How to Create a Stylish and Functional Home Office
Since the pandemic, remote and hybrid working has become the norm. Attracted by a reduced impact on the environment and significantly cut costs, companies delayed their employees' return to the office for the foreseeable and saw a 13% boost in productivity and upbeat company morale. But working from home has challenges that open our eyes to the importance of creating a functional home that prioritises a positive office work-life balance. We spend eight hours a day working, glued to our desks, and therefore our home offices must be sanctuaries for functionality - both chic and practical. If you wish to create a space that will help motivate you to work your way through your tedious to-do list, read this guide on how to create a stylish and functional home office.
Pick practicality
A good desk and ergonomic chair should be the focus of your home-office makeover. Without either, the room will fail to live up to its namesake. But both need to be chosen with practicality in mind. Your desk will likely be the biggest piece of furniture in the room; it should be spacious enough to house your laptop or desktop computer with extra space for taking notes and holding that all-important cup of coffee. Proven to combat stress and fatigue while strengthening core muscles, you may opt for a standing desk to increase activity throughout the day. However, an office chair is still an essential purchase for any functional home office, and one that offers support and comfort is an absolute must.
Let in light
Sunlight is a natural mood-enhancer, and a rousing home office requires lots of natural light to keep you on track throughout the day. Keep your windows open – the fresh air is excellent for the soul, too – and strategically place the furniture to make the room feels as spacious as possible. If access to natural light is limited, we suggest investing in ambient lighting to avoid creating a dull or dingy space and make sure you get outside in between shifts or on your breaks to top up your Vitamin D. A small lamp at the side of your desk, bright overhead spotlights and meticulously placed floor lamps will help create your fruitful escape.
Design around your technology needs
Not particularly stylish but absolutely essential, your home-office technology can easily compromise a lot of your design and décor considerations. Take note of the plug socket placements around the room and ensure your desk is within easy reach of these outlets. Nothing is more distracting than loose and tangled wires draped across tables or stretched across the floor, so scrupulous planning will benefit your office organisation. Wire organisation systems and cupboards with doors may be two staples needed to keep your fashionable home office clean and crisp.
Take control of your space
And on the note of organisation, an organised home office is a happy one. Everything deserves a place – believe me, you’ll thank us later. Picture a room inspired by Clea and Joanna from The Home Edit - thoroughly sorted, colour coded and labelled; everything you need is within reach and very easy to find. Carefully place books on shelves and make the most of other home storage accessories – from trunks to shoe boxes – to store items neatly. A label maker may come in handy when packing away masses of small wires and stationary equipment, and keeping on top of putting things back in their designated places will prove handy in the long run. Discipline and routine will be your best friends when keeping your functional home office tidy.
Create a serene atmosphere
Once the practicalities of a productive space are finished, the next step in creating a functional and stylish home office is to inject it with decoration. It's true what they say: you need to make a house a home. To do that, you need to be able to express your style through your furnishings and your personality through the accessories that line your walls and surfaces. Firstly, think of colour. We recommend keeping the walls neutral - something light and airy always works well - and focusing on bringing vibrancy to the room through rugs, ornaments and wall art. Frame family photos, display captivating vases, hang a large mirror and keep pretty trinkets nearby. Indulge in a style that you love and run with it towards every corner of the room. Find pieces that work together for a clean finish, or make the most of eye-catching statement items for a grand finale.
Finely tune your surroundings
Finishing touches must be taken seriously - the little things will transform a bleak home office into one you enjoy spending time in. Freshly scented candles are an absolute must for enhancing a tranquil, hard-working state, and various house plants or flowers will bring life and greenery to your space – just make sure you water them regularly. Purchase a desk pad to help plan the day's priorities, and a contemporary coaster will remind you to drink more water when it's bare. Instead of sitting in a slump, a computer stand will help to reduce sore neck and back pain, and you may even consider investing in an under-desk treadmill to break up long periods of sitting down with intervals of slow walking. These small considerations will transform your space from an unhelpful room to a productive home office – but think carefully about what you choose and try to avoid clutter.
Creating a stylish and functional home office
Enjoy getting creative with your home office and create a work-from-home sanctuary so you enjoy entering it every working day. For colours that complement each other well and the ultimate style inspiration, browse our new arrivals and see if anything catches your eye. And for one last tip, we recommend choosing high-quality items that will stand the test of time and endure the long 9-5 – the investment will be worth it in the long run.