Whether you work from home or just want to carve out a space for the things you love (crafting, reading, writing, etc.), a home office is a place that sparks your creativity and gets you to get work done. But coming up with home office ideas that are truly inspiring can be hard. These areas are likely the most neglected spaces in your home. They're cluttered, cramped, and you end up working from the couch, kitchen, bed, or anywhere other than your actual office (guilty!). To help you create and update a space that's truly inspiring, we asked experts, from designers to bloggers to editors, for their home office ideas that will make you want to get to work.
Think chic
Your space should inspire you and reflect your unique personality. “We wanted to design a space that was fashionable, functional, and reflective of the personality of homeowner Desi Perkins,” says Lula Fine, CEO and founder of Laurel & Wolf. “A black accent wall adds drama and depth to the space, and we added a chandelier above the desk to add a bit of glitz and glamour. A wood-tiled sideboard acts as a storage unit for beauty products and a countertop for office supplies, keeping the space organized. The functionality of the space allows Desi to keep the business side of her career top of mind, while the chic décor provides the perfect backdrop for her videos and Instagram photos.”
Add Green
Energize your space and make it appealing to linger longer. “I try to balance my home office being practical, ergonomic, comfortable and clean. Without those elements in place, I'd end up working at the kitchen table,” says Niki Brantmark, founder of My Scandinavian Home. “Beautiful plants are said to have calming effects and purify the air, and they look pretty, too. I like Sansevieria or ZZ plants. They're both beautiful to look at, help purify the air and are easy to care for.”
Enjoying art
Decorate with images that speak to you. “Fill your office with vibrant art to energize and motivate the space,” says Dabito, founder and creative director of Old Brand New. “I create my own artwork and get it framed at Simply Framed, or buy it from Chairish or Society6.” Dabito is happy to share his genius DIY instructions for a multipurpose wall-mounted shelf/desk (which is surprisingly easy to follow). But if you don't want to spend a Saturday spray painting and assembling shelves, this wall-mounted unit from Ikea is an equally chic option that's up and ready in no time.
Find a rug
Calm down your space with a colorful area rug, which adds visual interest and provides pleasant sound absorption. “A multicolored rug also incorporates other colors that complement the peach and green nicely,” says Joy Cho, founder and creative director of Oh Joy!. “However, you could also pair this color combination with a neutral gray rug. Keep the furniture simple and clean for a more sophisticated feel, then add some green foliage to bring texture to the room.”
Practice hygge
Create a cozy space, but not so cozy that it makes you want to take a nap: “Neutral colours on the walls and floors, combined with natural wood, plants and textiles like blankets, cushions, rugs and woolen wall hangings, will create a simple yet inviting workspace,” say Caitlin and Manda, co-founders of The Merrythought.
Decorate a gallery wall
It's your space. Fill it with things you love. “Start with a gallery wall on a neutral wall, starting with a line on the floor and moving prints around until you achieve the harmonious look you want,” says Geraldine Tan, founder and editor of Little Big Bell. “Use removable wall strips to secure your prints in place, so you have flexibility in changing up the look of your wall.”
If you want to achieve a similar look, Minted is a great choice, with a large and affordable collection of prints. They also offer a complimentary service where you can text a photo of your wall to a stylist, who will suggest art pairings. Mats and frames make art prints look more luxurious and stylish, but they can be a pricey investment. Don't miss Michaels, which also makes custom frames in-store.
Mixing old and new
Don't be afraid to steal decor from other rooms in the house. Mixing vintage and modern will make your home feel warm, lived-in, and unique, rather than showroom-like. “We paired a gorgeous antique rug that our clients already had (hidden in another dark spot in the house!) with a new red chair,” says designer Melissa Mascara of Homepolish. “We limited the wall art to black-and-white images to keep the color from overwhelming the space. It's a very comfortable, beautiful room to work in.”
Let the light in
Stay connected to the great outdoors. “Natural light makes a space feel larger, which is always a plus in a small space,” says blogger and founder of Neon Doves, Hayley Francis. “In my home office, I have anti-fog film on all the windows and can always pull up the blinds. This allows plenty of light for the plants in my home, keeping them and me thriving. Feeling alive always makes me more productive.”
If, like Haley, you have an office that doubles as a dressing room or walk-in closet, try applying non-adhesive frosted film to your windows to let sunlight into the room while still maintaining privacy.
