One Year Back in the Office: Should My Home Office Become a LEGO Room, Mahjong Room, or Reading Retreat?

As of yesterday, I've officially been back in the office full-time for one year.

Well... mostly full-time. We did spend the last two weeks working remotely thanks to some power issues in the office, but who's counting?

That milestone got me thinking about my home office and whether it's still serving the purpose I originally intended when I moved to Texas.

When I was house hunting, one thing was absolutely non-negotiable: I wanted a first-floor home office.

That requirement came directly from my experience during COVID. My previous house had an office setup on the second floor. It wasn't originally designed to be an office, but it was the only space available. At first it worked fine. Then came years of running up and down the stairs multiple times a day.

Eventually my knees decided they had opinions.

I still remember being in Pilates one day when the pain suddenly became unbearable. A visit to an orthopedic specialist confirmed what I was beginning to suspect. The stairs weren't causing my arthritis, but they certainly weren't helping. From that point forward, I knew that if I moved, my daily living spaces needed to be on one level.

A ranch home would have been ideal, but I ended up finding something that checked all the important boxes. My primary bedroom, laundry room, and office are all on the first floor. Upstairs functions mostly as guest space.

The office itself isn't huge, but it sits at the front of the house with a nice view of the neighborhood. It also became home to my Pilates reformer when it arrived. Again, first-floor access was a huge win.

Over the years the room has evolved. My treadmill lived there for a while before I eventually let it go. I upgraded from a smaller desk to a larger adjustable standing desk. A couple of bookcases moved in.

But lately I've noticed something.

I don't use the room the same way I used to.

The reformer isn't getting nearly as much attention as it should. The standing desk is fantastic, but I'm rarely sitting there these days. Most of my blogging happens from the couch with my laptop balanced nearby.

Meanwhile, some of my hobbies have quietly taken over other parts of the house.

I'm looking at you, LEGO.

And you too, Mahjong.

So now I'm wondering if this room deserves a second act.

The very messy room as it stands now. 

Option 1: The LEGO Room

This may be the most tempting option.

The office equipment and monitors could move upstairs. The reformer could relocate to the loft or become part of a larger upstairs redesign. The current bookcases could move upstairs as well.

Then the fun begins.

My mom recently moved from Illinois to Texas and brought down her white IKEA Billy bookcases. I immediately started envisioning them filled with LEGO displays.

The standing desk would stay and become my dedicated LEGO building station. I'd add the Billy bookcases for display space and maybe even a small television for background entertainment while building.

Given how quickly my LEGO Botanical collection is multiplying, this option definitely has some appeal.

A full wall of LEGO displays and keeping my desk to do builds

Option 2: The Mahjong Room

If you've been reading for a while, you know Mahjong has become one of my favorite new hobbies.

This option would involve a more complete transformation.

The desk would go. The reformer would move upstairs. The room would become dedicated to Mahjong and collecting.

The Billy bookcases would still make an appearance because they would be perfect for displaying LEGO sets, Mahjong accessories, and collectibles.

I've seen so many creative Mahjong room ideas on social media lately. Beautiful clear jars filled with tiles. Decorative glass bowls. My personal favorite: clear jewelry boxes displaying colorful tile collections almost like artwork.

I'd also love to display my Mahjong mats as part of the room décor instead of keeping them tucked away.

The centerpiece would be a dedicated Mahjong table. Ideally, it could also serve as a workspace whenever I needed a larger surface for my laptop.

The more I think about it, the more I like the idea of having a space specifically designed around gathering with friends.

A mahjong room for play and showing off my beautiful goodies. 

Option 3: The Reading Room

There is something incredibly appealing about creating a room dedicated to slowing down.

The Billy bookcases would once again earn their keep by displaying LEGO sets, collectibles, and favorite books.

But the star of the room would be a large, comfortable reading chair.

The kind of chair that practically demands a cozy blanket, a good book, and a rainy afternoon.

As someone who reads a lot on Kindle, I love the idea of having a dedicated retreat where reading is the primary activity.

No work.

No distractions.

Just books.

A cozy reading space which also displays my LEGO goodies

Option 4: The Best of Both Worlds

This may actually be the most practical option.

A Mahjong room that also includes a cozy reading corner.

The challenge is square footage.

Can the room comfortably accommodate both a Mahjong table and a substantial reading chair?

I'm honestly not sure.

Part of me thinks it might be possible with careful planning and furniture selection. The room doesn't need to be huge to feel functional if every piece has a purpose.

And if I could pull it off, I'd have a space that supports two of my favorite hobbies.

Mahjong and LEGO on display!

Then There's the Decorating...

The room's purpose isn't the only thing I've been dreaming about.

I've also been thinking about how I would decorate it.

Lately I've been drawn to darker, moodier paint colors. Something bold and cozy.

And of course, there's my ongoing obsession with Rifle Paper Co.'s Garden Party collection.

Maybe Garden Party wallpaper on one feature wall.

Maybe a Garden Party rug in the center of the room.

Maybe even one of the Garden Party upholstered chairs.

Although I keep coming back to comfort.

I already own an Ethan Allen Mickey Mouse chair that's beautiful to look at but not exactly the chair I want to curl up in for hours. If I'm adding another chair, I want it to be something I actually use.

Function needs to win over aesthetics this time.

At least mostly.

What Would You Do?

One year back in the office has unexpectedly turned into a chance to rethink how I use one of the most versatile rooms in my house.

The practical side of me says a combined Mahjong and reading room probably makes the most sense.

The LEGO-loving side of me is voting very aggressively for Option 1.

And honestly, all four options sound more exciting than a room that's currently being underutilized.

So now I want to hear from you.

Do you have a bonus room?

How do you use it?

Which option would you choose if this were your house?

And perhaps most importantly... how many Billy bookcases is too many Billy bookcases?

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