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Home Office Decorating Ideas

innovativestor • Apr 19, 2021

Is your home office ready for an upgrade? After working from home for some time, updating your workspace will absolutely boost your motivation and productivity. Whether your home office is a corner of the bedroom or living room or a spare bedroom you converted, there are numerous ways to make it more comfortable and enjoyable.

Check out the following home office decorating ideas to design a space that inspires you to do your job.

1. Colors to Lift Your Mood

Select a color scheme for your home office that makes you happy -- and productive. For some people, yellow is motivating, while others prefer softer tones to help them concentrate. Whatever color you choose, HGTV shares how you can use color psychology to find the best hue to inspire and motivate.

2. Start with the Desk

For obvious reasons, your desk is the most crucial feature of your home office. Select the best desk for your space and your budget. Consider how you will use your desk and think about how much work surface and storage you need? Your desktop needs to accommodate your computer, but you may need extra space to write or sort through files or store office supplies.

Think about how you like to work. Are you someone who doesn’t want to sit for long? A standing desk may be a great idea. If you like to sit sometimes but stand other times, an adjustable desk could be the answer.

3. Organize Your Cords and Wires

If a pile of cords and cables is cluttering your desk, it’s time to untangle them. Use a cord organizer to keep the cords under your desk and away from sight. Minimize the number of wires you have by going wireless as much as possible. Just getting a wireless mouse and keyboard eliminates two wires.

4. Let Light Shine

According to The Spruce, adequate lighting impacts your productivity and energy while “preventing Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS), also known as digital eye strain.”

One of the best things you can do for yourself is to ensure that you have as much natural light as possible. Ideally, you can locate your desk near a window to take advantage of the sunlight, but if you can’t, purchase light bulbs that mimic daylight to keep you awake and energized. Overhead lighting is preferable, but a desk light also suffices. If video conferences are a big part of your daily schedule, a ring light will brighten your background.

5. Inject Some Greenery

Plants are a great addition to any home office. Not only will they add to your decor, but they’ll also lift your mood, increase concentration and improve air quality. If you don’t have a green thumb, Forbes recommends spider plants because they are easy to take care of, don’t require direct light, and filter out “toxic chemicals.”

6. Hang Some Motivation

Decorate a bulletin board with your favorite motivational and inspirational quotes to spur you on when your productivity starts to dip. While hanging motivational posters is also an option, using a bulletin board enables you to change the quotes regularly.

7. Set Up a Reading Area

Does your job require a lot of reading? If you have the room, create a reading nook with a comfortable chair and a task light. Having a separate reading space will allow you to get away from your desk and shake off the stress for a little while.

8. Separate Your Office

If your home office is part of your bedroom, living room, or another shared space in your house, use a room divider to cordon off your work area. Separating your workspace allows you to transition from work mode and gives you privacy. Room dividers can be purchased or you can make them yourself. Curtains are another option and work very well as room dividers.

9. File with Style

Keeping your important documents and papers safe, organized, and out of the way is essential for an efficient home office. When you think of a filing cabinet, a big metal box with drawers probably comes to mind, but you have many options. Filing cabinets come in various colors, sizes, materials, and styles to match your office decor.

10. Build Space to Move

Essence recommends incorporating space to move around during the day. It doesn’t need to be a vast area, just enough for you to get up and walk around when you need to move your legs after sitting for a long time.

11. Put Down a Rug

Rugs not only add to the decor but also absorb sound, making your workspace quieter. Choose the largest size rug for your space. A rug is also the perfect vehicle for adding a splash of color into your home office.

12. Integrate Personal Touches

Adding some personal items turns a dull room into a happy place. Personal items can include artwork you love, family photos, candles with your favorite scent, memorabilia from your favorite sports team, favorite coffee mug, etc.. Bring in whatever you want as long as it injects personality and makes your space feel uniquely yours.

13. Pick a Comfortable Chair

While your desk chair should match your desk and furniture style, you should also select one that is comfortable. You spend hours in front of the computer, so choose one with lumbar support, wheels, and an adjustable seat.

Conclusion

Creating a home office to suit your personal needs and preferences is key to your success. The optimal workspace marries fun and function to help you work effectively and efficiently. Try the creative ideas in this article to transform your home office into a comfortable and enjoyable work area.