Intentional Home Office Design
Intentional home office design starts with a practical assessment of what you have to work with and where you want to work. The flexible work option took a significant leap with many businesses now opting to continue this amenity making working from home permanent for certain positions. Allocating a dedicated workspace at home will give you a much more grounded and focused experience.
As part of a global flex working team of high achievers, you will no doubt notice some changes in the office on your next visit. Businesses are stepping it up to hold your attention and lure you back for team initiatives. Trending heavily are hospitality-inspired destination design concepts that alter the way the office aligns with the future of work. Of course, with careful planning, you can also flex work in different areas of your house, just like you can in the office.
Define a workstyle that blends with your home design. A setup that encourages focus, organization, workflow, and comfort will keep you productive. For the minimalist design lover, a monochromatic home office might be best. For the maximalist, a home office drenched in color is more likely to inspire a cheerful, steady workflow.
SETTING THE STAGE
Comfort is paramount wherever you work. For your day-to-day quality of life and your overall health. Working from home gives you the freedom to invest in your personal well-being with ergonomic seating that can provide ample support through various options like adjustable seat height, backrest, and headrest tilt. Explore desk options that fit the space and aesthetic you want, including adjustable height options.
Your intentional home office design should fit your personal home decor style, and allow you to incorporate storage solutions that fit how you live. Plan for concealed storage that keeps your office supplies out of sight, yet within easy reach, plus shelves to hold books, photographs, or personal mementos. Get creative with concealed filing if you need to store paperwork. Consider these basics that fit into your home design aesthetic:
- Natural Lighting is typically ideal. Provide added lighting for cloudy days, as well as early mornings or late nights. Task lighting options come in many sizes and styles, some of which include built-in dimmers so that you are able to adjust the brightness according to your personal preference.
- Finishes & Materials for 2023 incorporate warm wood and black iron. Wood is being incorporated in a myriad of ways, from home office furniture to floors, shelving, walls, and trim. Wood elements are a wonderful way to add warmth and coziness to the metal finishes that are often used in home office spaces, creating a beautiful balance.
- Set A Background for Video Calls: Set up an intentional background for video calls and conferences. Make sure you take into consideration that outside vendors may not know you work from home. Avoid a furniture arrangement that places a window behind you, as that will over-expose you in any video and make it difficult to get a clear image. If your workspace is part of a larger, multi-functional room, consider a partition to maintain your privacy – and keep any daily clutter out of sight and out of mind.
CURATING INSPIRATION
Most flex workers will return to the office during specific intervals. You could utilize the company’s return-to-work strategy to inspire motifs to keep you connected via art and art effects within your home office workspace. But if you are working in a space tucked into a nook somewhere in your home and open to view, keeping it simple is the best strategy. Embedding the colors and furniture design into your existing decor will make work seem less invasive to your personal space. Style stories blended with your professionalism can create some exciting results for your work zone:
- Unconventional Desking: Most home offices trend towards smaller desks with more space to move around on calls. The resimercial aesthetic encourages a relaxed lounge space and clear floor space, abandoning the idea of the massive ‘old school’ desk.
- Set The Stage: Careful space planning is the key to a great home office. If you love the idea of a power desk, placing it in the center of the room as you walk in will make quite a statement. Floating a desk in the middle of the room creates a great visual flow. Just make sure the electrical plan allows you to keep unsightly wires out of the way.
- Storied Spaces infuse your home office with personality. A home office that speaks to the people who live in the space is so important and never goes out of style. You may have given up an art studio or a music room for this space but the touch of a guitar, a reading corner, personal artwork, and personal photography really create a vibe.
- Go Dark! Sometimes opting for a dark color palette can make a home office more cozy and inviting. Dark walls provide you with the opportunity to see the computer screen without glare and control light much better. A desk in a cozy dark library creates a great screen scene for both work, focus, and elegance. If you will be doing frequent Zoom meetings, you could align your office with a home theater room and utilize the wall-mounted TV for these calls. Just be mindful of your background.
- Repurposing large closets, a kitchen pantry space, a foyer space, or other underused nooks can work for a unique vertical home office setup. A simple swap to a sliding barn door, a glass pantry door, and a great wall color + accent fabric can create the perfect office space tucked away like a little jewel box.
- Shop Pre-owned! You’d be surprised what you can discover through liquidation furniture! Our showroom has many odd pieces and unique items that find their way to us.
Do some research online for intentional home office design inspiration. Don’t be afraid to use wallpaper to add a punch of pattern + color. Measure well for the best-fit options you will discover via liquidations. Investing in an ergonomic office chair will make your work from home experience. Our showroom has plenty of options to get you on the right track. Visit our Home Office Workspaces vision board for more ideas.
VISIT OUR SHOWROOM for some great home office items for your home office design upgrade. Ergonomic chairs are frequently available for you to take home with you. Come see us or contact our sales team for guidance at 512-448-3769 or experts@officefurniturenow.com
