How to Design the Ultimate Work From Home Office

The current pandemic has forced countless individuals around the globe to transition to a work from home lifestyle. If you’re new to the world of working remotely and find yourself struggling to stay productive, you’re not alone. In fact, the problem might be your surroundings. Having an effective workspace that limits distractions and fosters productivity is crucial to staying motivated and accomplishing tasks. Fortunately, our team at Cortland Design lives and breathes interior design especially for small spaces— and we’ve put together some tips to help you create a home workspace that functions for both personal and professional use. 

Start With A Clean Space And Plenty Of Design Inspiration

The first step to creating a functional work from home area is to start with a clean space. This will give you a better idea of exactly what you’re working with. Then, start collecting inspiration. Our interior designers suggest looking at Pinterest, magazines, blogs, and your favorite retailers to gather ideas and cultivate your desire to start working on design. When it comes to inspiration, there are so many resources available at your fingertips.

Find A Look You Love But Change It Up To Fit Your Needs

No matter what your design style is, it’s important to remember that your home workspace should be, above all things, functional. A design that works for one person may not necessarily work for you. We recommend you think about how you function best and where you’re most productive. Do you prefer to work in complete silence? Do you crave natural light? When you’re creating your workspace, think about the things that help you maintain a clear mind and use those insights to inform your home office design.

Short On Space? Get Creative And Work With What You’ve Got

If you live in a small space or don’t necessarily have a lot of options for where you can set up your home office, get creative. Look for areas that can double or triple up on functionality — like a section of your dining room table. Our interior designers say the best way to come up with ideas is to pick up pieces from your home and see what works. Use unexpected items like baskets, which can serve to hold files, working materials, and more, and can be easily stowed away once your work day has ended. “Resetting your setting” like this will help you stay organized while making it easier for you to switch off your work remote mode when you’re off the clock.

Your Workspace Should Feel Like A Destination — Find Ways To Bring It To Life

One thing all our interior designers agree on is that your home office should feel like a designated workspace. Even if you live in a studio or a small apartment and can’t dedicate a lot of square footage to your workspace, you can still find ways to make it feel like a real office. Get some flowers or an interesting piece of art — something that makes a statement and helps you feel creative or happy to tackle your work. It can even be seating that makes you feel productive, whether that’s an armchair, a stool, or even a yoga ball (which lets you burn calories while you’re burning through your workload). Remember that functionality and style go hand in hand when designing an effective work from home space.

Working from home is becoming the new normal for many of us, but this paradigm shift shouldn’t mean you need to sacrifice productivity and peace of mind. With these easy design tips, you can create a remote space tailored to your individual needs and personal style. Just remember to keep an open mind, be creative, and consider functionality and versatility when working on your home office design. Before you know it, you’ll have a workspace you love.

Tips From Our Designers:

“Coincidentally, my dad built a custom floating desk and added it to the office in my house as a place for him to work out of when he comes to visit. Who knew it would be the perfect setup for our working from home situation? I added my old drafting table from college to be able to redline drawings and spread out a bit. Working from home has been a big change, but having an office setup has been a huge help!” – Ashlyn

“Being able to have a physical setup that mimics closely what I am used to having in the office has really helped me stay on track in completing my daily tasks. Also, your chair makes all the difference. My chiropractor recommended using a yoga ball and it has made a world of difference and I’m not just talking about my abs.” – Jordan

“I set up in the one room my family never uses, the formal dining room! The two most important items I set up were my screen and a comfortable chair. I also chose this room for all of the natural light. I can see samples more clearly, and while being quarantined, seeing outside is just good for mental stability in this crazy time!” – Allison

Need help designing your work from home space? Cortland Design is offering virtual interior design and furniture services with contactless delivery. Get in touch today!