19 Home Office Ideas That Will Make You Rethink Your Workspace
Your workspace can be full of style, but your style doesn’t have to be full of work. Get inspired by these design trends – from industrial details to outdoor scenery – for a functional, chic and totally refreshed home office.
1. Industrial Style Bookcases
If the industrial style was meant for any room, it’s the home office. No-nonsense materials, functional designs and an open-concept floor plan create a relaxed yet focused environment ideal for every type of work or study project – from solitary research to collaborative presentations. Not sure where to start? Try an industrial-style distressed metal bookcase; the minimalistic silhouette will make for crisp organization while the weathered finish adds a rustic and effortless charm.
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2. Space-Saving Silhouettes
Just because your space is small, doesn’t mean you have to compromise on style. Look for contemporary designs that maximize function – think drawer, shelf and surface space – while maintaining slender silhouettes.
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3. Visual Inspiration
Letting your unique style shine through your home office space isn’t just good for aesthetics – it can also help to fuel your creative thinking, and there’s no better way to get that inspirational feeling than with decorative office accents that reflect your personality. To keep the creative flow going without distracting you from the work at hand (or cluttering your workspace), keep the colors bold and the designs clean and minimalistic.
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4. The Architectural Study
You don’t have to be an architect to benefit from the focused designs of architectural furniture; the no-fuss, all-function craftsmanship inspired by the industrial style will help to diminish distractions, keep up productivity and get you ‘back to the drawing board’ – literally!
5. Functional Elegance
Who says a home office has to resemble a home office – or even be in one? The colors, shapes and sizes of home desks and chairs are now virtually unlimited, and so are your options for styling them. A rich wood desk and luxurious faux-leather chair, for example, will not only blend seamlessly in the corner of a traditional-style bedroom – but also bring it to life. Working never felt so elegant!
6. A Statement Lamp
Late-night projects don’t just happen: they take passion, dedication, and a lot of lighting! A necessary fixture in every type of home office, a strong table lamp is also one of the most effortless ways to balance out – or embolden! – a room’s style.
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7. The Open Air Workspace
You don’t have to leave your indoor office to get the rejuvenating benefits of a cool breeze on a warm day – simply position your desk and chair so they face a door or window that opens to a backyard or patio space. To keep your workstation in line with the breezy feel and natural scenery, opt for see-through materials, minimalistic textures and organic colors; an iron table lamp paired with a glass-and-wood desk offers just enough understated boldness to complement an open-air view while keeping you focused on the task at hand.
8. Traditional Leather Chair
Want to lose yourself in your work? You’ll need a chair that’s supportive and comfortable. The stamp of a classic home office, an adjustable chair made of luxury leather is the way to go!
9. A Giant Wall Hutch
In this small home office, a giant hutch transforms an entire wall into hardworking storage.
10. Recreational Lounging
Sometimes, the comfier the home office, the more creative the workflow. Create a space that’s both studios and relaxed; place an executive desk in one corner, and lounge seating in another!
11. Mixed Materials
Whoever designed this modern workspace wasn’t afraid to mix materials – and we’re loving it. Metal, wood, leather, glass – even a crystal figurine – fuse together to create a workspace with personality.
12. Floating the Chair-and-Desk
If you have the space for it, ‘float’ your home workstation (i.e., don’t place it up against a wall). The further out you push your desk into the room’s center, the more *important* it will feel!
13. Indoor Trees
Plants, even of the indoor varieties, emit natural detoxifiers to help purify the air – so if you need to ‘clear your head,’ do it with nature!
14. Warm Colors
Depending on the type of work you’ll be doing, you might want to consider soft, warmer neutrals over bright colors. While the former can help to focus and relax, the latter can help energize and inspire. Think about the purpose you want your workspace to serve, and decorate accordingly!
15. Nook Study
This charming workstation is actually inside of a nook inside of a living room – and it’s the perfect amount of “tucked away.” (We’re also loving the country/Western theme!)
