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<\/a>Photo: Pinterest<\/a> via Pink Little Notebook<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\nLara Cupido, Project Designer at LUX Design<\/a>, said it\u2019s crucial to choose the right spot for your home office. She explained that selecting a space that\u2019s pleasant and cozy to work in is paramount if you\u2019re planning on spending long periods of time there.<\/p>\n \u201cI would say one of the most important things is to make sure you\u2019re selecting a space that\u2019s near natural light, so a window if possible because we always smile with a little bit of sunlight and scenery,\u201d she said. \u201cBut if there\u2019s no natural light available in your space, lighting is very important. Always make sure that there\u2019s sufficient light for the space.\u201d<\/p>\n Cupido also suggested incorporating subtle pops of color and texture into a home office. She recommended designing a cohesive, all-white space with jaunty accent pieces to break up the look and create a cheerful atmosphere.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat I would suggest is to keep the color consistent throughout your home, but if you have a pop of color in the family room or kitchen, you can take that color and do it on one wall in your office,\u201d she said. \u201cI also like the idea of bringing in textured wallpaper for an accent wall or for the space in between floating shelves.\u201d<\/p>\n While Cupido advocated for pops of color, she said that they should be balanced out by clean, minimalist spaces throughout.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s best to have one shelf with boxes and one with decorative items to have that breathing area visually. I think that when you\u2019re clean and organized, you have more of a clear mind to work,\u201d she explained.<\/p>\n To dial down visual noise even more, Cupido suggested maintaining a consistent look and feel using light colors. Storage solutions are also key for maintaining a clean, organized structure for the space.<\/p>\n \u201cYou don\u2019t want a big bulky desk with dark woods. Light woods or white will help to keep it light and airy. Drawers are also very helpful just to keep those smaller items off the surfaces,\u201d she advised.<\/p>\n Ryan Martin, Principal Designer at Croma Design Inc.<\/a>, said that a home office should be infused with personal elements like photos or images that represent your ultimate goals like a (gasp!) real-life<\/i> Pinterest board.<\/p>\n \u201cOne of the things that we like to do is make it inspirational, so that might mean that you have a map on the wall with pins of all the places you want to visit, an art piece you collected on a trip, or maybe a wall of family photos,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s nice to look at and it gives you that driving push you need while you\u2019re working.\u201d<\/p>\n Martin also emphasized the importance of purchasing a comfortable chair for your home office to encourage productivity and good posture. He and the team at Croma have a few favourites that they share with their clients.<\/p>\n \u201cAt Croma, we have a chair that we really love. It\u2019s called the You Chair<\/a> by Allseating and it\u2019s the perfect blend of comfort and support, so you don\u2019t get fatigued if you\u2019re sitting in it for a long period of time, but it doesn’t encourage you to slouch and give you bad posture,\u201d he explained. \u201cIt\u2019s not the most expensive chair out there but it\u2019s not the least expensive either, so for us, it\u2019s a good middle ground.\u201d<\/p>\n Martin also suggested that a home office should be just that: homey. He explained that balancing necessary items like staplers with decorative objects is an easy way to make the room both functional and intimate.<\/p>\n \u201cThe main point is to not pretend that your home office is a commercial office, so here you’re not after something that\u2019s hard-lined and brightly-lit. Go for something that’s more pleasant and more cozy by mixing keepsakes like coffee table books or terrariums with the utilitarian items you need on your desk, and it all becomes sort of artful,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Often, home offices are relegated to small, cramped rooms like dens or even closets. Joanne Chan, Principal Designer at SDI Interior Design and Project Coordination<\/a>, had a few tricks up her sleeve for making a small space feel larger.<\/p>\n \u201cSometimes, we have clients that have a space that doesn\u2019t get much daylight and it looks like a dungeon, so to remedy that, we mount decorative glass panels that light up or have reflective surfaces on the wall. It makes it feel bigger and brighter because it\u2019s sort of like a pretend window,\u201d she explained.<\/p>\n Chan also suggested using multi-purpose furniture for small home offices. She said they can be especially useful for homeowners looking to create a workspace that doubles as a playroom for kids.<\/p>\n2. Keep it clean with subtle pops<\/h2>\n
<\/a>Liberty Central Phase 2<\/a> model home. Photo: James Bombales\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<\/a>Photo: Maegan Tintari\/Flickr<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n3. Infuse it with inspiration<\/h2>\n
<\/a>Photo: Pinterest<\/a> via The Office Stylist<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n4. Choose the right chair<\/h2>\n
<\/a>Photo: Nick Keppol\/Flickr<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n5. Cozify your corner<\/h2>\n
<\/a>Photo: Pinterest<\/a> via Design Sponge<\/a>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n6. Expand your area<\/h2>\n
<\/a>Photo: Pinterest<\/a> via Design Sponge<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n7. Free up your floor space<\/h2>\n
<\/a>Photo: Pinterest<\/a>\u00a0via Overstock\u00a0<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n