Office decor can quickly become an afterthought when it comes to home decorating. Since it’s a private space — often used by just one person — it can feel pointless to spend too much money decorating your home office.
But as Erin Gates knows, getting your office space right is crucial. Everything from lighting, to seating, to color can impact how much you get done in a day. We worked with Erin to give her new Boston-based office for Erin Gates Design and Elements of Style a little upgrade. We love how she used some of our classic office favorites — like our Daily System and Nash Swivel Chair — with a few unexpected decorative twists to show off her own style.
Read on to see more photos, plus get her expert tips to turn your office into a working wonderland.
Photos by Sarah Winchester
Featured in this office: Nash Leather Swivel Chair, Clift Glass Table Lamp, Silver Hammered Tray, Geode Bookends, Daily System.
1. When furnishing a home office, make sure you consider non-office specific furniture as a resource — small dining tables make great desks and dining chairs are a comfy (and pretty) alternative to desk chairs.
2. Organization is the most essential part of a well-functioning home office, so be sure to utilize as many storage pieces as you think you will need. This includes file cabinets, dressers, drawers, baskets, and shelving. Skimping on this only leads to clutter, so assess all your “stuff” before buying furniture.
3. Make sure to decorate in a way that makes you happy and motivated! A bold wall color or rug, a large pin board for inspirational imagery, and pretty window treatments do a lot to help you stay focused and inspired on your tasks.
4. Good lighting is key to a comfortable work environment, so have multiple levels of lighting including ceiling fixtures, table lamps, and a floor lamp or sconces. And don’t just stick to desk lamps — if your desk is big enough, dress it up with a gorgeous glass or ceramic lamp in a pretty color!
5. Always hang your drapes high to the ceiling, not right above the window! This rule applies to any room of the house, since it makes your ceilings look higher. Make sure your curtains are the proper length, too — just kissing the floor is preferred. A seamstress or even your dry cleaner may be able to hem panels for you in no time.
6. In your office or other high traffic areas in the home, use decorative trays to contain clutter or separate projects from each other. That way you can just move your work from one room another easily.
7. Bookshelves are a space that are ideal for pretty displays but often get incredibly cluttered. Buy matching baskets to conceal items you don’t need visible and invest in a few sets of decorative book ends to keep your books in check. Mix in small art and sculptural objects to complete the vignette!
Need more home office tips? See some of our favorites here.
Read more of Erin’s design tips on her blog, Elements of Style.
I would hate to sit in an ugly office. That’s a beautiful office and I’m sure it makes working so much better! Thanks for sharing office decorating tips!