With the coronavirus, it’s hard to imagine the next time we’ll all be back in the office together! While some may be happy that they can work out of the comfort of their own home, others are struggling to stay productive and make the most out of their days. To help those who are struggling, I decided I would give you guys some home office ideas. But before I do so, I wanted to give you two very simple pieces of advice that can make a serious impact on your motivation and productivity. First, if you make your bed as soon as you wake up, I guarantee your motivation and productivity will increase. It’s a fact! Writer Charles Duhigg explains in his best-selling book, The Power of Habit: “Making your bed every morning is correlated with better productivity, a greater sense of well-being, and stronger skills at sticking with a budget. It’s not that a family meal or a tidy bed causes better grades or less frivolous spending. But somehow those initial shifts start chain reactions that help other good habits take hold.” Second, make sure that right after you make your bed, you change your clothes!!!!! I know it may sound silly but hanging out in your pajamas all day will not increase your motivation or productivity. Even if you just want to change into another set of pajamas, it makes a difference! Taking a fresh shower and changing into a fresh set of clothes will put you in the right headspace to kill the day. Now back to the home office ideas….which by the way will also play a role in enhancing your productivity and motivation. Whether it’s by building a completely new office space or simply just organizing your current space, your mind-set will change. I have categorized each office idea by the style in hopes that you get closer to finding which style suits you best. If there are things I don’t touch on, or a style I missed that you would like to know more about, please don’t hesitate to reach out and let me know! My email is in the about page.
The first thing you’ll want to do if you’re building an office in your home is to pick a space. As I mentioned in my modern kitchen guide, you’ll want to focus on three key factors: space, lighting, and color. Once you have that down, you’ll have a much better idea of the kind of vibe you are going for.
The modern home office design
Characteristics of a modern home office
-Emphasizing futurism and past time, minimalism, cubism, and abstract expressionism
-Horizontal and vertical lines only
-Materials such as wood and concrete, as well as metals like steel, chrome and glass
-Reflective surfaces
-Geometric shapes
-Less is more
-Lack of clutter
-Bold accent colors – Ways you can achieve this: throw pillows, colored furniture, colored rug, wall art, or an accent wall
The rustic home office design
Characteristics of a rustic home office
-Emphasizing the natural (lots of wood and stone)
-Earthy vibes (raw materials)
-Side tables
-Accent chairs
-Raw wood logs
-Neutral/warm colors (greens, browns and grays)
-The design is never perfect as the materials tend to be rough
-Raw fabrics such as jute or animal hide
-Fireplace (optional)
The classic farmhouse home office design
Characteristics of a classic farmhouse home office
-Emphasizing well-used and loved items that make you feel connected to the outdoors
-A variety of layered textures
-Neutral color palettes
-Natural materials to make the space feel like it’s connected to the outdoors
-Mixed metals (can be done through light fixtures, hardware, or architectural details)
-Old and new elements
-Wood
-Avoid bright colors
-Incorporate dimension
The mid-century modern home office design
Characteristics of a mid-century modern home office
-Emphasizing functionality
-Uncluttered
-Minimal decoration or fluff
-Sleek lines with organic and geometric forms
-Contradicting materials and textures
-Neutral but bold
-Bringing the outside inside
The contemporary home office design
Characteristics of a contemporary home office
-Emphasizing of the moment and forward-thinking (different from modern because modern mixes the past and the future)
-Irregular, asymmetrical façade
-Geometric shapes
-Lots of natural light
-Large windows, not always symmetrical to each other
-Clerestory windows
-Neutral elements and bold color
-Softened and rounded lines as opposed to the stark lines of modern design
The bohemian home office design
Characteristics of a bohemian home office
-Emphasizing exotic finds, accessories, and vintage and antique furnishing
-Botanicals
-Low-lying furniture
-Bright colors
-Metallics and mirrors
-Far from minimalistic
-Layering through decorative items and textiles (rugs, cushions, throws)
The industrial home office design
Characteristics of an industrial home office
-Emphasizing an urban vibe with warehouse and factory elements
-Rustic colors
-Tubes and pipes
-Desks that are made of steel pipes and woods
-Metal frame chairs
-Utility light fixtures
-Clean and uncluttered look
-Vintage furniture
-Exposed ceiling
The art deco home office design
Characteristics of an art deco home office
-Emphasizing ornate and jewel-like 1920’s style
-Sharp edged lines
-Stylized decorative elements in geometric and zig zag forms
-Rich colors
-Materials like concrete, smooth-faced stone, terracotta, and glass blocks
The feng shui home office design
Characteristics of a feng shui home office
Ways to organize your home office so it has good feng shui
-Emphasizing balance to add tranquility
-Place your desk facing the door
-Place desk far from door
-Put inspiring images or messages on the walls
-Avoid sharp edges pointing at you
-If possible, have a nice view