Working with color
Choose a color that speaks to you, not a trendy one. “We found that Farrow & Ball's Stone Blue provided the perfect backdrop for a productive day's work,” says Emily Murray, founder and editor of The Pink House. “Adding a bit of fun with an unconventional turquoise file cabinet made even the room's more functional elements look appealing.”
Optimize your space
Organization is key, so use all the techniques you can. No one works well in a cluttered home office. “Don't waste space by shoving things like your printer or papers in a corner or drawer,” says Carly Callahan, designer at Homepolish and founder of Callahan Interiors. “Take advantage of all that vertical space by installing cabinets up to the ceiling with a variety of storage options and mounting pinboards on the walls to organize supplies that might end up in drawers.”
Moody
If you want your home office to have a cozy library feel, opt for dark paint and vintage accents. Built-in bookshelves can create a more lived-in look (and provide more storage space). Swap out traditional floor and desk lamps for old-fashioned wall lights to create a rich, atmospheric environment.
Minimize
No one needs two large monitors, a printer, and a file cabinet to get work done. If you prefer a more minimalist interior design style and don't need as many physical materials to work, let your home office reflect that. Using a simple yet well-crafted table as your desk, paired with a similarly streamlined chair, can seamlessly integrate your home office area into your existing home design.
Make use of vertical space
If you're tight on space — or don't have a room dedicated to a home office — it's important to take advantage of vertical space. Instead of a big, bulky floor desk, look for a desk and storage unit that can be mounted on the wall. Building upwards visually increases the space — even if your “home office” is actually an unused corner of the kitchen or dining room.
Invest in a stylish chair
As with any room in the home, a good chair can really define a space. While ergonomics may be the most important factor for some, a beautiful, well-designed chair that suits your style (such as the iconic Cesca chair) can really make your home office your own. Of course, the importance of comfort shouldn't be ignored.
Choose natural materials
A warm, neutral colour palette can create a calm, inviting work environment. Match wood tones and keep your décor to a few similar hues for a consistent look. Try incorporating different textures, balancing softer elements with more structured elements and incorporating natural materials like rattan and pampas grass to keep the space from feeling dull and boring.
Make the most of your corners
If you're short on space, try looking for unused or underutilized areas in your home. With a little imagination, you could turn it into the perfect spot to sit back and work. If all you really need is a desk and a chair, you can turn any corner into a makeshift home office. Plus, having a minimal workspace can help keep it from becoming cluttered.
Becoming a Maximalist
While most commercial office spaces tend to be subdued in color and personality, your home office doesn't have to be that way. Play with fun color and pattern combinations to make your workspace as bold as you are. After all, your environment can affect your overall mood and productivity, so infusing your space with creativity will help get the creative juices flowing.
Going all out with Vintage
Don't like the modern minimalism and clean lines found in many contemporary office spaces? Take a big turn in the opposite direction with a space completely decorated with unique antique pieces. From the desk and chair to the picture frames on the walls, filling your workspace with vintage and antique pieces will add charm and create a laid-back lifestyle vibe. (Although, a large computer monitor probably won't work for this setup.)
Angle the desk
If you have the space, moving your desk away from the wall will free up space in your workspace, and for a more unique and visually interesting way to divide up your space, try tilting your desk forward into a corner of the room.
Dress up with wallpaper
You don't need a ton of decor items to jazz up your home office — a striking wallpaper can do most of the work. If you don't have any furniture yet, start with your favorite wallpaper print and then decide on the color scheme and style of the rest of the room.
Add a lounge area
Everyone needs a break from work, and adding a second seating area to your home office (whether it's a loveseat or a comfy armchair) allows you to step away from your desk every now and then to refresh and take a break.
Choose a focus color
One easy way to make your home office design look unified and intentional is to choose a dominant color throughout the room. In the example above, the desk, storage cabinets, and even some of the plants are a soft sage green. A good idea is to choose a color that will uplift your mood and make you feel more productive.
Simplify your desk
If you're someone who doesn't need a ton of storage space in or around your work area, it might be best to opt for a very simple floating desk that takes up very little space, both visually and physically, leaving you with more space to decorate the area around your desk with artwork and cozy items (like that adorable lamp in the example above).