Home Office Ideas Based on Your Space
It might seem obvious, but one of the best places to start when you’re decorating and organizing a space is by asking yourself a very simple question. What are my needs? If you work from home, it’s important to give yourself a dedicated area or room (if you’re able) to get things done.
If you don’t have a separate room, then at least find a corner that you can call your own. If you only need your desk for paying bills a few times a month, you won’t need as much furniture or storage. Thinking through what you need from your space saves you from overbuying. Then pull together inspiration: paint colors, a standing desk, an office chair or ergonomic chair and desk accessories to create a mood board.
What’s Your Home Office Organizing Style?
There’s no right way to organize. The system you put in place needs to work for you. Here are two ways to organize your home office: tucked away or displayed. If you don’t want to see any papers, tools, or materials when you’re done with work, you might appreciate furniture and accessories that hide these items, like a filing cabinet or a desk with drawers. If you like to display your items but want them to look neat and orderly, then your needs will be different. Have an idea which you prefer before you buy anything.
How Do I Choose an Office Chair?
It depends on how much you’re at your desk but investing in a quality office chair is necessary if you work from home. The alternative is leg, back, and neck pain — no one wants that. Here’s what to look for:
- Adjustable features where the height, seat, and armrests can be changed to suit your needs.
- Wheels can help you easily move around but aren’t necessary. Depending on your floor type (hardwood), you might not want wheels. Wheels work great with a low pile carpet or a durable wood or tile.
- When you sit at your desk you want your feet to be resting on the floor or a footrest, thighs parallel to the ground, shoulders relaxed and your arms resting comfortably on top of your armrests.
- If you’re sitting for long periods of time, consider a chair made with mesh, it has better airflow.
A Desk With Drawers, or No?
Choosing the right shape and style desk for a home office could be the difference between working at it or having it become a dumping ground for papers and old mail. An important decision is how much desk storage you need. If you’re the kind of person who likes their desk clear, invest in a desk with drawers. If you have minimal supplies and need your desk to work double duty, sometimes a sleek, modern option with no drawers might be best. Other questions to ask yourself while you shop: do I have enough surface area to work, can I adjust the height, and will your ergonomic desk chair fit underneath the desk.
Do You Want a Standing Desk?
Eight hours is a long time to sit. While it’s important to take breaks, get up and stretch, it’s even better to have the option to stand during the workday. Enter the standing desk. Not only are you burning more calories, but in some studies standing desks even helped with productivity and back pain.
If you’re not into standing for all eight hours of your workday, find a desk that easily adjusts so you can raise or lower it as needed. The flexibility a standing desk offers is unparalleled. Cost shouldn’t be a prohibitive factor. If you’re willing to go down in size, there’s an affordable option for every budget.
Freestanding Shelf v. Desk Hutch
Mostly a style decision, when it comes to shelving it’s all about using vertical space effectively. If the room is small, a desk shelf, since it rests on top of the desk, won't take up any more valuable space. Wall Mounted Shelves are also a great option since they take up little to no space and allow for a nice decorative touch. However, if you have a lot to store, especially heavy books, be cautious about how much a desk shelf can hold. Also, some people like the area above their desk to be clear to help them focus. If you have a ton of books and supplies, consider a standalone shelf. Especially if you have a whole room dedicated to your office. It’s an easy way to stay organized and see everything you have right in front of you. If you want to limit visual clutter, purchase storage bins, baskets, or magazine holders to help corral some items.
Do I Need a Filing Cabinet?
With digital storage available it’s smart to eliminate as much paper clutter as possible. There's no need to hang on to old bank statements, utility bills, credit card statements, old pay stubs, and many other documents that you have digital copies of. For the important papers that you need to keep organized, a filing cabinet that locks is ideal. Built to perfectly hold hanging file folders, it makes staying organized especially easy. Plus, if it has a lock, it keeps sensitive information safe and secure.
Choose from a classic metal look or try to match your furniture with a wood file cabinet. If you go for a wood cabinet try to match the wood to your existing wood furniture, pulling too many wood finishes into a room makes a space feel chaotic and mismatched. Since there are so many style options, it’s easy to find a version that will complement your desk.
What Type of Desk Organizer?
If you’re a visual person, a desk organizer keeps all the essentials where you can see them while organizing them in a way that’s easy to maintain long term. They’re especially helpful if you have limited drawer space or lack of space in general. A plastic, bamboo or metal desk organizer can sit right on the counter and hold your office essentials while keeping the surface clutter-free. Some versions even hang on the wall, keeping a desk or counter clear. Based on your space and your style, choose the one that meets your storage needs.
Feeling Handy? DIY a Desk.
If your home lacks the space for a home office, some basic DIY skills can convert a corner or wall into a fun and functional home office. Depending on how much room you need, use a floating shelf, a fold-down desk or floating cabinets to create a nontraditional workspace. To ensure a secure attachment that will handle the weight, use anchors attached to studs in your wall. Don’t waste a single inch of vertical space either. Use your power drill to attach simple pegboard sheeting to the wall. Add metal hooks, shelves and baskets meant for pegboard storage to customize your work area.
Wait, Did You Add Unexpected Desk Accessories?
Work is serious business, but you should still personalize your office space with desk accessories and office décor. Choose playful, patterned removable wallpaper or hang a mini chandelier. Your office should reflect your personality and feel like a place you want to spend time. Outfitting it with throw pillows in your favorite colors, hanging artwork and including pictures of your family, friends and pets all make it feel more enjoyable. Speaking of pets, if you work from home, you know that pets want to be where you are. So it never hurts to include a pet bed for your furry friends too. They’re sure to be your new favorite coworker.
Staying organized starts with the right foundation. Choosing helpful products and putting thoughtful and consistent decluttering and organizing techniques in place will all help you feel calmer and more productive.
