No room got a tougher workout in the past few years than the home office. And because of all the wear and tear, this space is probably ready for a little TLC. Plus, if you’re thinking of selling in the near future, potential buyers are certainly going to gauge this workspace with a critical eye.
Many of us continue to work from home, at least part of the time, which means the home office should be orderly, highly functional, and even attractive. But you don’t have to spend a ton when you go to rehab this spot. Here are five ways to give new life to your home office.
1. Update the chairs
Sure, you have a desk and some storage space in your home office, but a small nook for deep reading or taking an extended Zoom call is also a good update here. Simple woven or upholstered chairs are a low-cost way to achieve this goal. Home offices are increasingly becoming more of an essential than a luxury, so when designing this room, make sure it’s both functional as well as inspirational. To that end, add a stately potted tree near your workspace—and if you can position your seating by a window, you’ll have a view that may motivate you to greatness.
2. Swap out the bookcase
Filing cabinets are somewhat outdated, but if you love yours, it’s fine to keep. As for book storage, it may be an afterthought in your home office, but having some is a nice way to style the space as well as warm up the room. Use an antique case, rather than a commercial steel or plastic option. Repurpose a cabinet from another
room here or arrange neat stacks on the perimeter that are interspersed with end tables or a floor lamp.
3. Amp up the color
Potential buyers want to ooh and aah when they enter a space—and then they’ll envision themselves cooking in your fabulous kitchen or relaxing in that cozy book nook. Do the same with color in your home office; bright colors and patterns are definitely a must here. Hang framed fabric or prints to enliven your walls and banish the drab feeling some home offices emit.
4. Improve your lighting
Lighting on the ceiling casts awful shadows, and it doesn’t illuminate the room in any significant way. And yet, too many home offices rely on a single bulb from on high.
It’s a common mistake to think that the standard overhead lighting you have is enough to work by. The fix here is one you’re probably already using in the living and bedrooms: layers of lighting. Consider additional sources, like a desk-side table lamp, a fun floor lamp, or a pair of sconces to add to the ambiance. Calling an electrician to wire wall lights isn’t inexpensive, but there are battery operated, remote controlled light bulbs sold online, so you can mount the sconces wherever you like on a dime!
5. Add warmth with texture
Other rooms are often styled with soft throws casually draped about, but the home office tends to be left out in the cold. Fight this sterile vibe by bringing in texture, whether it is with materials like baskets or carpeting, or via faux fur.
We love the look of sheepskin on an office chair, since you know how lovely it’ll feel as you slog through those contracts and miscellaneous paperwork. Other fabric options include a velvet footstool or ottoman (you get bonus points if it also doubles as a storage unit), a tapestry on the wall, or flowing curtains on your windows.
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