As working from home becomes a part of our lives, the spaces we spend a lot of time in deserve to be spruced up. Home office wall decor ideas can provide you with a more inspiring view while you work, helping you stay creatively inspired and motivated all day long.
Staring at blank walls every day can make your workday long and tiring, so tinker with the look with a mix of wall hangings, fun paint ideas, art, and wallpaper to make your home office feel like an extension of your home. Luckily, these home office ideas will help you easily transition into an “out of office” mindset by the end of the day.
“If you'll be working from home most or all of the time, it's important to choose a home office plan that makes you feel happy and inspires your creativity,” says Kelly Mackenzie, co-founder of Brand Mackenzie. “Consider incorporating your favorite colors or using wallpaper that depicts something you love.”
home office wall decor ideas
A creative workspace has been proven to boost positivity and productivity, giving you a happier day. Whether you choose to paint in positive hues, stylish shelving, decorative artwork, or all of the above, these home office wall decor ideas will make your workdays fly by.
1. Get playful with paint
(Image courtesy of Future PLC)
If you're looking for an easy weekend project that will have your work-from-home space feeling brand new come Monday, paint ideas are your best bet—but not in the way you might imagine.
Instead of simply painting your walls in block colors, play with different shapes, such as arches, to create an interesting wall decor idea that will inspire your desk area more creatively. Moreover, creating an arch will help zone the area around your workspace, making it feel separate from the rest of the room and dedicated to a specific purpose.
“Not everyone has a separate space in their home for work, and while a home office is often located within an existing room, which isn't ideal, you can still use paint and accessories to separate the area,” adds Sophie Smith, founder of Zhoosh Paints. Cover the space around your desk with tape and paint it a contrasting color, or create a 'desk board' that acts as a desk headboard.”
2. Woodworking
(Image courtesy of Future PLC/Katie Lee)
Working from home requires a certain level of professionalism, but it also needs to feel cozy and relaxed. Incorporating wood tones into your home office is a great way to achieve this, as they create a warm, inviting feel in contrast to other materials.
You can extend this sense of wood to your walls by incorporating open shelves and wooden frames so that it's visible throughout the day, or combine it with our home office desk ideas for a cohesive approach.
3. Add lots of art
(Image courtesy of Future PLC)
Your home office should be a reflection of your personality, and nothing helps achieve this better than art and family photos. Gallery wall ideas can help you create a workspace full of personality, so you feel connected to your personal life, even during the longest days.
Varying the frame sizes will give your home office walls a cohesive, natural look, and you can also choose different frame colors to vary the look.
4. Create a beautiful background
(Image courtesy of Future PLC)
It's important to consider the view from your desk, but also the background from your computer's camera: “You need to think carefully about the wall behind you and the impression it gives on a video call, because it's now likely to be one of the most viewed parts of your home,” says Brand McKenzie's Kelly.
Work with our home office lighting ideas to ensure both your face and background are perfectly lit while avoiding screen glare.
5. Enjoy a peaceful time surrounded by greenery
(Image courtesy of Future PLC)
Incorporating greenery into your office environment creates a sense of calm and inspires creativity, making it a great craft room idea.
Try painting the walls a muted green or, if you want a quick solution, put some plants on the shelves.
“If you're short on desk or floor space, or aren't particularly interested in gardening, decorating your walls with pictures of plants can help reduce stress and put you in the right mood for a productive day,” say the design experts at Green Lili.
6. Choose a positive color scheme
(Image courtesy of Annie Sloan)
One of the main benefits of a home office is that you can create a colorful environment that suits you, not your coworkers. Think about how you respond to colors and tones and choose accordingly – some people find bright tones stressful, while others find them stimulating.
If you're worried about making design mistakes in your home office and are unsure about colour, it might be worth considering some hues that have been proven to have an effect on mood and productivity.
“Pink and blue have a calming effect and improve focus, while green reduces stress and brings about natural, outdoor vibes,” advise the color experts at Green Lili. “In contrast, orange and yellow boost energy and enthusiasm.”
7. Get organized
(Image courtesy of Future PLC/Dominic Blackmore)
If you're looking for ideas for a small home office, consider making the most of your wall space. With a few practical accessories, you can easily address your organizational needs. The most important thing is to make it look stylish.
Place a chalkboard, corkboard, DIY pinboard, or whatever you want in the center and set up some wall-mounted pockets or little shelves to keep knick-knacks close at hand.
