! This time, she inspired me to just TRY recreating it because we must take action toward making our environments match the energy we need, and I needed magical vibes. My lawyer office wasn’t suddenly going to redecorate itself.
My Office Transformation Guide
Here's exactly how I turned my office into a magical writing sanctuary. There are still some things I dream of adding, and I am comforted knowing as my career transformation from BigLaw Partner to Writer has been incremental, so too is my re-design. I've linked all my favorite supplies below. (As an Amazon Associate and affiliate partner, I may earn a small commission from purchases made through these links, but I only recommend products I actually use and love in my own space!)
1. Paint Everything Super White
Since buying this house in 2020, I’ve changed the colors in this room from Benjamin Moore Dove Gray to an aggressive hot pink to a periwinkle back to gray. The room faces south so it gets lots of sun in the winter (for a few hours) and a little sun in the summer (for a few hours). Thus the gray felt too dark most of the year.
For my writer sanctuary, I knew I wanted really high-energy vibes in the office to help me feel motivated, and since the window is southern-facing and doesn’t get a ton of light in the summer, I wanted to offset the shadows.
Introducing Benjamin Moore Super White. The name isn't just marketing - these walls literally glow! (Note: the uber-bright white made my existing white trim look yellowish, but I'm not up to repainting the trim right now. One day!)
2. Install Ceiling Fairy Lights
This TikTok tutorial was a game-changer for stringing fairy lights around the ceiling using 3M strips. My mom and I installed these little 3M hooks around the perimeter and connected everything to an Alexa smart plug for easy voice control.
On the darkest of winter days, the fairy lights + Super White make me happy
3. Create a Sunset View with Window Decals
I found these incredible sunset window decals on Etsy that transformed my depressing suburban view of my neighbor’s roof into a Mediterranean paradise. FYI, the seller was fantastic - when the first order's dimensions were wrong, he quickly sent a perfect replacement at no charge and super fast.
Gemma is one happy customer
4. Add Sparkle with Sequined Curtains
These iridescent curtains catch the light beautifully and add that magical shimmer I was craving! I love them so much.
5. Install a Disco Ball Light Diffuser
This disco ball diffuser is so fun! It rotates and has color-changing LEDs when in use as a diffuser (I love mixing these peppermint, eucalyptus and tea tree essential oils in the winter time). When not in use, it throws sparkles across the walls when sunlight hits it, adding an extra layer of magic to the space.
Disco Diffuser
6. Create Natural Rainbows
I hung a crystal prism (purchased at Miraval a thousand years ago but this is similar) with a suction cup hook and added a crystal sun catcher sticker from Etsy to the window. Nothing beats rainbow light dancing across your workspace!
Even on the most wintry of days, my prism and suncatcher throw a little rainbow light
7. Meet Ziggy: My Lighting Assistant
I only use my Amazon Echo Pop (named Ziggy) to turn on and off the lights, which definitely does not help it reach its full capabilities but I forget to do anything else with it. love how easy it is. And to hide the tech of it all, I found this gorgeous goddess statue that doubles as an Echo stand and I painted it!
Ziggy in a hand-painted holder
8. Create a Writers' Command Center
A large whiteboard and bulletin board hang opposite my desk, often covered in rainbow-coded index cards for scene planning and project brainstorming. The color-coordinated push pin magnets make organization both functional and beautiful.
The Result: Pure Magic
Now when I walk into my office and say "Ziggy, turn on my office lights," I'm transported as close to that Positano sparkly-lights rainbow sunset as I can get here in the western suburbs of Chicago. This room has become one of my absolute favorites in the house, and I genuinely love spending time here.
Whether you're transitioning careers like me or just need a creative refresh, never underestimate the power of a little magic in your daily environment.
What's Next?
This is just the beginning! If ever I get the courage, I want to paint my ceiling a dark cobalt blue and and change out the ceiling fan. I’d also love to paint the window trim and the closet doors something funky, maybe my beloved hot pink.
And I still need to show you my puzzle and stationary closet, bookshelves, mini-fridge setup, and school supply stations scattered throughout the room. Stay tuned for more Home Office tours!
