9 Ways to Make Your Home Office Fabulous
When your workspace is as unusually beautiful as these, inspiration and motivation are never placed on hold
Lara Sargent
July 23, 2014
Houzz UK contributor. Freelance interiors journalist with over 20 years' experience writing for national magazines, newspapers and websites.
Houzz UK contributor. Freelance interiors journalist with over 20 years' experience... More
There’s no rule that says your home office has to be a fun-free, functional space kitted out with a standard desk and run-of-the-mill swivel chair, and that’s your lot. In fact, how thoroughly rewarding would it be to head to work and step into a color-packed, glamorous room bursting with personality and pizzazz? There would still be a place for your computer, printer and files, natch, but the room itself could be just as much a part of the decorating jigsaw as the rest of your interior. Who knows? Your daily 9-to-5 might suddenly look very inviting…
1. Squeeze it in. I love how this modest home office has been tucked into this beautiful Moroccan-style living room. The white woodwork creates the perfect backdrop for the silver fretwork lanterns and bright Moorish patterns, and allows the desk and computer to fit in without any fuss, while the orange chair chimes perfectly with the textiles.
See more of this house
See more of this house
2. Create something futuristic. If you don’t have room inside for a home office, why not exploit outside space with a bespoke pod? I love the curvaceous sweep of wood in contrast to the very bare planting, and the glazed panels and skylights mean this space is flooded with uplifting daylight.
How to layer patterns right
How to layer patterns right
3. Max out on color. Color lovers, breathe a sigh of relief, because your office doesn’t have to be a lineup of neutrals. This mix of sunflower-yellow and Barbie-pink paintwork with a splash of patterned wallpaper is bright and cheerful to say the least, and will certainly keep you on your toes during the midafternoon slump.
4. Pep up with prints. A modest desk and stool are all that’s needed for this gloriously flamboyant decor. Red is a really energizing color and, if you lose your creative thread, the prints and patterns will keep you mesmerized for hours.
How to layer patterns right
How to layer patterns right
5. Make it light and airy. This spacious converted loft will help calm even the busiest of schedules within seconds. The pared-back furniture; pale, largely unadorned walls; and, of course, mind-freeing views of the sky can’t help but make going to work a pleasure.
No window? See how to add a skylight or light tube
No window? See how to add a skylight or light tube
6. Take your work outdoors. Semiscreened by the trees and foliage, what might look at first glance like a humble shed is actually an office space fully equipped with power and an Internet connection.
See more of this office in a London garden
See more of this office in a London garden
7. Go custom. Forget a standard desk and filing cabinet and go for something unique, like this undulating wooden sculpture. The bespoke birch plywood ribs create cocooning curves with an almost sci-fi edge and conceal everything except the monitors.
Find an architect or furniture maker
Find an architect or furniture maker
8. Try a relaxed look. More like a beautiful living room than a place for toilng, this eclectic and inviting office is what a home workspace should be all about: one-off pieces of furniture and treasured knickknacks creating the most inspirational of spaces.
9. Go all-out on glamour. Give your important paperwork a glamorous edge by attending to it perched on plush velvet seating at a slick, lacquered desk. Attention to detail is key here, so complete the look with decorative wallpaper, heavy silk curtains and statement lighting.
More:
Make Your Home Office Work Better for You
20 of the Coziest Home Offices on Houzz
More:
Make Your Home Office Work Better for You
20 of the Coziest Home Offices on Houzz
Related Stories
Bathroom Design
Dream Spaces: Spa-Worthy Showers to Refresh the Senses
In these fantasy baths, open designs let in natural light and views, and intriguing materials create drama
Full Story
Kitchen Design
Dream Spaces: 12 Beautiful White Kitchens
By Lisa Higgins
Snowy cabinets and walls speak to a certain elegance, while marble counters whisper of luxury
Full Story
Landscape Design
Dream Spaces: A Secret Garden of Your Own
By Kate McKee
Unleash your inner child and create space in your garden for whimsy and romance
Full Story
Homes Around the World
Houzz Tour: A Dream House Built to Stand the Test of Time
This Australian family’s home showcases concrete and stone outside, and midcentury modern design inside
Full Story
Kitchen Design
New This Week: 3 Elegant Dream Kitchens
See the materials and other design elements that put these kitchens into a league of their own
Full Story
Bathroom Design
We Can Dream: Master Bathroom Fit for a 5-Star Hotel
A freestanding tub with air jets, a computerized steam shower and masses of marble star in a posh Massachusetts bath
Full Story
The Art of Architecture
Houzz Tour: Wild Cats Roam This Amazing Modern Prairie House
Stunning architecture competes for attention with fabulous felines in an eye-popping home near Oklahoma City
Full Story
Modern Homes
Houzz Tour: Vineyards Inspire a California Dream Home
By Julie Sheer
A modern house in wine country blends into the Sonoma County landscape
Full Story
Apartments
Houzz Tour: A Customized German Penthouse
When owners and interior designers make a good team, they can do anything — even modify a developer’s plans
Full Story
Kitchen Design
New This Week: 4 Totally Amazing Dream Kitchens
These big kitchens with big design ideas are what dreams are made of
Full Story
This is an amazing modern office furniture design. Really, I like this different style office furniture design idea. Thanks for share this idea.
Modern furniture NYC