How to Design a Home Office Retreat

Wouldn't a perfect home office be a quiet retreat from your rambunctious husband and kids in the next room? Do you dream of your own peaceful sanctuary to work, read, write or contemplate?

First, find the quietest corner of your house... and keep reading to learn how to create a home office retreat of your own...

Photo by Ron McClenny on Unsplash

1. An Office Chair or Other Great Seating

Photo by Belo Rio Studio on Unsplash

You're planning to spend hours parked in your office chair, make sure it's a beautiful, ergonomically-correct, seat that creates comfort and is worth every dime! Some of my favorites are; The Herman Miller Aeron Chair from Design Within Reach, or the Herman Miller Mirra Chair from Design Within Reach. Both will help preserve a healthful posture while you work, regardless of your personal preferences or body type .

Photo by Joyce McCown on Unsplash

2. A Work Surface that... Works

It's important to decide how you want your work surface to function. Do you like to create or have a creative job that requires a durable, easily wipeable surface for paint, glue and scraps? A quartz product would be perfect for this. If you use a computer mouse and keyboard, and need to be positioned so that you do not develop wrist problems such as carpal tunnel, adjust your keyboard level so that your hands are slightly below your elbows. This could also mean mounting your work surface at the correct height for you, personally.

Photo by Paige Cody on Unsplash

3. Peace-inducing Storage & Filing Solutions

If you don't feel traditional filing cabinets are the most attractive pieces of furniture (and I would tend to agree with you), but you do need a spot to for all the papers you use frequently, try wall storage. Even magazine type racks, or children’s library-style display shelves, or even art storage rack drawers where you can see everything at first glance. 

If book cases are important, get deep set ones–deep enough that you don’t need to overstuff, and pretty enough that they’ll look great as a backdrop in your zoom conferences. Restoration Hardware has some nice options. And if you're using a guest room, trick out the closet with your own home office system.

4. Lighting that Actually Inspires You

Embrace natural light. Create a space for your desk closest to the windows. You could even place your desk parallel to the panes. This way,  you the peaceful and healthful benefits of natural light, and also a good reason to take a break every so often to take in the beautiful scenery.

5. Soft Elements for Comfort & Less Echo

To inspire calm, but also to create a functional space that will help you avoid echo-filled video calls, add an area rug, pillows, and drapery in calm, neutral colors and tones. A light pretty print will add to your feeling of contentment, and an addition of live greenery is like bringing the outside in. Plants are proven to make people happier (try it, I think you'll be happy you did)!

Courtesy NGO Fine Art

6. A Beautiful Backdrop (for those Zoom Calls!)

Consider your lighting and your backdrop for video conference calls. Conference technology like Zoom, pans out to allow your viewers to see the entire space behind you. Hang some artwork in the space, or even have fun and download a coveted living space from your favorite designer's site (with permission of course) to create your backdrop. You can even switch them out for different days and calls. Feel free to email me for design options and ideas for this!

5. Final Touches that Make You Smile

Bring in photos of your favorite people and places, and rotate then often.  Include items that represent your success, memes that make you laugh, even a preferred scent from a candle that makes you happy.

There are so many upsides to working from home -  better (hopefully) work-life balance, zero commute, and the ability to design a tranquil office you love! I have a current project for a client who is turning his HUGE closet (with a window) into a home office, stay tuned for updates!

Ready for a home office that doesn't feel like work? Contact us here and let's design your dream space!

Cheers,