Skip to main content

Modernize your home office with these 4 simple tricks

Home offices are becoming increasingly more necessary in the world we live in. Many people who didn’t already have a home office have recently had to create one due to the number of jobs moving toward working from home. Some people have had home offices for years, but frequently these spaces become nothing more than a storage area for mail and paperwork. Whether you have one already or are thinking about setting one up, you should design your home office space in a way that you’ll want to work in it. We have some simple tricks to modernize your home office, so you have a workspace that you want to spend time in.

Storage

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Every home office needs storage space. To keep your office space organized and clean, and thus more modern looking, you need to have a place to put everything. If you are a person when tends to let their desk get cluttered, having ample storage space can help you break this habit. Cabinets and built-in shelves are a great way to make room for all of your papers, files, and office supplies. You can also store larger items like printers, reams of paper, hole punchers, and more in cabinets and on built-in shelves. If you don’t have tons of room, or money, to install built-in shelves or buy cabinets, you can purchase drawer units separately and fit them anywhere you have space. Many of these units have wheels so you can roll them under the desk when you’re not working to get them out of the way. You can also hand shelves on the walls above and around your desk to create storage for books and other items that you don’t need sitting on your desk. Whatever you do, incorporate as much storage as possible so you can maintain a clean work area.

Focus Area

As you envision the layout and design of your home office area, think about the activities that you’ll complete in the space. You will probably want a desk area for paperwork, but you may not want a traditional desk. If you have the room, a larger table may work well for you since it will create a workspace for more than one person. If you have a partner who also works from home, or kids who will use the space for homework, a table is more logical than a single-person desk. Either way, the desk or work surface will likely be the focus of the space. Standing workstations are becoming increasingly popular, so you may want to consider an area where you can stand and type or read. Sitting all day is not the healthiest and can really work against you if you have back, neck, or shoulder problems. Consider having both a standing and sitting station, if you have the room so that you can mix it up throughout the day.

Neutral Colors

It is a well-known theory that the colors in a room can impact your mood. With this concept in mind, it makes sense to choose a color for your home office that incites focus. Neutral colors tend to allow you to focus on the task at hand and are less distracting than bright colors. Blues tend to be soothing, but you don’t want to soothe yourself to sleep while trying to work. You can add pops of color with decorations or art on the walls, so the room doesn’t look like a dull space, but overall the color of the room should be neutral. If you want to brighten the room up and have windows or doors available, consider placing the desk in front of the window so you can use the natural light to your advantage. Natural light keeps you alert and awake, so you will be less likely to want to doze off while completing your tasks.

Personal Items

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Though it is essential to create an area where you can focus when setting up your home office, you also want to make the space welcoming, so you are happy to spend time there. Incorporating personal touches and decorations will help you highlight your tastes while creating an ambiance you want to work in. A great way to great a cohesive design is to let your personal items dictate the accent colors of the room. It is also a good idea to add some live plants to your workspace. Plants create oxygen in the room and add some life elements to the space, which makes for a more productive atmosphere. You will need some natural light to keep the plants healthy, and you will have to water and care for them, but this process keeps you engaged with the room and will make you want to spend time there.

Editors' Recommendations

Kelly Kaliszewski
Kelly's work has appeared in blogs and on websites. When she's not writing, she is playing with her two dogs, cooking, or…
6 easy ways to update your home for under $500
Update your home with these inexpensive, easy projects
Couple painting white walls

When most homeowners think of renovations, they think of time-consuming projects that always run over budget. And often, they’re right. But updating your home doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. Tearing down cabinets and installing brand-new hardwood floors aren’t the only ways to up your home design game.

With a bit of planning and elbow grease, you can refresh your space with inexpensive home remodeling projects that will have a considerable impact. Here are six DIY home projects that you can easily complete for less than $500.

Read more
Want to level up your wall decor? We love this interior designer’s trick for blank wall space
Try this clever tip for tackling blank wall space in your home
Woman hanging beach art

A common struggle for many homeowners is decorating a wall without making it feel too cluttered or, worse, too empty. Too much negative space can leave a room feeling unfinished, lackluster, and downright visually unappealing. Thankfully, Julie Jones, founder of Julie Jones Designs, took to TikTok to share a fantastic design trick for dealing with blank wall space by using a clever rule for your wall decor.

https://www.tiktok.com/@juliejonesdesigns/video/7254366084768320811
Try the 70/30 rule
Interior designer @juliejonesdesigns shared her trick for handling blank wall space with a unique rule that works for nearly any wall. “I have a 70/30 rule,” Jones says in her TikTok video. She explains that the rule means 70% of the wall needs to be filled with positive space while the other 30% can be negative. “It’s a really easy formula that you can apply to almost any wall.”

Read more
3 color combinations for your home this interior designer loves
This designer on TikTok shares some stunning and luxe color combinations for your home
person holding color swatches

 

It’s easy to spend hours in the paint section of a home improvement store, flipping through endless swatches to find a good color combination. You want the colors you choose to be the perfect color combo while still reflecting your style and personality. However, this time-consuming activity may leave you feeling defeated during your remodel. That’s why designers like @whataboutdesign on TikTok have color combinations you don’t want to miss.

Read more