16. Secretary Desk
A vintage secretary desk complete with a drop-down writing surface (like the one pictured above) is for anyone who’s ever wished they could just dive into the pages of Pride and Prejudice and all of its Victorian Romantic decor!
17. Mod Glam
A dark accent wall, black-and-white furniture and bold abstract art. A dream space for the work-from-home trendsetter.
18. Window Arrangement
Without a doubt, natural light is the most refreshing style accessory. Position your home office furniture under a window, and incorporate light-reflective elements like glass and bright white to truly maximize its brightening potential!
19. Rustic Wood
A warm pine finish is always a classic and adds just the right amount of cozy character to a home study or workspace.
Living Room Office Ideas
How to stay sane when you’re suddenly working from home? Your living room will need a little rebranding, starting with a new name; how does ‘living room office’ sound?
1. Place a desk behind a sofa. It’s the space traditionally dedicated for console/sofa tables; but times are changing – and so are your furniture needs. Consider clearing the area behind your sofa for an office desk; if you have kids, it’s also a great place to keep an eye on them as they watch TV or play games in front of the sofa.
2. Get creative with ‘standing room only.’ If you find you’re missing your standing desk back at the corporate office, get creative with what you have at home. Repurpose a kitchen bar, counter-height table or pub table to accommodate your work-from-home essentials (computers, paperwork, etc.). Then, remove the chairs and get to standing!
3. Consider a ‘mini table’ for a desk. Maybe you don’t have the space to place a desk behind a sofa, or maybe you just don’t really feel the need to work at a desk in the first place. Either way, a mini table – even an accent table! – works as a great alternative. Simply pull up a chair and get to work – as you enjoy all the space you’ve saved!
Working From Home With Kids
When you’re asked to work from home without much preparation – while simultaneously caring for children who are also home when you are – you’re going to need to do a little improvising. Here are a few tips to create an ideal work from home space – when you’ve got kids to care for as well!
- Use the living room as an office.
When you’ve got kids, space is, to put it mildly, limited. Chances are, you don’t have a home office – and even if you do, what use is it if you can’t keep an eye on the kids while you’re in there?
The easiest approach to staying at home to work when you’re caring for little ones is to move your ‘home office’ to your living room. And while you’re at it, set a defined space – and stick to it. This will train your brain to get used to the idea that this space is for work, and that space is for relaxing. For example, don’t just work from the couch on Monday and kitchen table on Tuesday; instead, try to discipline yourself to working in the exact same spot every single day, just as you would in a regular office.
- Turn a counter-height table into a standing desk.
Not sure where to ‘set up office?’ Consider the kitchen bar or other counter-height surface – as a standing desk! Ideally, this will allow you to easily maintain supervision of wandering toddlers in your peripheral without distracting yourself from your to-do list.
- Set routine schedules.
If you know anything about kids, you know that there’s nothing like keeping them cooped up all day to make them feel antsy! For this reason, explaining to them on their level why everyone is suddenly at home will help them to empathize more with the situation. Additionally, creating a schedule for the week for the kids (and you) and sticking to it will give their days some much-needed structure.
More Home Workspace Tips
Your ideal work from home setup is calling!
- If possible, work in a space without a TV. (If you can’t, or if you must have one playing in the background, resist the temptation to stream your favorite shows!)
- Hang up a daily calendar. When your to-do list is always in your line of vision, you’re more likely to want to cross things off of it.
- Communicate with your family members about ‘do not disturb’ signs. Hang them up when you’re on calls! If you’re working from the living room and don’t have the luxury of privacy, communicate with your partner/kids about your schedule. If you’re caring for a baby, set up as many meetings as you can when you know your baby will be napping. Of course, no matter how many precautions you take, kids/babies/toddlers are unpredictable. But when you explain to your supervisors/colleagues the situation you’re in, they will almost certainly understand (and even be prepared for!) those kid-related interruptions that are bound to occur.
- Don’t forget the file cabinets. It’s amazing what a little bit of organization can do. If your work involves referencing books/notebooks/paperwork, a file cabinet can work wonders to keep the workflow easy.
