Home office decor | Home Office Base

Choosing how to decorate your home is easy, however, deciding how to set-up your Home Office can be challenging. Believe it or not, how you design your work space is directly linked to your frame of mind, thus affecting your overall success and productivity. Right now, you may be wondering to yourself, ‘how should I go about decorating my Home Office?’

How can I decorate my Home Office? Since our work is greatly influenced by our surroundings, it’s important to make an office space look warm and inviting, while maintaining a professional vibe. Paint colors, furniture placement and decorative items all play a role in creating a positive working environment while improving productivity.

Now that you know how well we work is greatly shaped by our environment, let’s take a closer look at this in more detail below. We will discuss how to make a Home Office look both fun and professional, what colors to choose to maximize productivity and how to decorate smaller work spaces, such as cubicles (for those who brought the concept back home…). We will also explore the concept of ‘feng shui’ and how it creates a positive working environment.

So, if you’re ready to learn more about decorating your Home Office to increase your productivity, then let’s get started!

How Can I Professionally Decorate My Home Office?

It is important to have an office that looks both professional and sophisticated. After all, we’re all adults here! Decorating a work space in a classy, yet welcoming manner, will help both staff and visitors feel comfortable and at ease in their surroundings. Some simple, yet effective, ways to do this include the following:

Keep in mind that ‘less is more’ – you don’t need a lot to look put together, keep things as neutral as possible but add a few unique touches to let your personal style shine through!
Decide on a color scheme and stick with it – purchase office supplies, such as staplers, organizers and bulletin boards in specific colors which exude professionalism, including red, navy blue and forest green
Get the furniture right – purchase ergonomic chairs for staff and stream-lined couches for visitors in chic colors, such as beige, grey and black.
Focus on the lighting – along with standard overhead lighting, add a few table lamps to add a touch of class to your work space.
Add a pop of color – artwork on the walls is a great way to inject style, for example, abstract paintings work well in offices with a neutral vibe and a clean, modern feel.
Choose the right flooring – carpet is a warm addition to any office, so is a classic wood floor with some area rugs – remember to keep the colors neutral and patterns/prints to a minimum.
Bring books that relate to your business – use a bookshelf or a coffee table to house reading material that is professional and inspirational, such as non-fiction works that focus on success in your field.

How Do I Make My Home Office Look Fun and Welcoming?

While an office should represent a high level of professionalism, it should also provide staff (if you do have them in your Home Office) and visitors with a sense of ease and comfort. A fun, relaxed working environment helps boost morale. It also breeds creativity while contributing to a higher level of productivity.

Some great ideas to make your Home Office space look fun and inviting include the following:

Encourage personal items – allow staff the opportunity to decorate their work areas with personal belongings, such as family photos, children’s artwork or a favorite painting.
Make it colorful – bright, bold shades on the walls or in the furnishings adds vibrancy and promotes positive energy to any office space.
Create a relaxing break area – provide an area to unwind and recharge with comfortable chairs, some game boards and a coffee machine. Why not go to the living room? Well: you are still working in your Home Office, so no, don’t to the living room or anywhere else and break the work momentum. A small area to decompress a bit, not drift completely and get absorbed by “Home activities and duties” and never go back to work. Also, if you do have staff, do you really want them wandering in your house during work time?
Add some greenery – interior plants (real, rather than artificial) are a healthy addition to any work area, offering visual appeal while cleaning the air of toxins.
Stock a bookshelf – Set up a space with some fun reading material to encourage creativity, alleviate stress and keep the Home Office from looking (and feeling) too serious or even boring.

How Can I Decorate My Office With No Windows?

In an ideal world, we would all have spacious offices with big, bright windows surrounding us. However, if natural light is an issue where you have set up your Home Office, there are ways to decorate that will boost your energy and improve productivity. These include the following:

Choose light paint colors – the best way to brighten a room is to choose the right colors, such as warm, soft shades of white, beige, gray, blue or even blush pink, that create the illusion of more space.
Adjust the lighting – fluorescent lights make a room look dull and dark so opt for a multitude of lamps placed throughout the area to create a warm glow, as opposed to harsh, overhead lighting.
Create the illusion of a window – if you don’t have a window, fake it, by adding large, light, airy drapes to a bare wall that go all the way to floor – this creates the sense of more space in a room.
Use mirrors throughout – a well-placed mirror can make a room appear larger and mimic a window as well, by expanding the space and creating a sense of depth – they also reflect light from lamps making the space feel warmer and brighter.
Add natural elements – plants help make any space feel bigger and brighter, however, in the absence of natural light, choose artificial varieties or ones that do well in low light such as snake plants, prayer plants, ferns or palms.

How Can I Decorate My Home Office Cubicle?

Some have set up their Home Office with cubicles. I’ve seen this only once with a friend who works with his wife in their Home Office… Decorating a cubicle can be challenging especially with a smaller space, however, there are some easy and fun to do it, as long as you follow a few simple guidelines. These include the following:

Keep it professional – your desk should be neat and organized at all times, with your keyboard, phone, pens and paper within arm’s reach.
Express yourself (but within reason) – try not to cover every square inch of space with pictures or personal items and leave the wallpaper at home!
Stay organized – keep a few storage bins or a small shelf in your work area to avoid overflow into shared spaces.
Add some color – brighten your day and lift your spirits by adding color to your work area, such as a graphic design print, a vase of flowers or some pens and paper in fun, vibrant colors.
Incorporate warm lighting – add a lamp, even if your cubicle resides under fluorescent lighting, to create warmth and improve your reading, writing and computer work.

How Can I Feng Shui my small Home Office?

Feng shui is a principle of Chinese origin and based on a system of laws that govern spatial arrangement in relation to the flow of energy. A proper ‘feng shui’ office can help you feel more inspired and productive. It can also enhance creativity and promote discipline. The 6 essential guidelines to follow include the following:

Clear away clutter – keep your Home Office, restrooms and any visiting/waiting areas neat and tidy, do not leave papers lying around and keep table tops and other surfaces clean
Use appropriate artwork and imagery – surround yourself with pictures and images that inspire you, such as beautiful flowers, soothing nature scenes or framed quotes/mottos.
Balance and harmonize the environment – elements such as wood, earth, metal, fire and water should be represented somehow in your work environment, whether in the way of pictures, décor items, a fireplace or an indoor water feature.
Choose suitable colors – shades such as soft yellow or pale gold, sandstone or earth tones, pale green or blue green are all appropriate colors that promote clarity, mental focus and productivity.
Incorporate stress relievers – add mood music, a running water fountain or an essential oil diffuser to create a sense of peace and calm while reducing stress.

What are Good Colors for an Office?

There is a direct connection between color and behavior. Certain shades can have a profound effect on productivity and creativity in the workplace. It is important to incorporate these hues into the wall colors, artwork and décor items in an office to enhance the overall mood. The 5 best include the following:

Blue – use it as a primary color in an office to improve focus and concentration
Red – great as an accent color in office areas that demand physical exertion
Yellow – use yellow to stimulate creativity, positivism and happiness among staff
Green – easy on the eyes, this color promotes a sense of peace and harmony is a work space
Grey – creates a modern, sophisticated vibe in an office

How Can I Decorate My Home Office?