With so many of us working from home these days, a home office is becoming a necessity in homes across the globe. As we scramble to find a space to work and get ourselves all set up and running, we focus primarily on the function. While the first priority of a home office should be that function, let’s not forget about form! Assuming you’ve got the functional part under control, let’s talk about how to create a stylish home office that reflects your style and fits seamlessly into your space.
The perfect space is one that blends both form and function, to create a usable home office that is also beautiful and stylish.
1. Are You Short on Space?
Not everyone has a spare room that can become a dedicated home office. Many end up sitting at the kitchen table, the kitchen bar, or even at a desk plopped in the middle of a bedroom.
If you’re short on space but still want to create a permanent home office that looks more stylish, consider these alternative locations for setting up shop:
Under a window
Convert an 80’s wet bar
In the attic
A murphy bed/desk
Built into a bookcase
Kitchen nook
Spare closet
Console table
Foot of the bed
Under the stairs
Dual-purpose furniture
A desk/nightstand
An unused dining room
2. Add Color to the Walls
A coat of paint can do wonders in a home office! It can take a space from looking boring and barren to bright and beautiful! A stylish home office is one that looks intentional and thought out. So give some thought to those walls!
Whether you want to paint them or even wallpaper them, use the walls to convey your style and inspire your creativity. A finished wall also gives a great backdrop for video meetings!
3. Upgrade Your Desk Chair
Posture and support and very important if you plan to spend long hours sitting at your desk. But you’d be amazed how far desk chairs have come and just how stylish they can be these days! Here are some of my personal favorites:
4. Pick a Non-Traditional Desk
Depending on your space and storage needs, you might not need a traditional desk! A table, console table, or even garden table and can make a stylish additionl to a home office provided that they sit at the right height for your to work.
Below, a 19th-century iron-and-marble garden table serves as a desk outside the bedroom. Not only is this practical, but it’s gorgeous and blends seamlessly with the surrounding space!
A dining table can also work as a desk!
5. Get Pretty Desk Accessories
Like desk chairs, office accessories have come a long way in terms of not only being functional, but pretty too! My gold scissors are still my favorite pair to use.
Here are some of my favorite stylish desk accessories:
6. Add Plants
Plants not only help create fresh air, but they bring a relaxing element into a space. This way, not only will your brain be clearer, but you’ll be relaxed and ready for work! Bring a little of the outdoors in with a nice potted plant in the corner, a small plant on a table, or even some air plants if you’re short on space.
Some of my favorites are pothos, ZZ plant, Fiddleleaf Fig, and orchids!
7. Hang Art
Whether you pick a statement piece, a gallery wall, or a selection of your kid’s projects, art is a great way to inspire creativity and tie all of the colors of a room together.
8. Cover up With a Rug
Of course, it’s important that your desk chair be able to move easily so a rug isn’t always possible. If you can, though, adding an accent rug is a great way to define the space and bring in some color, texture, or personality!
9. Upgrade Your Lighting
Consider changing out your standard overhead lighting for a beautiful chandelier, or even a decorative flush mount light! And if that’s not possible, look for task lighting that fits your decor style.
10. Surround Yourself with Things You Love
I am such a believe that you should love things that you own – otherwise, what’s the point? That being said, a home office is a great place to display collections or other things you love because they’ll help bring you joy, even in the middle of work!
My husband’s new home office includes his collection of 80’s action figures…but I’m not going to share that picture! Lol!
The bottom line is that a home office should be functional and meet all of your storage and space needs, but don’t overlook the importance of a pretty space! Creating a space that feels like “you” can help with creativity and keep you going…even if you just want to crawl back in bed and binge Netflix!
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