Creating a home office space to meet your needs might seem like a daunting task, but it’s easier than you think. Many men and women are working from home, but you don’t want your home office to look like a man cave or kids’ playroom. However, you also don’t want it to be a boring space with no personality.
Your home office needs to be a peaceful, productive oasis where you can focus and infuse your feminine style. Accomplish this by:
- Finding the right location
- Utilizing form and function
- Opting for brightness
- Maximizing space
- Using art
Get inspired to decorate your space with these tips. Soon enough, you’ll have the office all of your girlfriends will envy!
Finding The Right Location
You know what they say, “location, location, location” and they are not just talking about finding the perfect home. When it comes to your home office space, you want to choose the right location. This isn’t a man cave. It’s your home office, so you want it bright, airy, and beautiful.
HGTV says to choose a location in your home away from busy areas. If you don’t have a spare room or are short on space, consider creating a space in your living room by using room dividers, indoor plants, and floor lamps. Many designers suggest placing your workstation near a window for the natural light and nice view. If a window seat is not an option in your home, you can hang a beautiful picture or painting above your desk.
Simply finding the perfect location gives you a blank canvas of possibilities. You will be able to showcase all the items you want, including beautiful art, kids’ drawings, indoor potted plants for greenery, and so much more.
Utilizing Form and Function
That clunky old desk with the heavy drawers is not doing you any favors. Upgrade your work area with office furniture that utilizes form and function. You don’t have to go with a masculine-looking, heavy desk. If you love color, choose a durable yet streamlined-looking desk in a color you love. The same goes for an office chair that matches the chic style of your space but gives you the lumbar support you need.
Your workspace needs to serve you and your work purpose but also be a reflection of you. As you try to figure out what you need readily available, consider your typical day and workflow. Ask yourself a few questions, such as:
- What items do you need readily available?
- Do you need to keep certain documents locked in cabinets or drawers?
- How large of a space do you have?
- Do you have an ergonomic chair, desk, keyboard, & other essentials?
- What is your personal style?
- Do you want your home office area to stand out or blend in with your home décor?
Opting for Brightness
Natural light is wonderful for adding a touch of brightness to any space, but sometimes, natural light might not be available such as during rainy days and evenings. There are other ways to spice up the brightness in your home office, too! For one thing, choose light colors for your walls.
Light, natural colors offer a perfect canvas for your space. They can make smaller spaces look larger, and won’t clash with colorful art pieces, rugs, or other décor. And being a woman, you want to use some of your favorite pieces that your partner may not like as much.
There is a rainbow of colors to choose from. You might prefer colors like orange, light green, muted blue, or lavender purple to help you focus and perform at your best. Plus, you can coordinate a cozy blanket and a soft chair pillow with your newly painted space. Pulling in pops of color here and there will allow you to add your feminine touch to a very important space.
Maximizing Space
While maximizing storage space sounds boring and not so feminine at first glance, you will be glad you took the time to do it. You don’t want a cluttered workspace where you can’t focus or see your office décor. Simply using the space you have more effectively will open it up for you to personalize it even more. Here’s how to do it:
- Vertical space – Your wall space is the often-forgotten hero of organization. You can add custom cabinets above your desk and utilize your space more effectively. Go with a mixture of open front and closed front cabinets to showcase items you want to see and keep folders, books, & documents stored behind doors.
- Storage bins – There are many options for bins and baskets to help you store items safely and decoratively. These bins come in various shapes and sizes, so you will be able to find the exact sizes you need to keep them tucked out of sight when not in use.
- Drawers – If you work in an industry that uses sensitive data, you want to be sure you keep all of your documents neatly and securely stored in drawers.
- Smaller desks – You probably don’t need a large desk now that you have organized your documents and stored them neatly. A smaller desk takes up less floor space and allows you to use your area more efficiently.
- Flip-down desks – Have virtually no space to work with? Good Housekeeping suggests trying a flip-down desk in a corner.
- Ergonomic chairs – Don’t hurt your back sitting in an uncomfortable chair that takes up space. Many ergonomic office chairs are available at local retailers, so you can take them for a test drive.
Put on your designer hat and have beautiful storage items that are also functional!
Using Art
What woman doesn’t love art? From painted landscapes to photographic stills to sculptures and more, your office is a great location to incorporate art. You can find reasonably priced prints of your favorite artists’ work online. If you, a family member, or a friend is an artist, consider using your office to show that art off. Have kids? Ask your kids to create custom pieces!
Consider hanging musical instruments, potted house plants, or framed photos from the walls. Even a cool, decorative floor lamp can add some artistic flair to the area. Your office is your canvas for decorative creativity. You will be elevating your space and making it truly customized.
Here are some additional office art ideas for women:
- Add prints from your favorite professional artists.
- Hang family paintings or art pieces.
- Ask your kids to draw something for you.
- Create an art piece of your own.
- Hang a flower wreath.
- Try macramé hanging plant holders for succulents and air plants.
- Use origami to settle your mind and create something one-of-a-kind.
- Hang up musical instruments or framed music.
Conclusion
You might think of bulky, heavy furniture when you think of a home office, but it’s time to change that mindset! Add your own feminine touch to your workspace just by finding the perfect location and some cool, totally you décor. No man caves here! You get to curate and design your home office to meet your needs and your style.