A Home Office That's Chic, Colorful and Strategic - Cottage style decorating, renovating and entertaining Ideas for indoors and out

Working from home has many advantages, the most significant being saving on travel expenses and eliminating the stressful commute. However, having a functional and well thought-out home office is essential for productivity and keeping you organized.

A well-organized home office can also be stylish and beautiful. After all, you will spend the majority of your day working in the space. My goal with this home office makeover was to create my ideal workspace without breaking the bank. With a mix of IKEA pieces, a new desk, custom seating and window panels, I created my perfect home office.

These are my biggest takeaways for creating a beautiful and functional home office.

Locate the Best Space

One of the most important parts of creating a functional home office is selecting the right space in your home for it. The best space will energize you and make going to work fun. I’m fortunate in that I have converted our sunroom into my home office. It is bright, spacious and my version of the perfect office.

white desk with flower arrangement — Where you place your desk depends on what will offer maximum productivity. If your view inspires your work, orient your desk toward a window. If you need tools and supplies situate it to create an efficient and easy reach.

Paint the Walls a Color You Love

Choose a color that inspires you and gets you moving! For some people, that means bright and cheery. Do you need a more calming environment? Then stick with neutral colors; soft pastels walls can have the same effect. I went with an antique white on the walls and custom bench but added lots of color with the window panels and pillows.

creamy wall color in a home office — A creamy neutral wall color allows you to go fun and right with your accents.

Invest In a Great Desk and Chair

Your desk and chair should be functional and comfortable. Consider your workflow before selecting your desk. Do you need a large work surface? Think of the items that you need at your fingertips. Do you want drawers for extra storage? Your office chair should be beautiful as well as comfortable.

gren upholstered office chair — Your desk chair should be comfortable and ergonomic but also a reflection of your style– in many ways the chair is the coral point of a home office.

Be Creative with Your Storage

Invest in inexpensive bookcases. They are the building blocks of any organization system! I love using cube storage organizers to keep things neat and tidy. It’s also an easy way to add warmth and texture to the space. Use stylish enamel boxes, hat boxes and kitchen containers to store your essentials such as paper clips, binder clips, sticky notes. Use wicker baskets to hold printer paper, labels, extra ink and scrap paper. For small desk items, use drawer dividers.

small shelving unit styled with books and art — Even small bookcases can offer big solutions. This small cubby is tucked beside a window seat and offers shelving for storage and display.

Don’t Forget the View

Place your desk where you can stare at something that motivates you. A window would be ideal but if that isn’t your case, place your desk by a pretty piece of art.

book of flowers on a romantic desk — Give yourself an inspiring view. Even if you can’t face a window, surround yourself with art or be sure to add beautiful things to you desktop amid your supplies. The visual stimulation will help your productivity and creativity.

Lighting

Make sure your office has plenty of light. Often times you’ll need more than one light source. Invest in pendant light overhead to compliment or enhance your task lighting and desk lamps. This extra illumination not only adds function, it adds extra style to your office.

alabaster desk lamp beside a window bench — A desk lamp illuminates this window seat in the office and adds a luxe color and finish to the room.

Make it Personal

Give your office a personal touch by displaying a few favorite photos or pretty decorative accessories. Surround yourself with the things that stimulate your creativity and mind. It should feel comfortable and enjoyable.

foraged flora book and pearls on a desktop — Beautiful books are a great way to infuse your office with curated personal style. Add whatever speaks to you and helps you enjoy the space.

Janet Collazo shares tips for entertaining, home styling and cooking at her blog, Rosemary & Thyme. Stop by for more inspiration with a floral, vintage twist!

Looking for more home office inspiration? Check out this post on inspiring clutter free workspaces.

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