Creating Your Dream Home Office

Your home office shouldn't be the dreariest room in your home. Learn how to create a space that inspires.

by Jennifer Sellers

The typical home office is uniform, utilitarian and uninspiring. It's the place you go to when you have to work. But why not make it a place where you want to work? A well-designed home office will not only help keep you organized; it will inspire you to be creative and productive.

Design for Inspiration 

Picture this room: A flimsy desk from a home office supply store is facing the wall; a generic motivational poster hangs above it; and in an opposite corner stands a stark metal filing cabinet. Is this the kind of space where great work will be done? Probably not. A truly useful home office is one that spurs creativity and imagination. There are several ways you can create such a space. Amanda Malson of Domicile Interior Design in Huntington Beach, Calif., and Phyllis Harbinger of Design Concepts Interiors in Cortlandt Manor, N.Y., share some of their tips for taking your home office from bland to brilliant: 

• Surprise with color. Color has the power to motivate; but when it's applied in heavy doses throughout a room, it can be distracting. "As a general habit, we start with a design base that's neutral and then add excitement through pops of color," says Malson. "For instance, if a desk and chair in an office are white or beige, we would add art and accessories around the office that have exciting moments of color or beautiful little details. This approach is most successful when done in moderation—too much, and the space becomes a chaotic jumble."

• Allow the space to reflect your personality. Collections and vintage finds are a great way to add your unique influence to your home office, points out Malson. But, like with adding color, you should aim for moderation. You want to wow rather than overwhelm, she says. Harbinger suggests keeping defining elements close by. "Having books and collectables around that resonate are important to keeping you sane while at work," she says.  

• Let your style flow from (and to) other areas of the home. Because many people run businesses out of their homes, the home office is really just the hub of a larger work area. "My favorite trend in home office design is what I call 'the blend,'" says Harbinger. "The entire home can become your office at one point or another. Often, meetings are held in other rooms of the home, like the living room or dining room. Sometimes, being in another room just means working more comfortably or having a change of scenery." So not only is it important to have your home equipped for working in any room, it's also a good idea that your décor remains cohesive throughout. "I think a home office should reflect the feeling of the rest of the home in color and style—especially if it's located on the main level of house," says Harbinger. 
   
• Get creative with necessities. Just because some of the items in your home office are necessary to your work doesn't mean they have to detract from the room's décor. On the contrary, they can become part of it. "We love to place books and magazines on the floor in an artful, sculptural sort of arrangement," says Malson. "This allows easy access to information and inspiration—and it makes something expected a little unexpected."

• Keep practicality in mind. While beauty and inspiration are important to the creative process, you have to remember that your deadlines and to-do lists aren't going away. Therefore, it's good to ensure your office has practical elements as well. "My most important suggestion is that you have ample storage and a great filing system so that things don't pile up on your desk," says Harbinger. "A well-designed office is imperative to your work flow. Comfort is also crucial to an effective work environment, says Harbinger. "An ergonomic task chair will allow ease of movement, lumbar support and adjustability," she says.

Regardless of the work you do, the core design elements of color, personality, cohesiveness, creativity and practicality can move and motivate you. Consider livening up your home office to transform your work.