Four Fun Decorating Ideas for Your Home Office
As technology makes it more and easier to work remotely or run an online business, home offices are getting used more frequently. As such, it’s worthy of some time and attention spent on decorating one’s workspace to make it cozier and inviting.
Whether you’re a stay-at-home mom running a profitable side hustle or a corporate mover and shaker who puts in some extra hours, creating a custom workspace can help you relax even when the day is long and work is intense. Here are four fun decorating ideas to make your home office a private getaway.
Use Photos to Liven Up the Walls
Photos can be a source of comfort and inspiration in a home office setting, and they can add a lovely pop of color if you opt for an otherwise monochromatic decor scheme. You can adorn your walls with a stylish photo gallery or purchase acrylic photo blocks from Bumblejax to bring your shelves to life.
Some working women opt to use this approach to building their vision board, a piece that captures the essence of their entrepreneurial brand or reminds them what they’re working toward. Whether you opt to add photos of your family, themed imagery that ties to your business or create an artistic display of your portfolio, adding photos to the walls keeps your inspiration flowing.
Forget the Traditional Desk
When decorating your home office, opt for something with a little more pizzazz than a typical wooden desk. A repurposed, sculpted vanity can add an elegant, feminine touch to your workspace. If you have limited space available, consider turning a small closet into a desk and shelving unit. This approach is effective if your office has multiple functions, such as storage or a spare room.
Another approach is to use a large table rather than a desk. Designers who require a lot of space to stretch out while working tend to gravitate toward this desk alternative. If you like the rustic look, use some short bookshelves and rest a piece of barn wood across them to create a one-of-a-kind desk that you can make in minutes.
Optimize Your Lighting
Lighting can impact the overall ambiance of a living space. In a workspace, it’s important to find a balance that will allow you to be comfortable while providing the light you need to get your work done without straining your eyes.
Natural light is obviously preferable in your office, so opt for sheer curtains that let the light shine through. A stylish overhead pendant light can provide adequate lighting in the workspace as a whole without detracting from the decor. You can make a DIY pendant light quickly and cheaply. Next, you need a desk light that will illuminate your work in a focused manner. Finally, add an ambient light to balance everything out, such as twinkle lights scattered through your bookcase to be turned on while you’re brainstorming.
Add Your Personal Style
The perk of having a home office is that it doesn’t have to look boring and professional if you don’t want it to. This is your chance to let your personality shine through. If you like pineapples, add pineapple wallpaper behind your shelves and set a gold pineapple paperweight on your desk. If zebra stripes are your jam, add a rug and accessories that shout your love for zebra stripes from the rooftop. Feeling extra nerdy? No one gets to judge you for your Harry Potter lamp or the fact that your office is in the cupboard under the stairs. Well, that last part might be a stretch.
No matter what you do, remember that your home office is meant to give you a comfortable place to be yourself while doing the work you’re passionate about. Take ownership of it, and you’ll be more productive and happier while you work.