Working from home has indeed become more than a trend. Hard-working people all over the world try to find the best way to accommodate a creative and inspiring working environment in their homes. Below some great tips to help get you started.

Whether your home office is a designated space for running a business, signing off to pay your bills/taxes or simply a nook for organizing your schedule, you deserve more than a metal desk and extra chair stuffed into a spare corner. Why? An office that reflects the design and comfort of the rest of your home is a place you’ll want to burn the midnight oil. Here are a few tips for creating a innovative, practical work space.

LOCATION

You’ll likely spend many hours in your home office, so don’t stiff yourself on space (e.g. squishing a tiny desk into a windowless closet to preserve the rarely-used guest room). Also consider traffic flow and your ability to withstand distractions. Do you work best in the thick of activity, or should your office be tucked away in a quiet space? If clients will be stopping by, a private space with ample seating is highly recommended.

DO NOT SACRIFICE FORM FOR FUNCTION

Your desk, shelves, and storage should serve you, not the other way around. Consider your workflow and what items you need at your fingertips before investing in furniture, and then look for pieces that are both beautiful and functional. Home office furniture should complement other rooms in your house instead of screaming “isolated cubicle.” Let’s say your home is comprised of traditional décor, warm wood and soft, comfy chairs or even loveseats would be ideal if you have the space. A contemporary home office can feature artistic pieces or modern metal furniture.

INVEST IN A GREAT OFFICE CHAIR

You spend hours parked in your office chair; a beautiful, ergonomically-correct, comfortable seat is worth every dime.

PAINT THE WALLS THE COLOUR YOU LOVE

Forget traditional colours: you need a colour that gets your work motor running. For some people, that’s a bright, cheery color like orange or lime green. Others need a calming shade like botanical green or a soft teal to perform.

GIVE YOURSELF A VIEW

Why not? Position the desk where you can stare at something more interesting than a blank wall (even if you do love the colour) when you glance up from the computer. A window’s natural light is ideal, but if you’re in a windowless space, hang a pretty picture above the desk, or position your chair to face the door.

ORGANIZE VERTICALLY AND HORIZONTALLY

Many home offices aren’t swimming in square footage, so using space efficiently is important. Hang floating shelves on the walls to get papers and office equipment off the desk, and use vertical file folders on the desk to keep important papers within arm’s reach. Are you a stacker or a filer? If you tend to make piles, get a nice basket to tame your mail, notes, and papers. If you prefer a clean desktop, designate one drawer for your “to-do” papers. Wooden or metal cube storage is a fun alternative to bookshelves, since each space can be used for books, decorations, etc.

LET THERE BE LIGHT

Here’s a bright idea: make sure your office has plenty of light to cut down on eye strain and headaches. Position the computer monitor so there’s no glare from a window or overhead light, and put a small lamp on the desk for task lighting. Check out our amazing collection of lamps (pendant, table, tripods, you name it!)

That’s it for Home Office Ideas: Working From Home With Style. Start today and do it with style.

Hope this was helpful. Feel free to post a comment!