8. Use patterned paper to divide up space
(Image courtesy of Future PLC)
A nook or niche is a natural place for a desk, and because it's small, it gives you the opportunity to be a little bolder with color and pattern. Whether it's designated as a home office or not, set it apart from the rest of the room with a bold paint or wallpaper idea.
Sticking to muted colors will soften the effect and make it easier on your eyes when you look away from your laptop.
9. Create an inspiration board
(Image courtesy of Future PLC)
Pinboards are not only useful, they can be beautiful too. Create your own inspiration board by pinning things that bring you joy. Family photos, postcards, kids' artwork, fun quotes – nothing adds that “home” feel to your home office.
If you're hanging your artwork directly on the wall instead, try using different shapes and sizes for best effect, and experiment with the layout by placing it on the floor first.
10. Hang a mirror
(Image courtesy of Pooky)
“Mirrors can make a room look bigger, give your home office a sense of space and airiness, and if placed correctly, they can also enhance the lighting,” says Sanel Konyar, founder of Interior Kollection.
You can hang one large piece to create a statement piece, or combine several different shaped designs to create an interesting piece.
This trick gives your garden office idea a two-fold benefit: mirrors reflect the surrounding nature, encouraging calm and creativity. It's sure to be a success.
11. Writing on the wall (with chalk)
(Image courtesy of Benjamin Moore)
Make your to-do list look fun by creating a playful chalkboard wall. If your space is small or you prefer something a little more subtle, consider creating a memoboard-like wall using a level and masking tape instead.
You can also get a little creative and use chalk paint to create an oversized calendar or wall planner. Use black and white chalkboard paint and mix different grey tones to differentiate between dates.
12. Build a work wall
(Image courtesy of Future PLC/Matthew Fox)
When integrating home office storage ideas, make them twice as effective by doubled as beautiful features. Built-in storage makes the most of vertical wall space and can be customized to suit your storage needs. Not only do they look great, floor-to-ceiling shelves and cubbies make it easy to store boxes of books and documents.
Painting an entire wall, shelf or other piece in a bold shade of your choice is both practical and aesthetically pleasing.
13. Style your open shelves beautifully
(Image courtesy of Future PLC)
Open shelving provides a great foundation for creating a striking wall display in your home office, plus it gives you the freedom to rearrange them however your mood takes you.
Family photos, heirlooms, vases, decor items you found at a bargain price using a home decor discount code (yes, you read that right), and other things that inspire you creatively just by looking at them all deserve their own dedicated space.
Group odd numbers of items together and leave space around them to prevent the style from looking overdone.
What should I put on the wall behind my computer?
The wall behind your computer is probably one of the most looked-at places in your home, so making it look nice is crucial. When choosing a paint color or wallpaper pattern, consider what suits you. Some people find bold colors and prints stimulating, while others prefer neutral tones to give their eyes a break between screen time.
It makes sense to keep reminders and to-do lists on a pinboard, where they are easily visible. Balance these with personal touches: artwork, postcards, photos, fabric samples, and inspirational quotes are great for sparking creativity.
If you work in a small space, it pays to put a little extra thought into your storage, especially if the wall behind your computer is within reach. Use clothes rails, caddies, wall-mounted pockets, and small shelves to add style and keep small items and documents neat and tidy. A neat and tidy look means a neat and tidy mind.
What should I put on the walls of my office?
The best thing about home office wall decor ideas is that you can go in any direction you like. From paint colors to inspirational artwork, consider what inspires you, motivates you, and makes you feel happy.
While wall art and aesthetically pleasing décor are the obvious choice, you may also need to allocate some of your wall space for storage, especially if you're working with a small or open-plan space.
What kind of art would be best for the office?
“Simple artwork works best for the home office,” say the experts at Green Lili. “Clean prints and canvases add interest without distracting. Try modern floral line art, abstracts, or geometric prints to keep the mind clear and focused.”
Being surrounded by plants and greenery is a well-known way to reduce stress and increase productivity, but if you're short on space or aren't particularly good at gardening, you can achieve a similar effect by hanging some botanical artwork.
As well as design, colour is also important to consider when choosing your artwork as it can have a huge impact on the overall atmosphere as well as accentuating a neutral colour scheme.
“Abstract florals in pale pinks and deep blues create a calming atmosphere, or try a bright mustard yellow to add creative energy and natural vitality.”