The home office can often be a neglected space when it comes to decorating. As long as there’s a chair, desk and computer, we can spend hours at a time plugging away at our work.
However, how comfortable and productive are you?
How inspired do you feel to work when you walk into the space?
Like any other room in your home, you want the decor to make you feel comfortable, inviting and you want it to reflect you.
Consider these elements when it comes time to decorate your home office space:
- Paint colour: Some colours are said to encourage creativity and brain stimulation more than others (reds and yellows). Not everyone sees these colours in the same light. Choose a colour that you feel comfortable with. If the room is small, go with a lighter colour to open up the space and make it feel brighter. If you have a larger space, you can go with a darker colour to make the room feel cozier.
- Desk: Select a desk that suits your needs. Do you have a lot of paperwork, files or items that you need at your fingertips? If so, consider a larger workspace. Personally, I need a large surface to work on because I like to have my papers spread out. There’s nothing more frustrating than working in a cramped space, which can definitely impede your thought process.
- Chair: There are many different styles of office chairs out there, but keep in mind functionality and comfort. A chair may look really great in the space, but will you be able to sit in it over long periods of time?
- Floorplan: Decorating doesn’t always mean starting from scratch. Sometimes, it’s just a matter of changing the floorplan and even moving furniture or accessories from one room to another. For example, if your desk is facing a wall, try turning it around so it faces out into the room. It will give you a sense of openness and will help you feel like you are not stuck in a box!
- Lighting: Lighting is such an important aspect when it comes to working at your desk. Without the proper lighting, it is very difficult to focus and see what you are doing. This can be a big distraction. Be sure that you have proper overhead lighting along with task lighting. Natural light is best, if possible.
- Organization: This is a big issue for me, as I cannot work with a lot of clutter around me. I share my office with the kids’ playroom, so before I can even start to write, the room has to be tidy. I don’t feel I can organize my thoughts if I don’t have an organized space. Furthermore, consider different storage options, such as bookshelves, wall shelves, baskets and file holders. They not only hide the items you don’t want to be seen, but they also help you to stay organized so you are able to find things when you need it.
- Accessories: It’s always nice to add some final touches to a room and your office should be no exception. Books, artwork, family photos, collectables…the possibilities are endless! You are only limited by your imagination.
Whatever the decor may be in your office, be sure that it is something that you like. Ultimately, if your space is uninspiring, then you will feel uninspired as well. So, be creative with your decor and let it be reflection of you and what inspires you.
Cathy is a mother, wife, blogger and has a passion for decorating. She blogs about contemporary and affordable home decorating tips and ideas that anyone can apply. Please visit her website at www.homecentsdecorating.com and say hi on Facebook and Twitter.
