Food For Thought:

Without the ability to conceal the inherent mess of an office space, decor and most styling tips will only exacerbate the problem. Some closed storage is a must in your home office. Papers, printers, staplers, paperclips go behind a cabinet or within a drawer, and can be out of sight, out of mind until they are needed. This leaves space for open shelving or storage that can display your decor and personal touches over clutter.

Most home offices are small spaces that require storage to contain their files, wires, technology, books, and many miscellaneous items. Investing in multipurpose furniture such as storage ottomans or desk lamps with USB outlets are the solution to keeping the chaos of the office away. This enables you to maintain floor space for working, rather than ending up with a claustrophobic floor plan.

Consider the visual weight of your furniture and how that can cohere with a color scheme and the office’s overall energy. Closed storage is great, but it has a heavier visual feel than a piece with open shelving or just a tabletop. This consideration is entirely dependent on one’s personal preference. Do you want a grandiose dark wood, moody masculine space? A bright, clean, and soothing one without much distraction? Determine your functional needs and aspirations before picking your colors and pieces, and that way you can establish cohesion within the space.

Home office

Style Guide

Quick Tips:

  • Add a rug — ground your desk area with a rug and bring homeyness into the space.

  • Paint (the ceiling) — painting the walls is an easy way to brighten or liven up the space. Just as easy, painting the ceiling can add an impactful accent without being distracting.

  • Plants (real or faux) make all the difference. Not only do they visually liven up the space, but real houseplants are often air purifying

  • Decorate your walls — while trinkets are great, surface need to be prioritized for working or essential storage. Your walls are your opportunity to give your office personality.

  • Mix functional + fun — hang something useful such as a small white board on the wall and juxtapose it with personal decor such as framed photos or artwork.

  • Multifaceted lighting — to avoid the unpleasant air of the overhead light, have several accent lighting pieces distributed throughout the space. A task light on the desk, a table or floor lamp off in a corner.

  • Invest in cohesive office accessories — it’s easy to not aesthetically consider decisions regarding office supplies and furnishings, because function comes first. But cohering your pencil holder, your desk organizer, and your table lamp will turn your desk from innate chaos even when it’s clean, to something easy on the eyes while you work all day long.