Carving out a home office that not only inspires creativity but also helps you reach peak productivity when you're working from your house can be relatively easy. And it doesn’t require a dedicated room or ample square footage either. When you're thinking about layout ideas, get creative with the space you already have—even if that means making use of a spare corner in your bedroom or an unused closet.
Then, focus on your needs. "Everybody has different preferences when it comes to their work environments." Ask questions like: How often will you use the phone? How quiet does the office need to be? From there, you can explore what kind of furniture will function best and get to work on the fun part: decorating.
Whether your goal is to go modern and sleek or cosy and chic, here are brilliant (and beautiful) home office decor ideas and tips from the pros that prove even the smallest spaces can help you become more industrious.
Tips for Designing an Office at Home
- Location, Location, Location
You'll likely spend many hours in your home office, so don't stiff yourself on space (e.g. squishing a tiny desk into a windowless closet to preserve the rarely-used guest room).
Also, consider traffic flow and your ability to withstand distractions. Do you work best in the thick of activity, or should your office be tucked away in a quiet space? If clients will be stopping by, a private space with ample seating is a must.
- Don't Sacrifice Form for Function
Your desk, shelves and storage should serve you, not the other way around. Consider your workflow and what items you need at your fingertips before investing in furniture, and then look for pieces that are both beautiful and functional.
Home office furniture should complement other rooms in your house instead of screaming "soulless cubicle." If your home has traditional decor, warm wood and soft, comfy chairs or a loveseat are ideal if you have the space. A contemporary home office can feature artistic pieces or modern metal furniture.
- Invest in a Great Chair
You spend hours parked in your office chair; a beautiful, ergonomically correct, comfortable seat is worth every dime.
- Wallpaper the Walls with the Design You Love
Forget "office beige": You need a colour that gets your work motor humming. For some people, that's a bright, cheery colour like orange or lime green. Others need a calming shade like botanical green or sea foam blue to perform. Find out more about how certain designs and colours can affect your mood.
- Give Yourself a View
Position the desk where you can stare at something more interesting than a blank wall (even if you do love the colour) when you glance up from the computer. A window's natural light is ideal, but if you're in a windowless space, hang a pretty picture above the desk, or position your chair to face the door.
- Choose Homey Accessories
Unless you're going for a contemporary look, choose extras that enhance the comfy feeling of your home office, like a pretty mug for a pencil holder, trendy notepads and sticky notes, and a decorative wastebasket. Wrap your bulletin board in a gorgeous fabric, and hide utilitarian bookshelves behind curtains made from the same material. Hang inspirational prints on the walls, whether that's simply your kids' framed artwork or a classic painting.
- Organize Vertically and Horizontally
Many home offices aren't swimming in square footage, so using space efficiently is imperative.
Hang floating shelves on the walls to get papers and office equipment off the desk, and use vertical file folders on the desk to keep important papers within arm's reach. Are you a stacker or a filer? If you tend to make piles, get a nice basket to tame your mail, notes and papers. If you prefer a clean desktop, designate one drawer for your "to-do" papers. Wooden or metal cube storage is a fun alternative to bookshelves since each space can be used for books, knickknacks or baskets of odds-and-ends.
- Master Your Technology
There's not much you can do to beautify the computer, printer and phone, but you can hide unsightly cords. Start by making sure your equipment is close to outlets and easy to access if you need to unplug. Encase cords on the desk in a fabric cord cover, and feed the cords into a desk grommet, a plastic or metal cap that helps guide cords through a hole in the desk and hides them underneath. Tame the cord jungle on the floor with cord winders, tubing, or a wire organizer that's attached to the desk and lifts the cords off the floor.
- Let There Be Light
Here's a bright idea: make sure your office has plenty of light to cut down on eye strain and headaches. Position the computer monitor so there's no glare from a window or overhead light, and put a small lamp on the desk for task lighting.
- Inspire Yourself
Set up a mini-shrine — a few cherished knickknacks, a piece of framed art, a special photo on your desk — that motivates you to create and/or get the work done so you can get out of there. A print of Paris can channel your inner muse, or a photo of your children might remind you that you're doing it all for them.
These tips would help you to create a beautiful home office, without making too much of an effort or spending a fortune on it. Your home office is ready! Share these tips with others who might find them useful as well!
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