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How to Create an Inspiring Home Office Space in 4 Simple Steps

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Whether you’re a creative based at home, you work in a corporate environment, or manage a household, you likely spend a good part of your day in some sort of space dedicated to work and organization. Has this space been given the love it deserves? Does the design and decoration belong with the rest of your house, or is it a forgotten corner that lacks care and consideration?

Inspiring office spaces can be filled with clever storage ideas and dashing displays. Check out how to turn any space in your home into a stylish place to work, play, and create magic.

1. Small Study Space

If your study area is more of a small nook, make it work by transforming an alcove into a functional home office by painting the walls a contrasting color and using them as an artful mood board. Stack books in a stylish display, add a lamp in lieu of natural light, and choose a desk that takes up most of the space.

Another important consideration for a successful office space is having all of your resources at hand, including pens, paper, envelopes, notepads, and scissors. Make a list of all the items you’ll need in your work area and try to find or build a storage unit that provides space for each activity. If everything is bundled together, it’s difficult to easily find what you need for each task.

2. Multifunctional Space

When creating a home office from scratch, consider making your dining room a multifunctional space if you’re not able to have a dedicated room. You might find it more practical in the long term than hiding a desk in a nook or a corner.

If your office is in a living room or open-plan area, make it work by placing a rug where you’d like your work zone to be, then layer up with a roomy desk to define and fill the space. Use an ottoman as extra seating, and keep the style consistent with the rest of the room. Decorate your desk with books, flowers, and other items you’d usually find on a shelf.

3. Work/Life Balance

If your desk and bed share a room, separate your sleep and work zones by ensuring they don’t share the same rug. To create visual flow and calm, opt for a round desk and decorate with either pattern or color — but not both!

The art of creating an office that you want to use and where you enjoy spending time is all about knowing the game of hide and display. No one wants to see your packets of thumbtacks or hole puncher unless they’re something to behold. And even then, are they really? Small items are often best left hidden behind cabinet doors. Keep objects that spark joy on display to stop your bedroom feeling too much like a workspace.

4. Stay Organized

Every great organizing session starts with a clear flat surface where you can start the process. A decent-sized table will not only accommodate a laptop, diary, and notepad, but also the task at hand — whether it’s laying out fabric swatches, paperwork, or kids’ artworks to be framed or filed away.

When it comes down to organizing your storage spaces, keep objects for various tasks grouped together. For example, have boxes, drawers, or cabinets of wrapping paper next to ribbon, twine, and gift cards. In another area, file paperwork and folders. And have one area dedicated to stationery items to be used across several tasks. Consider smaller storage for these pieces. Life’s too short to be hunting for paperclips!

This article originally appeared on our sister site, Homes to Love.

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