How to Create a Home Office For You.

Now more than any other time is a good moment to create a home office for yourself. We all find ourselves in this moment getting creative in our work environments, maybe because we have to but I want to inspire you to want to! I wanted to take time in this post to help you with some home office ideas!

You can create a home office virtually anywhere. Because of the nature of work today all most of us need is a great chair and a place to put our laptop. This frees up areas that we may not have thought of as being functional before!

What do you do for work?
Before you carve out an office space of your own think first about what kind of space you may need based on what you need to be doing!
-Do you just need a surface for your laptop?
-Do you have lots of paperwork you need to spread out and organize?
- Do you need a nice background and sound privacy to record your podcast?
Think about your past office layouts.
A great way to engage with a new space of your own is to think back on old office spaces you have occupied. Look back on what you may have loved or hated about work setups that you used use. These insights will help you creatively re-think your new space.
- Maybe you had a standing desk that you appreciated having in your own office, and you like that height.
- Maybe (because you are an introvert like me) you didn’t mind your cubicle walls *gasp* and you should be thinking about how you can create some privacy for your work in your home.
- Perhaps you never used the second monitor in your office and you could deal with just one screen?
A Fresh start!
The amazing thing about working from home is that you can really tailor this environment to your own productivity! Much like a strict business casual uniform, most offices don’t allow for the creature comforts you may want to be at your most productive. Now is the time to free your mind from any restraints you have in this area.
- Do you like to move around a lot and hate being trapped at a desk? Maybe you should switch out your desk chair for an exercise ball.
-Do you remember doing your best work in college while listening to blasting music? Now you can (as long as the rest of your house mates approve)!
- Maybe you love having your furry assistant near you when you work and you want to incorporate a cozy spot for them?

Now with this initial research in hand on to the fun part! Creating a workspace of your own including your desires and some fun stuff added in.

Here is a mood board of collected images of pieces that speak to me! Incorporating objects and art that inspire me!

4. Your own inspiration board.

I recommend gathering some inspiration images of how you want this space to feel. Check out this Pinterest board - office… to get you started!

You can also think about some of these design ideas or get my Interior Design Soul Styles Guide and see which combination of styles speaks directly to you:

For example.

Minimalism - save space, great for small spaces keeping it simple clean and open.

Transitional- light and bright a mix of traditional and modern vibes.

Midcentury- historical feeling, strong lines and thoughtful design.

Eclectic- found objects and treasures collected from travel.

*If you work in an industry where a physical inspiration board would be productive for you then you should get a tack up board for this process and hang it up!

Lets talk about practical matters now that we have a pretty picture of how we may want our new space to feel for us!

What about my home office desk?
We all (right now especially) are working with what we have. In regards to space, if possible I would recommend having at least three feet wide of desk room, but if all you use is your laptop you can get away with less than this!
What about shelves, storage and home office organization?
What do you need to have access to in your work? In my case I have inspirational magazines and books I like to keep on a bookshelf, and a pin board of what I’m working on currently.
Your chair!
Probably the most important aspect of your space. Do you already have your favorite chair. Make sure the one you find is upright and supportive for you.
Functionality.
It’s important to make sure that you have everything around you that you will need.
- Do you need a printer
- Is your internet strong in the space you are working
- Do you need a filing system
- Do you have access to outlets
-Are your cords organized so that you have access to everything you need?
- Are your cords hidden so that they are not in your way or distract from your space?
Lighting!
Just as important as your chair is your lighting. The best case scenario is having a setting by a window for natural light. If you do not have access to a window I would suggest having different levels of light. For example using your overhead canned lights for the room as well as either a floor lamp or desk lamp.

Now that you have thought about the vibe and the function of your space think about what you may already have in your home that can help you create what you have envisioned for yourself.

If you still need some pieces to create your environment I would suggest first looking at second hand options like Facebook Marketplace, Goodwill, and Salvation Army. Then you can use what you find there, and if your still have holes in your vision you can turn to retailers to find that perfect piece for you.

Now back to the fun part again. We now have the vibe we are looking for and we have analyzed what we physically need to get our work done, now we can focus on the details of what makes us happy.

I know for me that it is so important to surround myself with objects that I love. Little memories, art and books that inspire me to be my best self.

-If you are a plant lady, green it up! If plants give your energy and joy make sure to incorporate them in your space.

-If you are a writer make sure to have your favorite authors books to inspire you somewhere in your home office space.

-If you have a favorite place in the world that brings you peace and serenity maybe you should have a picture of that place near your desk.

These extra things can be anything at all, all they need is to resonate with you deeply.

If at the end of this article you are wondering how to functionally work with the space that you have to work with maybe you may want some specific help for your home office layout? Check out my services page to see if you may be a good fit for my design process I would love to help you out.

I would love to hear what things you absolutely need to be your best self in your home office space. Its these special elements that truly make it your own. Say hi to me here!

Thank you so much for reading I hope you liked it!

Love,

Catherine Rose