I used my home office a lot, until 1998 when I switched to a laptop computer and got rid of my desktop. After that, I only really used the file cabinet and document shredder in there.
Most of the things that would have gone in my file cabinet, are now available online. So, I'm thinking of just putting the rest in a small rolling file box in a closet(like the one I brought on my present evacuation trip), or else scanning them all in, and moving the shredder to the kitchen.
But then I will have no use for a home office room at all.
I guess that makes sense since I haven't worked for almost 12 years. Sorry to be rambling on.
I think perhaps as many of us grow older, we don't feel we need as much space or as many things to put in it? At least that seems to be happening in my case. My house is 1500 sf, and Frank's is 1600 sf. Each of us only actually uses about 800 sf, max. Maybe 600.
Before we knew that our houses are (apparently?) OK after Hurricane Ida, we were thinking about what to do in a worst case scenario. We were thinking that we could perhaps buy a duplex with about 800 sf on each side. Cheaper, and certainly adequate for our needs.
Sorry if I drifted a little off topic! But for me, that's the solution to any home office remodeling dilemma - - eliminate it completely. I mean, do you really need or want to spend a boatload of money remodeling a home office? For volunteer work?
Why not just give them the money you would spend, instead.