I needed to create an environment that would be productive, inspiring, and comfortable. A place for running my business, organizing my schedule, writing and scrapbooking. The design needed to reflect the rest of my home and a place I could burn the midnight oil…. I’m a night owl.
It also had to be my very own space! I needed to be able to close the door, and walk away knowing it would be just as I left, when I came back. Each of my sons have their own desk to do their homework on.
Working from home doesn’t have to feel like a chore. Here are 8 tips to keep in mind as you create the perfect home office, that fits your style and keeps you productive.
1. Think Chic
Your space should inspire you and reflect your unique personality. So don’t be afraid to go all out. I wanted to design a space that was fashionable, functional and reflected my personality.
The room is simultaneously friendly and inviting, grownup and sophisticated. And while it’s definitely bolder and brighter than your average cream walls, it also has a nice absorbing depth to it. The white painted furniture speaks to the room’s spirited personality while the blue shelves and animal print gives it a chic feel.
2. Work In Color
Choose colors that speak to you—not what’s trendy.
I chose Behr Ballet Slipper its a light, delicate pink that provides just a touch of oomph! Why do just one wall in pink when I could paint the entire room including the ceiling!
Having a bit of fun with chalk paint meant that even the more functional elements of the room looked attractive.
3. Mix Old And New
Don’t be afraid to update your existing furniture with paint. A mix of vintage and modern makes a home feel warm and lived in and personal, instead of feeling like a showroom.
The desk and chair were an anniversary give from my ex-husband, I love the style but was ready to give them a makeover. I used Annie Sloan -Old White chalk paint and highlighted the details with Gilders Paste -Antique Gold.
The wooden bookshelves were a chestnut brown, painted them to match the desk, back panels Annie Sloan -Louis Blue.
I need a work table to do my scrapbooking on, but it had to be stylish and inexpensive. Found this cute one on Facebook for $75 painted it to match the other furniture pieces.
It is such a comfortable, beautiful room to work in!
4. Don’t Forget The Lamps
Even with great natural light, you’ll still need additional lighting for darker hours of the day. Try a few table lamps, which offer a nice soft glow and interesting design possibilities.
The lamps are new purchase and absolutely love the design!
5. Find The Rug
Ground your space with a colorful area rug—for visual interest and soothing sound-absorption. The cheetah print rug brings in black and gold that accent the pink and blue nicely.
The rug and runner were a new purchase as well, they give the room a classy chic feel.
6. Get Creative With Storage
If you need book cases, get nice ones-big enough that you don’t need to overstuff and artful enough that they’ll look great as the backdrop in your video conferences.
Limit what you keep on your desk to the items you use most often. Decorative or sentimental objects are fine in a home office, but it’s usually best to place them on a shelf that’s out of the way.
7. Optimize Your Space
Organization is key—use every trick in the book. Nobody works well in a messy home office. Make sure you have sufficient filing cabinets and office tools that help with organization.
Don’t waste an ounce of space by tucking printers, filing, etc into corners and in drawers. Hang a stylish whiteboard or dry erase board to stay organized or brainstorm
8. Personalize Thoughtfully
Putting photos of family on your desk or nearby is great, but when things don’t get changed around they become somewhat like wall paper. So rotate the photos and accessories.
Above all else in order to Create The Perfect Home Office, the space must be personal.
Your office is your space , so make sure it feels that way.
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