Carving out a particular place to work at home won’t just increase productivity, but it will also boost your creativity, whether you can afford to spare a whole room or you only need a small nook. No matter what your option is, you can make it look much better with a few clever decorative choices.
1. Install Wallpaper on an Office Nook
A small nook in a room may seem a bit boring. You only have your workspace, as well as empty walls. If you’re lucky to have a window with a nice view, fine. Otherwise, you’ll need to enhance this place in one way or another.
Wallpaper is a quick and inexpensive idea you can do yourself. Measure the available space for the respective corner and take nearby furniture into consideration for the measurement. Find a design that matches the respective size and install it yourself.
It could be anything. It could be a mural wallpaper inspired by your location or perhaps a cultural design or a nice destination. Whatever you pick, it must be visually attractive and provide a serene atmosphere to help you concentrate.
2. Green, green, green
Whether you have a traditional décor or a modern black and white minimalist approach, a bit of colour has never hurt anyone. And when it comes to colourful spots, green is perfect because it symbolizes life and nature.
Don't go for anything sophisticated because, first of all, it's indoors and will require special care. Second, it needs light and water. While there are quite a few indoor plants that can thrive with limited resources, the truth is artificial plants offer a much better result.
An artificial potted Buxus will never grow or require any watering. You can move it anywhere without having to worry about its needs. Just make sure you dust it off every now and then, simple as that.
3. Non-Office Elements Help Out
Your office doesn’t necessarily have to feel like a real office. Unless you have your own cubicle, chances are you can’t add much personalization to an office. But when you have your own working space at home, there are literally no limits to what you can do.
Non-office elements may seem out of place, but that’s only a misconception. If you think about it, there are no reasons why your working space shouldn’t reflect your personality or even your actual interests. No one can check on you, so why not?
Whether it comes to objects of personal interest, photos or just plain art, such things will help you connect and focus. They’ll inspire you and add to your productivity. Music is just as useful, but it depends on what kind of work you do.
4. Make a Statement With a Rug
Laminated floors? Shiny parquet? Vinyl? No problem. To make your working space more effective, feel free to add a small rug right in front of it. This will determine your seating area, so make sure it’s big enough and matches the surrounding décor.
No matter how plain or sophisticated your office space is, a rug with an interesting pattern will warm the whole place up. Literally! It’s not just a matter of creating a warm atmosphere, but also a matter of keeping your feet warm.
Whether the pattern or the colour, the rug should match the decor in an intriguing or complementary way.
5. Come Up With a Secretary Space
To most people working from home, space could be an issue. There aren’t too many office workers who can dedicate a whole room to an office. If you count yourself among them, a secretary desk will solve most of your problems in no time.
A secretary desk can be placed anywhere, as long as it matches the décor. You might as well install it in your bedroom. After all, you can work in your pyjamas with no issues at all, so why not?
A secretary desk is usually implemented into a different piece of furniture. It opens up when in use and closes off when you’re done working. If you don’t want the place to look like an actual office, you can also hide additional stuff in cabinets, such as a printer.
6. Pick a Moody Colour
If you don’t like the classic light colours, but you prefer a moody and cosy style, simply change the paint in the room. It sounds like a lot of work, so you might as well install some dark coloured wallpaper around a nook. It’s just as effective.
Your options are quite varied here. A dark blue design, for example, feels like it envelops you once you sit down. You know you’ve hit the jackpot if the colour also matches the office furniture you use to work at home.
From many points of view, a dark and moody colour will give you a nice space to retreat. This means you can use it for more things. It’s excellent to retreat and do some work, but you might as well use it to have a bit of wine at the end of a long day.
7. Keep Your Travel Motivation Up
Most people love to travel and while in work, most of us often think about our next vacation. No matter where you’re going or how long until you set off, a bit of love for travel around your office will ease your work.
Your office should clearly be designed to tackle your daily tasks. But that doesn't mean you can't have a bit of fun. Art that matches your taste is a plus. Hang it around the area so you can take a look whenever you need a creativity boost.
You can daydream on your break or after work or maybe plan something. Landscapes or maps from places you’ve visited work wonders. Collages of pictures you’ve taken on previous vacations are just as useful to help you relax every now and then.
8. Pay Attention to the Seating Area
While most people mainly pay attention to the desk and what’s on it, the truth is the seating area is just as important. Not only is it a matter of comfort, but it can also change the overall feel and appearance of your working space.
There's no need to sacrifice style for comfort or vice versa. You can have both if you pay attention to a few small details. Whether classic or contemporary, the seat should feature a swivelling design for easy operation.
As for the actual style, make sure it matches the surroundings. In terms of comfort, it pays off to get a chair with lumbar support. After all, you’ll spend quite a few hours in it on a daily basis.
9. Enhance your workspace with a view
Enhancing your workspace with a view can really boost how well you work and how good you feel. If you place your desk where you can look at something more exciting than just a plain wall, you bring in natural light and a feeling of being connected to the world outside while you work.
If you have a window, that's great for natural light. But if you're in a room without windows, try hanging up a nice picture above your desk or set up your chair to face the door.
Another idea is to turn your chair to face the door, which can make you feel more relaxed and aware while you work, making you feel more comfortable and secure.
10. Hide cord clutter
You might not be able to make your laptop, printer, and mobile phone look prettier, but you can hide the messy cords.
First, you need to make sure your devices are near power outlets and easy to reach in case you need to unplug them at any moment. Second, you need to cover the cords on your desk with a fabric cord cover and guide them through a desk grommet, which is a cap that hides cords by leading them through a hole in the desk and conceals them underneath.
To keep the cords on the floor neat, you can use cord winders, tubing, or a wire organizer that sticks to the desk and lifts the cords off the floor, taming the cord chaos.
Final thoughts
Design a workspace that fits your taste and requirements with these home office decoration ideas. When decorating a home office, it's important to proceed thoughtfully. The key is to maintain the cozy feeling of home without compromising on the functionality of the workspace. Remember, at the day's end, it's still your home where the office is located. Striking a balance between the comfort of home and the professionalism of an office setup is essential for productivity and effectiveness.
