20 office design ideas for the best home office setup to increase your productivity when working from home.
We’ve been in home office transformation mode for the last couple of weeks, and we finally get to share the reveal after all of our hard work!
Can you even recognize this room anymore?!
Robert and I packed this room full of functional furniture, storage, and intentional office decor to make this the best home office setup we possibly could for our pastor Dave, his wife Ellen, and his family so they could use it effectively as a study and school room.
It needed to serve a lot of needs.
Office Needs
- Home Office Space – This room needed a dedicated space for Dave to study, plan, and write
- Schooling & Storage Space – This office needed a desk for their kids to do their homework with access to a computer and for Ellen to plan teaching lessons.
- Guest Room Space – When guests stay over, this office sometimes needs to serve as a single sleeping area, so it needed room for a futon or pull-out convertible chair.
- Meeting Space – Dave sometimes holds meetings or counseling sessions in this room so comfortable, flexible seating is helpful.
20 Quick Tips to Create the Best Work From Home Office Setup
If you work from home or just need some home office setup ideas to make your space work the best for you, here are all of the tips you need to improve your workspace.
1. Choose a Space Saving Desk
Whenever possible, choose a desk that can convert to different uses.
Look into desk options with a pull-out tabletop for extra work space whenever needed. Opt for a desk that converts into a standing setup, if you often sit for long periods of time. Or buy a desk with plenty of drawers for maximum storage room in a small space.
We used this IKEA MALM desk with a pull-out panel for creating an extra work surface whenever needed.
2. Clear Out Clutter
Make a “home” for everything. Write down a list with all of the office supplies you use and items you need to store. Then, plan where you will place all of those items in your office when not in use. Buy storage containers according to those needs.
For Dave’s desk, we included a leather desk pad to establish a dedicated writing surface. And we strategically placed wooden storage boxes and baskets on the shelves to keep other supplies organized and within reach but out of sight.
3. Add Good Lighting
Take advantage of natural light by keeping window treatments to a minimum. Allowing natural light into an office space is proven to improve productivity, according to Harvard Business Review.
We added these white window shades to keep the sunshine completely accessible.
Include a desk lamp for task lighting, but avoid blue-hued bulbs like fluorescent lights. Warm-hued light bulbs in the 3000-2700K range is best.
4. Paint the Walls a Light Neutral Color
A “dark and moody” office can make you feel tired. And a brightly colored office can cause feelings of anxiousness. Try a neutral, soft paint color like like a gray/blue to help you feel energized and calm.
We used the color Benjamin Moore Boothbay Gray (and we used our trick to paint the trim and walls the same color to help the room seem larger).
5. Invest in Comfortable Upholstered Desk Chairs
Upholstered dining armchairs can make excellent desk chairs when you have to sit at a desk for hours daily. Look into ergonomic desk chair options too.
6. Take Advantage of Unused Space
Utilize an otherwise useless corner of a room with a corner desk, corner shelf, or corner cabinet for optimum storage.
As a dedicated desk for Ellen to make lesson plans as a teacher and for their kids to do homework, we added this IKEA MICKE corner desk with extra shelving for storing their school books.
7. Tame the Cords
We love using desks that have channels for running cords out of sight. Opt for a wireless mouse when using a computer or add a monitor stand to reduce the cord tangle.
We added this rolling printer stand underneath the corner desk to keep the printer accessible without causing an eyesore.
8. Take Advantage of Vertical Storage
We love using IKEA built-in shelving or IKEA cabinets for office storage in a small area so that no space is wasted when housing books, files, and supplies.
I like to place decor accents on unused shelves. Then, as books or papers need to be added, decor can be moved to make room for necessary storage. We added IKEA Oxberg doors to these Billy bookcases to hide any unsightly clutter behind solid door panels.
9. Set Up a Reading Area
If you have the space, set up a comfortable armchair or sofa to make a cozy reading area or to utilize for meetings, if needed.
10. Add Statement Making Art
Take advantage of windowless walls in a home office by hanging a large piece of art. It mimics the look of a window while making the room appear larger.
We added this plug-in picture light above this landscape art to double as reading light and make the art seem extra “important”.
11. Make the Home Office Multi-Purpose
Create a home office setup that serves as a multi-purpose room for hosting guests to take full advantage of it in various living situations. Opt for a futon, sleeper sofa, or convertible chair if you have room.
12. Add a Bluetooth Speaker
If you like to stream podcasts or music while you work, include a bluetooth speaker in the room. We added this Bluetooth speaker that looks totally convincing as a real vintage radio!
13. Use a Plant or Two
Liven up a boring home office with a few plants. Real ones are best for oxygen production but artificial plants can still do the job to wake up a tired space.
14. Include a Coffee Maker
If you plan to host meetings in your home office, keep a coffee maker right in the room to welcome guests (or if you need a mid-day caffeine jolt yourself from time to time).
We setup a coffee station using this demilune table to take advantage of this small corner.
15. Mount a TV
If you need an extra large screen to prevent eye strain, use screen mirroring on a Smart TV to see your computer or mobile screen in a larger format. We used a swivel mount so the screen can be seen anywhere in the room.
16. Use Cord Covers When Possible
We love disguising lamp cords and electronic cords with these cord covers. Paint them the same color as the wall to blend them in.
We use cord covers to disguise unsightly cords in our living room too.
It’s hard to believe this is the same wall, isn’t it?
17. Include a Cozy Rug
It’s a great way to add a punch of color and pattern to an office space while creating the feeling of warmth and comfort.
18. Light a Candle
Working beside the flicker of a candle flame sets the tone for a stress-free space.
19. Run a Diffuser
Use a combination of lavender and peppermint essential oils in a diffuser to help you feel calm yet clear-headed and energized.
I think this home office makeover deserves one more before and after, don’t you think? 😉
20. Set Up “Zones”
When planning a home office setup, think about your design in “zones”. Each wall in the room should serve a functional purpose such as storage, desk work, lounge space, or utility space. We did the same in this office.
You can see all of the sources we used in this home office space below.
Home Office Sources
I feel so honored that Dave and Ellen entrusted us with this office space in their home, and we hope it provides so much peace and clarity in their family.
We can’t wait to see how God will use this space as a refuge to create a ripple effect throughout our community.
