1. Eliminate unnecessary things
When setting up a new home office, Devin Shaffer, principal interior designer at Decorilla, recommends being mindful of what you bring in. “We encourage our clients to pay close attention to the items they use on a daily basis and move only those office items into their new workspace,” Shaffer explains. “Often, these items are so few and far between that they can easily fit into existing desk and furniture space.”
2. Check inventory
Interior designer Deidre Remtema of Deidre Interiors recommends starting by making an inventory of everything you need in your space. It's especially important to understand the size and electrical requirements of all your technology so you can plan your storage solutions accordingly. “Our rule of thumb is to have closed cabinets on the bottom and open shelving above for display,” says Remtema. “That way you'll be flexible if the needs of a room change in the future, which they almost always will.”
3. Fix the space
Organization goes a long way, but sometimes it's just a few design tweaks that can make a space feel more cohesive. “My number one tip for setting up a comfortable, functional, and stylish home office is to be intentional about investing in high-quality anchor pieces that are dedicated to work,” says Kathy Kuo, CEO of Kathy Kuo Home.
She adds, “A great desk that you love and a swivel chair are essentials, and the more you can limit yourself to using only your home office furniture for work, the more focused you'll be and the more productive you'll be.”
4. Keep it streamlined
‘A successful home office balances the functionality of an executive suite with the relaxed, sophisticated feel of a home,’ says interior designer Lisa Sherry. ‘I think a writing table, with its elegant yet clean lines, is a great choice for a trendy and beautiful home office solution.’ Sometimes the solution to clutter is simply a lack of space for it.
5. Go digital
“This home office for Charlotte is adjacent to the front door of the house. My goal was creative synergy,” Shelley explains of the fresh, minimalist design. The space was designed to accommodate laptops for two young, paper-averse professionals. “Laptops and tablets are today's filing cabinets,” she says. If you opt for a digital strategy, make sure you have a space to store all your technology when not in use, like a sideboard or closet.
6. Build in-built beauty
Office spaces need a lot of tech and décor that's not too appealing, which is why Ginger Curtis of Urbanology Design recommends using built-in storage to keep the space visually clutter-free. “The office spaces we love usually have great built-ins in all areas: storage and decorative space,” Curtis says. “This is a great opportunity to show off your design style while hiding away practical items.”
7. Pay attention to the scenery
Sightlines are key when designing a small home office, whether it's the view from your desk or what others see on a Zoom call. “We positioned the furniture to put the desk in the center of the room and allow for movement around the desk, so when[a client]opened the door, they weren't facing away from it,” explains designer Erin Coren of Curated Nest about this home-office design.
“We loved the desk we chose because it has a beautiful open back for decorative purposes, yet with a seat-side drawer and floating side door, there's plenty of storage space within reach.”
8. Modularize
“When it comes to a home office, custom organizational solutions reduce clutter, increase functionality, and boost productivity,” says Erin Hardy, national design manager at California Closets. If a completely custom built-in solution isn't for you, Hardy recommends considering California Closets' Everyday System, which is modular and adjustable, so it can be easily moved around and adapted to your changing needs.
9. Sweep the floors
“Because many home office spaces are cluttered or minimalist, you might be tempted to fill up floor space with file cabinets and bulky storage options,” says designer Sarah Bernard. “Instead, opting for floating shelves or built-in cabinets that make better use of vertical space can create a more open office environment that feels more relaxing and calm. The extra floor space also gives you more comfortable alternative seating options and room to move around and stretch out throughout the day.”
10. Setting up zones
“It's important to have multiple spaces in your office for different purposes, or simply to provide a change of pace,” says interior designer Philip Thomas. “A separate, comfortable seating area for reading documents is a nice break from sitting in the same place at your desk all day. I think a change of pace can really restore motivation.” If you opt for a zoned design, you can also segment your storage solutions to suit the different activities you'll carry out in each area.
11. Differentiate your space
Regardless of how you physically organize, Thomas believes it's also important to create an environment that helps you separate your work and living spaces. “Ideally, you should plan your work environment to be in a separate location from your daily living spaces,” Thomas says. “A clear distinction helps you mentally separate the purpose of each space and visually focuses you on the task at hand.”
12. Plans on hold
Organization and design expert Ashley Jones Hatcher recommends starting with a proper filing system:
“Organization isn't the most sexy part of a home office, but if you can control the clutter, everything else will fall into place,” Hatcher tells Forbes Home. “Create a system for outstanding papers that need to be addressed, and make it action-oriented (file, review, shred) and get into the habit of starting and ending your week by taking care of papers that need to be dealt with.”
Hatcher points out that things may get worse before they get better. “This is true for any organizing space in general, but especially for a home office. It may look disorganized in the middle of the process, but once you start clearing out the clutter, you'll feel good about what you did.” So what are you waiting for? It's time to declutter your home office for a before-and-after look that you can be proud of.