9 simple tips for styling your home office workspace

Transform your home office into a wonderful working space with these simple tips, office furniture recommendations and a splash of your own homegrown creativity.

Whether you’re working from home part time, full time or for the foreseeable future, take the best tips on how to spruce up your home workstation.

1 – FIRST, FIX UP YOUR OFFICE FURNITURE

The last thing you want when you’re spending time working from home is to be uncomfortable. So, is it time to bring in a new office chair or replace a tired table with a modern office desk?

Mix up the styles in your interior by matching new furniture with old, or painting and reupholstering the most comfortable chairs in the office.

A stylish executive office chair and an old fashioned table can also pair brilliantly.

It’s not technically office furniture, but make sure you also have a working webcam and a decent office screen for keeping in touch with your colleagues.

You never know when you might be pulled into a virtual meeting.

 

2 – STORAGE DOESN’T HAVE TO BE STANDARD

Think about storing lever-arch files and documents you need but rarely read – in re-purposed wooden crates or an even ottoman.

A blanket box gives you a nice flat surface to display personal items. You can even paint the chest in a bold colour to add an accent to your room.

This way you’re giving your home office a very personal touch.

3 – FRESHEN UP YOUR FILING

Try using bright, patterned wallpaper to cover your files and folders and give them a makeover.

The rejuvenated files will make an eye-catching feature of your office shelves or bookcase. If you’re more old fashioned though, opt for a sturdy wooden filing cabinet instead.

It’ll still keep everything in one place.

Whatever you go for, match with some coordinating desk accessories and you’ll soon revive your home office without breaking the bank.

 

4 – USE THE BACK OF YOUR DOOR

If you have a work from home job already, then you might’ve already figured this one out.

But if a home office set up is new to you, the back of the door is a prime space waiting to be used.

Try shoe organisers to stack your stationery; they’re a perfect fit for artists and designers that need a place to keep all their pens, pencils and stationery accessories without taking up shelf space that might be better used for portfolios.

But there are so many other uses: cables, batteries, the list is endless.

5 – PICK A THEME FOR YOUR SURROUNDINGS

Believe it or not, creativity sometimes works best when it’s accompanied by a plan.

If you want an office that looks like it’s been put together rather than thrown, think about what you want your workspace to look like beforehand.

Is there a period style you really like, for example the 1920s or 30s?  Are you a fan of certain colours or shades?

If you’re stuck for ideas, there’s some great inspiration on social media.

If you took a photo of your new office and showed it to someone, what would you want them to think about you and your sense of style?

6 – MIND YOUR MISE EN PLACE

Mise en place ‘means everything in its place’ – it’s all about organisation. Once you’ve nailed your home based theme, think about how you’re going to use it.

While you might love an antique chair, is it comfortable to sit at? Yes, you’ve found some great office shelves but can you easily reach them?

Be inspired by the opportunities to make your home office beautiful, but don’t sacrifice practicality when you’re using the space to earn money.

 

7 – HAVE AN ART TO ART

To give your office a look that says ‘this is my space’, decorate it with a wide range of handmade prints and original pieces.

Etsy is a great place to shop for this, especially if you’re buying on a budget.

If you’re interested in something that’s a little more of a statement, try Saatchi Art, where you can buy original paintings for a few hundred up to several thousand pounds.

 

8 – PLANTS FOR PERSONALITY

You might not be green-fingered, but you could be green-minded. Indoor plants can help soften the most sterile space.

Look for pot plants that suit the room you’re in – some need more light and warmth than others – and try to find varieties that bloom at different points in the year.

Best of all, office plants help us concentrate better and get more done.

9 – CHANGE IS AS GOOD AS A REST

A simple way to make your office feel fresh is to move things around.

Even the nicest office will start to feel a bit too familiar after enough time. If you have pictures on the walls, then why not re-position them?

Try moving books to different shelves or swapping the rugs from different rooms.