WHETHER YOUR HOME OFFICE CONSISTS OF A DESIGNATED ROOM OR A TIGHT CORNER IN YOUR KITCHEN, THERE ARE CERTAIN KEY STRATEGIES FOR MAKING THE MOST OF IT.
WORDS: Jennifer Baum Lagdemeo | Shared from Dwell
Take a look at these 10 effective tips for creating a home office space that will allow you to feel at home and comfortable—but also just as productive as you would at the company hub.
Reserve A Well-Lit Area
Working is much more pleasant when you have natural light to brighten up your space. If you aren’t lucky enough to have a window, then invest in some stylish lighting.
A Mash Studio Wall-Mounted desk offers a place to study. The rug is from One King’s Lane and a SoCo Modern Socket pendant illuminates the room. Photo: Katrina Wittkamp
Find A Spacious Desk
A tabletop desk with trestle legs is a modern, customizable, and budget-friendly option for creating a clean surface to work from.
The study has a fun, playful atmosphere thanks to a red Square Dining Chair from MAP, a Tempo wall clock by Naoto Fukasawa for Magis, and house sculpture from David Band. Photo by Shannon McGrath
Invest In A Wall Bookshelf
Dividing off your workspace with a temporary “wall” can be particularly effective if you’re renting and can’t make any permanent alterations to your home. Bookshelves also clearly serve a functional purpose.
Custom-fabricated modular bookshelves create a corridor leading to the home office. Photo: Jesse Chelak
Create An Office Cubby
A nook between two walls or two closets can be the perfect spot to squeeze in an office cubby. Look for a small-sized desk or have one custom-built to fit the exact measurements of your space.
The office cubby, outfitted with a diminutive window, is furnished with Atlas shelving. Photo: Doug Adesko
Consider A Built-In Unit
Built-in units can solve storage issues while making your office space look like it was there all along.
This young boy’s bedroom features a built-in walnut bookshelf and desk. Smart details—like the magnetic paint in lieu of a bulletin board—help keep the space tidy. The chair is an Eames Molded Fiberglass Side Chair. Photo: Adam Rouse
Get Tucked Away
This bright apartment renovation in Barcelona by Architectural design firm YLAB Arquitectos Barcelona, yielded a discrete home work space that’s divided from from the living room with a sliding door.
A sliding oak door leads from the living room to the studio library, outfitted with custom, white-lacquered built-in units and furnishings. The floor lamp is by Marset, and the MDM lounge chair and poufs, all from Materia, form a cozy reading nook. Photo Courtesy of Tobias Laarmann
Create An Attic Hideaway
A finished attic can be the perfect spot for a private—and quiet—home office.
In one of the three upstairs bedrooms, a Muuto chair is flanked by a built-in desk with deep drawers that take advantage of the room’s distinctive angles. Photo Courtesy of NOTE Design Studio
Camouflage Your Workspace
By creating a desk out of roof beams, this home office perfectly integrates into an open-plan renovation of a Northern Italian farmhouse.
The sitting area and office are on the second floor, reached via the catwalk. Near the sofa by Piero Lissoni for Cassina is a Bourgie lamp from Kartell; on the large table, made from old roof beams, is a Taccia lamp from FLOS. Photo: Helenio Barbetta
Think Multifunctional
This couple makes good use of limited space by using the front loft of their weekend home for both work and play.
This couple uses the front loft for both work and play, thanks to a vintage midcentury desk that converts to a game table. Photo: David Robert Elliot
Try Out The Garage
A Vancouver-based designer took an unused garage and turned it into a brilliant home office.
@andrea_mclean took a garage in Vancouver and turned it into a minimalist work area. The designer credits the geometric tile and reclaimed windows for making the space pop. Photo by @whentheyfindus
Jennifer Baum Lagdameo
@jennifer_lagdameo
Jennifer Baum Lagdameo is a freelance design writer who has lived in Washington DC, Brooklyn, Tokyo and Manila. She is currently exploring the Pacific Northwest from her home base in Portland, OR.
