Home Office Designs to Match your Working Style
What does your workday look like? Are you a restless, break-the-rules sort of creative? A headphones-on, slip-into-work-mode coder? Or a team-playing, always-in-a-meeting executive?Home office designs for creative work
There are two kinds of creative home office designs - One is messy and cluttered, and the other is clean and organized. For some people, a disordered working environment can stimulate innovative thinking. For others, a clean space is like a blank canvas that allows ideas to flow distraction-free. There’s no right or wrong, so go with whichever feels more you. In both cases though, you can club your home office package with a rug to add a splash of color, or a touch of coziness. While we encourage ergonomic seating, you can place a bright bean bag away from the desk to sink into occasionally to block out distractions or take a break. Studies show plants and natural light are great creativity boosters, so you may want to consider that too. Creative home office designs rarely leave the walls bare. You can decorate the wall behind your computer with abstract artwork, landscapes, or a quote to inspire you. On the wall toward the side, you can install a whiteboard or corkboard to brainstorm on. You’re free to edit this layout to suit your personal liking.The messy creative home office setup
If you’re the messy creative type, choose a spacious area that has plenty of light and hopefully a view. Here, pair a large desk in any color or pattern of your choice, with an easily adjustable ergonomic chair, so you can let that restless energy flow. You’ll want a big table to comfortably hold all your stuff, and the space around is to allow you to walk when you feel like it. If space is an issue in your home, get a height-adjustable desk so you can switch between sitting and standing to match your body’s rhythm. Clutter will work for you, but only if it comprises everything that has a reason to be there.- For work, you’ll need your devices - a laptop or desktop computer, drawing tablet, camera, phone, and/or headphones. You’ll also need a lamp you can turn on without leaving your desk.
- For focus, you can get a stress ball, a doodling notebook, your planner and stationery.
- And to make the space more comfortable, place plant-life, artwork, or a family picture. You may also bring your morning coffee, or a job-related resource (like color books, worksheets, inspiration, etc).
The organized creative home office setup
To do good work, creative workers use tons of tools. All your stuff is important and it all needs to be within arm’s reach while you work, so you don’t have to pause while you’re in the flow. For an organized creative home office, we recommend a small-to-medium desk in a neutral color with built-in drawers, paired with a comfy chair, and a file cabinet, desk organizer, or bookshelf depending on your space and style. If space is at a premium, stick to a small desk with built-in drawers and storage underneath.- Place only your computer and a notebook or planner on your desk. Use the rest of the space for things you’ll need in the moment, like a coffee mug or drawing tablet.
- Sort everything else into storage, categorized in any way you like. Our personal favorite is to categorize based on frequency of usage - what you use more often goes in the top drawer, and what you use rarely goes further away.
- Set a routine to always clear up before and after you get to work.