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Design experts share tips for your best home office

Hashtag working from home

Stylish and modern cherry colored home office. Credit: Getty Images / KatarzynaBialasiewicz

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While commute-less days are wonderful and taking conference calls in pajamas is divine, working from home isn’t without challenges. You might think one day of kid, pet, delivery, and shared space interruptions would leave us begging to return to the sanity of an off-site office. Surprisingly, that’s not the case.

According to SmallBizTrends.com in December 2021, 36.2 million people will work remotely by 2025 (there were 15.8 million prior to COVID-19) and, currently 84% of remote workers are glad they aren’t going back to the office.

As these numbers suggest, WFH is not only doable, it’s preferable. And your home office set-up can certainly help.

Adora Winquist, an author and intentional lifestyle expert who has been working from her home in Asheville, N.C., for more than 20 years, says, “Staying focused, energized, and clear is a key component for peak performance. Curating your environment to create the best opportunities for success allows you to ‘crush’ those daily goals.”

To help you conquer those 9-to-5 task lists, we asked a few design experts for advice on how to make your home office work for you. By thinking less “office” and more “productive space,” you can create a WFH footprint that’s more to your liking.

Translation: leave the neutral cubicles at the office and instead find out what makes you happy, and therefore more productive.

Scott Formby, an interior design based in Los Angeles and New York City, says, “Without peace, there’s no efficiency.” Formby participated in a 2021 Hamptons Showhouse by morphing a bedroom into a stylish, comfortable and efficient workspace.

“I wanted to achieve [this] with an overarching goal of peace and calm,” he says. For him, it meant efficient storage, a sense of beauty, and a comfortable open space to work. What will it mean for your home office space?

Select office objects with intention

On left, work space with desk, desk chair and laptop. On right, desk lamp with smart
Credit: Artifox / LumiCharge

Improve your workflow with a home office that helps your focus and increases your productivity.

A room full of cords, chargers, electronics, paper, and pens tell us you WFH without telling us you WFH. This year’s home office trends point to employees wanting more efficient workspaces that utilize products that hide gadgets, have multi-functions, and are aesthetically pleasing.

Top of the list for workday warriors—a place to "hide" office items. Think “invisible” wireless or solar-panel chargers, desk chairs pretty enough to double as accent chairs, and desks with built-in panels to hide cords.

You can multi-task, so give your accessories a chance to do the same. For example, double up on tasks with a lamp that also boasts a charging station.

Even traditional filing cabinets are getting the heave ho these days. Formby says, “I had an old apothecary cabinet installed in my studio, which has over 20 drawers that keep me organized. I also turned a closet into a working cabinet with several files and additional storage using simple units from The Container Store.

Formby notes he hits up flea markets and Etsy for pottery pieces to hold tools of his trade, including pens and tape measurers.

Tati T. Kader, an interior designer at Studio Neshama in New York City and Miami says, “It’s all about prioritizing what you use daily, keeping a clean and organized workspace, and chic accessories. It’s fundamental to have a home office space that you absolutely love. This place should inspire you, boost your energy, productivity and creativity— not only a well-designed space, but one that’s tailored to your specific needs and makes you feel your best.”

Integrate elements of nature

On left, home office with plants. On right, pastel blue candle.
Credit: Getty Images / hobo_018 / Talbot And Yoon

Engage your senses with a fragrant candle or a vibrant plant.

Connecting to the natural world soothes and engages us, even when we have a Zoom call in 10 minutes. Since you can’t always pop out to the backyard for a breather, sometimes you have to bring the outside in.

Winquist says, “Adding natural elements to our workspace supports our own natural rhythm and flow.”

Small elements placed throughout an office (think plants, a fountain, even aromatherapy elements like sculptural candles or incense) can help achieve this.

“I have at least one or two plant allies, increasing the oxygen in my environment and reminding me of the beauty of life,” she adds. Plants are also known to increase productivity.

Justin Hancock of Costa Farms gives a green thumbs up to plants like sansevieria, bird’s nest fern, and ZZ plant as good office companions due to their compact growth. Go vertical with planters if your desk is less than accommodating.

If you aren’t interested in committing to full flora, just try a bloom or two. Kader agrees with Hancock, “[They] give you an immediate pick me up. I love to have even just a single flower in a vase that brings me joy.”

Create a space filled with natural light

On left, person working on laptop in front of sunny window . On right, person working on laptop next to light therapy lamp.
Credit: Getty Images / MStudioImages / Verilux

Light therapy lamps are perfect for the days that aren't so sunny and a mood booster is needed.

Who hasn’t complained about a corporate office’s lifeless fluorescent bulbs? Now that the choice is yours, don’t turn down the opportunity to create lighting that’s best for you.

Winquist says, “Natural light invigorates, inspires, and engages our senses. It’s a reminder to think beyond the confines of, not only our minds, but our spaces as well.”

While you might be tempted to face your desk in front of a window, this isn’t always the best for productivity. Sun glare competing with your monitor’s brightness can cause eye fatigue and headaches, and the view can cause distraction.

Instead, position your desk right-angled to the window. Now, your work area is illuminated with natural light and restorative nature is a quick glance away for much-needed mental breaks.

If you don’t have access to natural light, Winquist recommends a sun lamp for healthy brain and mood balance. “This is also a great investment for those of us who experience seasonal affective disorder and notice changes in mood, energy and concentration in the winter months.”

Get the Verilux HappyLight Luxe Therapy Lamp at Amazon for $69.99

Whether you’re standing or sitting, get comfortable

On left, sliding computer stand on desk. On right, gray and white meditation cushion.
Credit: Humanscale / Florensi

No matter how long your work day is, ensure it's a comfortable one with proper furnishings.

While offices are full of lather-rinse-repeat desk shapes, consider your home a free space for creativity. At home, you’re the boss. If you don’t want a desk, don’t have one.

Fromby explains, “It’s important to have space to spread out and not feel cramped. Traditional desks are hampering and can be claustrophobic, especially with computers, hydration needs, and more. I love my 48-inch Knoll table that serves as a desk. The table also allows me to meet with clients and look them directly in the face while still working.”  

You can also choose a desk with unexpected elements like unique textures beyond just wood—think grass cloth.

The standing desk, a sought-after office addition after health experts warned against staying seated all day, is still incredibly popular. Others go one step (or several) further with desk-bike and -treadmill hybrids—although we question how effective these are for burning calories.

You’ll also notice items normally relegated to off-hours filling modern WFH spaces. Yoga mats and meditation cushions are showing up on home office floors, so you can destress between calls or projects.

Kader says, “Our home office has become our personal sanctuary, and some of my favorite pieces at the moment give a sense of calm or are an easy way to stay active but also look beautiful.”

Infuse nostalgia and your personality

Winquist suggests having a few special tokens around the office that bring you joy. “Change them out every once in a while to keep the energy in your environment fresh,” she says.

Formby accents his studio space with a watercolor from a friend, a Meissen porcelain sparrow bought on a trip to Germany, as well as his collection of books on textiles, art, and architecture from around the world.

“[Art] should provide relief from the workday—allowing us to daydream at times and gather inspiration at other times,” he says.

Aim for clean, clear, and fresh vibes

At the end of each day, no matter your home office décor, it’s important to start the next day with a fresh slate.

Winquist says, “Just like having a clean kitchen in the morning invites you to start the day off right, coming into a clutter-free space in your home office immediately sets the stage for clear thinking, magnificent masterminding, and creativity to steer the day ahead.”

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