How to Decorate & Personalize your Boring Home Office

Guest Blog #236, Entry #736, November 1, 2011

Creating a home office space is similar to decorating other rooms in the house in that you want it to be both functional and beautiful.  But the purpose of the room is not comfort and relaxation, unlike most of the other rooms in your home.  This space is meant for work, whether that means running a small business out of your house or simply keeping personal papers (such as bills and tax documents) in order.  So it must be tailored to suit your particular needs on that front.  However, it may also be used by several family members, requiring you to create more than one workspace.  So here are just a couple of decor tips that will help you to arrange for an office space that meets your many needs.

Turn your boring home office into an inspiring area

Image via: Home Base Design

Size, space and who will use it

For starters, you need to think about who will be using the space.  While some couples relegate use of the office to adults in the household, others want their kids to use it as a space for doing crafts or homework (in order to keep these items off the kitchen table).  If your office is small, you should think about setting up desks in the kids’ bedrooms in order to give them each a dedicated workspace, and then split the office with your spouse only.  If you have a larger room to work with, consider dividing the room into two zones; one for adults and one for kids.

Plan out your office space for function and practicality

Image via: Dag Dig House

Of course, you also need to consider what you are using the office for.  If you just want to hide your computer from the eyes of visitors and you pretty much only go into the office to pay bills, then you needn’t keep the kids out.  However, if you use the office in a work-from-home capacity, you may need to keep it clean and tidy in order to effectively manage your workflow and even host clients for meetings.  This would probably necessitate a kid-free zone.

Planning out the space

Now that you’ve assessed the size of your space and how it will be used, you can start filling it with all the items you’ll need to make it functional, including furnishings and equipment.  You need to make your own personal checklist, but the basics are desks and chairs, filing cabinets, shelving, and of course, your trusty computer or laptop (and a printer).  Think about mapping the room on graph paper and cutting out furniture shapes to scale to see how to best arrange items before you actually get them in the room.  In most cases you want to try to set the desk to face either a door or a window.  Studies have shown that this puts people at ease.

Personalize your home office

Image via: Home Decorating Idea Spictures

Personalizing with color and decor

Once you’ve got the basics, it’s time for a little fun.  Since your furnishings are probably neutral you can add some colorful accessories.  You could use a beautiful rug as the base and then add photo frames, artwork, and even bins and desk accessories in complimentary colors.  You might even consider a bright paint color to keep your creative energy high.  And make sure to include ample lighting (although you should probably avoid fluorescent lights if possible).  While furnishings must be functional, first and foremost, you have a lot of leeway when it comes to adding accessories to your space to give the room your own personal flair.

Evan Fischer is a writer for http://www.Maryland-Injury-Lawyer.com/ , a law firm that protects the livelihood of clients who have suffered from an injury due to another person’s negligence.

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