Home Office Design Tips That Break The Mold

Working from home is not only practical in today’s gig economy, it’s also one of the best ways to liberate oneself from the corporate grind. When you are your own boss, you are in charge of life. There are also some practical realities of taking complete control of your professional life. One such concern is how to design a home office.

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For some who work from home, this might not be a concern at all. You might be happy working in pyjamas from bed in the morning. Home-based professionals, however, may prefer a slightly more formal approach. A well-designed office can function as a great background for those conference calls. It could be a great place to meet with clients if the need ever arises. More importantly, a home office that reflects the alternative lifestyle would inspire you during working hours.

Is it possible to design a home office that functions as one but doesn’t look like a drab corporate cubicle?

Let’s check out some design ideas:

Buy Comfortable Furniture

At the home office, you can work from a sofa or a beanie bag. Replace the standard table and chair by investing instead on furniture that makes you comfortable. Not only would this keep you well-cushioned from discomfort, non-standard furniture would also completely topple the usual looks for home offices.

Depending on the available space you have, you can consider including standing desks, Japanese tables and seating mats, comfy rugs, or recliners with a laptop table in your home office. The more shocking the item, the more nonconformist value it would add to the design.

Save Energy with Natural Light

Stay true to green principles with smart design choices for your home office. Does the room have tiny windows that don’t allow natural light to pour in? Change this now to save money on energy bills and to make your home office shiny and bright. Local products, like Kitchener windows, can keep the overall prices down.

Big windows are the best for home offices. Natural light can enhance interior design and make spaces look bigger. It’s also great for your health. Replacing the frames can be too expensive for some. However, if your search locally, such as looking up ‘windows in Guelph’, you can save up on prices. It would be easier to customize the design to make the final outcome truly unique.

Let Your Kids Stay

The corporate culture is notorious for its lack of support for parents who are employees. How many offices offer childcare services during working hours? At the home office, you can live up to your values. If you are a parent, you can include your child’s well-being right in the décor.

Children can have their own play area near mommy or daddy as they work. Do dare to introduce the bright shades of childhood in the home office design. Consider placing a kiddie desk near yours, so your child can work alongside you.

Include a Pet Area

Working from home offers great benefits, but none more so than being able to stay close to beloved pets. Here, you can do something amazing that traditional offices never allow: include a cat tree or a doggie chair.

A seating or a play area would allow your pet to stay by you during work hours without necessarily disturbing you. If your cat keeps hopping on to your keyboard, include a cat tree in the home office. On the design aesthetic front, a pet area would be quite unconventional.

You can showcase your values and keep your pets comfortable with this particular design element.

The above are only some suggestions to design a home office that upends the notions of what an office should look like. The idea is to make you keep motivated and comfortable while you work.

What unique design characteristics or stylistic choices have you included to make your home office a place of your own? Share your tips, tricks and ideas in the comments section, and make sure to read through what others shared for some inspiration!