Tips for Designing a Home Office That Inspires

As work moves home for many of us, it is more important than ever to have a space in your home that inspires your workflow. Putting time and attention toward a workspace is really worth it, as the environment around you can have an incredible impact on your productivity.

As you pour your morning cup of coffee or tea and sit down in your home office, ask yourself if the space inspires you to do your best work or if a disorganized bookshelf or dull, blank wall catches your eye one too many times. 

Here are my tips for creating an at-home workspace:

Separate work and home life. 

First and foremost, ensure your home office is separated from day-to-day activities. This will help keep you focused and drive productivity by establishing a conscious separation between work and life. 

If possible, having this separation and privacy behind closed doors can be integral for focused phone calls and distraction-less video chats. 

Keeping as many distractions as possible at bay will also help to keep your office a productive zone. If you know a TV will pull your attention away from work, leave it in the family room and keep your office a focused space.

Organize, organize, organize. 

Be thoughtful about what you need to get your work done and how you plan to organize it all. Strategic storage is key for an at-home office where space is often limited. Tuck unsightly things like cords away to keep your mind just as uncluttered as your office. 

Upgrade your equipment. 

An effective home office goes far beyond a desk and chair. Think about what else you need to function as effectively as possible. Is your printer large enough to handle all of your needs? Is your wi-fi signal strong enough? Reexamine your home office from a technical front while you are elevating the design — you’ll thank yourself later.

Bring together aesthetics and functionality. 

One of the best investments you can make is a comfortable office chair and a beautiful yet functional desk, large enough for you to spread out papers and have space to be creative. All of the functional touches in your office, from your filing cabinet to your stapler, have the chance to be beautiful too, so why not make them that way? The little things make a big difference in making functionality that much more beautiful. 

Illuminate your space. 

Lighting can make all the difference in a well-designed at-home office. You may have nailed every other tip on this list, but if you’re stuck squinting and straining your eyes due to poor light, your productivity is bound to drop and so is your energy level. It’s important to incorporate both task lighting and overhead lighting, if possible, for a comfortable, optimally lit space. 

Surround yourself with inspiration that fuels you.

Now to my favorite tip: design for you. Sure, there is a science behind colors and how they affect productivity, but I believe making a space that inspires you personally will be far more beneficial. You will do your most productive work in an environment that fuels you, so once you have the essentials in place, enjoy the process of designing a room that makes you excited to get to work each morning.

In my own studio, I find so much inspiration in being surrounded by design books. If I need a break or an extra dose of creativity, I find flipping through the beautiful pages does the trick.

I also love to have inspiration all over my walls.  As I flip through design magazines, I’ll tear out pages that really speak to me and hang them on magnetic steel boards for personalized inspiration. 

When it comes to office furniture, I love to repurpose striking pieces into something unexpected. In our AKD studio, we transformed a beautiful Parisian armoire into an organizational unit. Look at furniture you have around the house and think about how you might be able to transform it into something new with a fresh coat of paint and some small tweaks. 

Lastly, aromatherapy can also make a significant impact on your productivity, concentration, and creativity. I keep a candle burning all day, everyday, in one of my favorite scents. 

I hope these tips and tricks are helpful for creating a productive and inspiring at-home office. If you find yourself feeling less than motivated in your home office, but aren’t quite sure how to accomplish a refresh on your own, AKD is also offering e-design services. You can learn more about it here or feel free to reach out to me personally. We’d love to help you design the office of your dreams.