Home Office Design Ideas: Creating a Workspace That Works

Working from home is both a luxury and a challenge. It’s comfortable to be in a place where you can relax in your at-home clothes, use your kitchen for lunch, walk your dog, toss in a load of laundry, and avoid (or at least, filter) the interruptions of co-workers. At the same time, if you don’t have the right work environment, you’ll face other disruptions. Baker Residential has some home office design ideas for creating a workspace that works.

Separate “home” and “office”.

To do your best work, you need a space that provides isolation, particularly if you share your home with other people—those who don’t recognize when you’re actually working. Between their “quick questions” and the activity within your view, you don’t allow yourself the focus you need. Ideally, designate a room in your home as an office. If you don’t have a study or spare room, set up a workspace where you can be undisturbed, like an area of the master bedroom.

Then, treat this office like an office. Don’t allow your office materials to be mixed with household things, like mail, homework, and shopping lists. That’s a recipe for disaster (“the dog ate my quarterly report”). Respect your workspace and others will, too.

Design with productivity in mind.

How do you function best? Do you need a tidy area or are you inspired when surrounded by your stuff? Think about your ideal office environment so you can promote the productivity you need.

Organize a home office so that the items you use most often are within reach. Every time you get out of your chair, you risk distraction. That’s not to say you need to be glued to your seat all day, but don’t open yourself up to time-wasters.

Go vertical when space is limited.

Shelves present a great solution when you need storage and your workspace is cramped. Add open shelves or wall-mounted cabinets to help you organize an efficient home office. Or get creative with shelving, like rustic boards and metal pipes for hardware. Add hooks to the bottom of your shelves to hang other items, like a basket of office supplies or something decorative that sparks inspiration.

Cast the right light.

Proper home office lighting will also impact your productivity. If possible, set up your desk facing or near a window where you can stream natural light. Rather than rely on overhead lights, use task lighting in your work area. Desk lamps add function and style, and you can swap the shade to provide more or less illumination. If you have recessed lights, install a dimmer and use them as soft, ambient lighting.

Bring nature into your home office.

Natural elements should be a part of any interior decor. Biophilic design reflects our need to connect with nature. Live plants and decorative accents made of wood, bamboo, stone, cotton, and other natural materials will provide that valuable connection—made even more important if you don’t have a view of the outdoors from your home workspace.

Baker Residential builds luxury townhomes and single-family homes in highly desirable locations in North Carolina, New York, and New Jersey. Many of our floor plans incorporate home office space. Contact us to find the home that fits your life and your work styles.