Rethinking home office

Who knew one day our little home office will turn into our permanent workstation? But that's the new world we live in now! In today's world, the horizontal space in our homes is highly valuable but not all of us have a dedicated room to turn into a home office. Which is why I wanted to share a few tips and tricks to help you create that sense of a dedicated and fun work area, no matter how constrained your home situation might be.

1. Think vertically!

 

A work area is much more than just a desk. It's a space where you have your laptop, files & paperwork that you need to refer to while working. And if you are anything like me, add a glass of water, an endless cup of tea and maybe a snack too :). For all that (and more), instead of using the precious surface area of the desk, use the space above. Like in the photo above that shows our client's work area; we used a ladder shelf desk that provided us with some space to store desk accessories as well as items that are referred to almost on a daily basis by our client. The best part about a desk like this is you can use the shelf to even accessorize and make it a part of the living room. 

2. Versatility is the key

Here is another project of ours in San Francisco where we have the home office set up in the living room. We kept the desk closer to the sash windows which brings in a lot of uninterrupted natural light in the living room. Because the living room has a giant-library feel to it, our home office chair also serves as a reading chair, plus you can always turn it around to make it a part of the living room for your extra guests :).  

3. Use vibrant hues

Your home is a reflection of you, so why keep the home office deprived of your personality? Make it bright and inviting, especially inviting for yourself. As an example, in this project of ours, the home office was part of the master bedroom. We used a corner nook to create a little special office space and decided to frame the area with a neutral tropical wallpaper. Our client's love for plants came right through. We've used the natural lighting to bring in all that gorgeous light and made it lively with a ton of pretty plants on the shelves. 

4. Pay attention to your background (and what's in front)!

Especially now, with so many video calls we are doing on a daily basis, your background needs to be as crisp as your desk. Whether your background is bold or simple, keep it stylish and clean. And if possible, have natural light streaming in from the front or side so it brightens up your face on the video and makes you look good :) . One important thing to remember is to not have clutter in the background. There is a fine line between maximalism and clutter, make sure you don't cross that line :). 

I hope these tips help you make your workspace better and more enjoyable.

---

---

Also in Blog