Craving some home office design inspiration but unsure where to start? Whether you’re moving into a new space and want to designate that second bedroom into a proper home office, or you’re in a studio apartment and desperate for a dedicated workspace on limited square footage, we’ve got you covered. These are the best home office decor ideas to have you feeling inspired and invigorated to get to work.
1. Create a Wallpaper Statement Wall
The great thing about having a home office is you don’t need to conform to any drab office rules, so think big! One of our favourite ways to do this is by installing a wallpaper statement wall. There are endless modern, pretty patterns to choose from and we especially love mural-style options. Bonus: it makes for a seriously impressive Zoom background, too.
2. Shop Vintage
Think outside the box when it comes to shopping for office furniture. Your local office depot can be great for stocking up on pens and sticky notes, but when it comes to buying major office furniture like a desk, the options can be a bit boring. Instead, look to your local antique stores and flea markets: not only will there be plenty of sturdy desk options (often made in higher quality wood), but they often have a bit more charm and style. If you have a bigger space to work with, a vintage dining table makes for a super stylish desk!
3. Find a Window
If working from home taught us anything, it’s that being well lit on a Zoom call can make a world of a difference in how you look and feel while working. Skip the ring light and try positioning your desk in front of a window: not only will it ensure that you’re properly lit for any important meetings, but having a view of the outside will also keep your creative juices flowing while you work and provide you with a breath of fresh air, literally.
Related: Sarah Baeumler Essentials: How to Create a Chic Office Aesthetic
4. Transform a Closet
We know storage space is precious, but if you’re desperate to carve out an office and don’t have a bedroom to spare, try adapting a closet into a cozy work nook. Remove any existing hanging bars and swap in a compact desk. This doesn’t need to be an expensive custom job: big box stores like IKEA offer a variety of table top sizes that can be mixed and matched with various legs, so you can measure your space and find something that works for you. We especially love that you can shut the door on this compact “office” once the work day is over.
Related: 10 IKEA Desks for Every Style and Budget
5. Go Library-Style
If you’re dedicating a whole room in your home to an office, why not utilize the space to maximum capacity by installing floor-to-ceiling shelving? Not only does this provide the space with a distinctly library-like feel (bonus points if you add in a library ladder!), but it helps find a home for all of that office clutter that always seems to wind up on your desk. Make the most of your shelf space by adding in stylish storage bins between your books, which can make the space feel styled and functional.
6. Build a Mood Board Wall
If you work in a creative job and often find yourself scrolling Pinterest for inspiration, try bringing your digital mood board IRL! We love the idea of having a living, breathing mood board on your wall to help spark inspiration. Plus, picking and choosing which items you want to hang up makes for a fun crafting day. Skip the masking tape and find a few pretty washi tapes at your local craft store to hang things up with for the perfect artful finishing touch.
Related: 10 Cozy Home Office Ideas That’ll Inspire You to Work This Winter
7. Add Some Greenery
Never underestimate the power of a plant to immediately bring life to a space. It may seem obvious, but adding some greenery to your home office can turn a dull, uninspired space into a stimulating environment for you to get down to business. Not only will your greenery breathe fresh oxygen into the room, but tending to your plants can be a great stress reliever between meetings and projects.
8. Double the Office Potential
If there’s more than one person working from home at your place, keep that in mind when designing your office layout. Instead of fighting over the one proper work set-up in the house, try finding an extra long desk that can accommodate you both at the same time. Everyone deserves to have a dedicated work space, and hotel desking at home just feels wrong.
9. Consider a Drop Desk
Whether you’re in a studio apartment or just simply do not have the space for a dedicated office, a drop desk is such a clever way to maximize your square footage. These simple contraptions have been around for generations for good reason: they’re supremely functional and they’re compact and easy to fold away when necessary. These can easily be tucked into the corner of a busy kitchen or living room, and will just look like a stylish cabinet when not in use.
10. Customize It to Your Work Needs
Different professions call for different office needs, so tailor your space to yours. If you tend to work long hours late into the night, amp up the cozy factor by adding in plenty of warm-toned lamps. If you take important client video calls all day, ensure that your background is tranquil and professional, and place personal photos and artwork in front of your computer instead. If you tend to get stuck on back-to-back calls that leave you feeling hangry mid-afternoon, make a dedicated snack drawer in your office so that you never have to feel that anxiety-inducing hunger pang. There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to designing a home office, so create a space that fits who you are.
Related: How to Organize Your Home Office So it Has Good Feng Shui
