42 Office Decor Ideas Guaranteed to Boost Productivity (2024)

Even a drab cubicle can be cute with a little design help.

By Hadley Mendelsohn and Medgina Saint-Elien
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Office decor is the key to making the best of your work-from-home space. Some days, getting out of bed might take an extra dose of encouragement (and caffeine), but an office that boosts your productivity, creativity, and focus will make you feel prepped to take on the day. Your bed is not an office, and your lower back deserves better than being hunched over your kitchen island. If you can vividly picture yourself in that position, we're here with home office decor ideas to help you work smarter, not harder.

You can highlight your favorite book by keeping it on display on a floating shelf or a paint it a fun color that'll make reading a ton of emails more interesting. Designer Jaimee Longo of The Layered House says, "Generally on office bookshelves I always include lots of books specific to the homeowners' interests with a mix of uniform picture frames, vessels, and objects that differ in size, shape, and material—think marble, travertine, or vintage anything."

We found designer-approved office decor ideas for the tiniest corner of your bedroom, the guest room that has been out of use, or practically any space in between. Learn how to optimize it to serve as a dedicated office space and set boundaries between your home and work life. To set you up for true success, we found decor gems that can transform your work life in a single day.

1

Spruce Up Happy Hour

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Jaimee Longo of The Layered House equipped this home office with a corner for happy hour to make wins at work feel special. It can also be an area to welcome guests. "I completed a walnut bar cart with vintage glassware and special liquor bottles," Longo explains. A moody charcoal gray paint color enhances the cozy atmosphere.

2

Design a Conference Room

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Instead of adding a breakfast area to your kitchen, set up your own at-home conference room like this one designed by Ariene Bethea. Take a call (and take in the outdoors) in a luxurious room with a view like this one, which was part of a three-room suite in House Beautiful's 2022 Whole Home.

3

Choose a Mood-Boosting Paint Color

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Give your tiny buy mighty office a pop of color like this sunset gold hue. This easy office decor idea makes your fold-out desk feel like the world is at your fingertips! Just close it up and tuck it away when you need to convert your dedicated home office space back into the living room.

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4

Stick to Wood

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A built-in cubby with a sliding perforated door like the one in this office designed by Studio DB is ideal for hiding cords and messy piles of paper. The floating wood shelves create an industrial, focused atmosphere.

5

Take in Golden Hour

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If your home office works a double shift as a kitchen or bedroom, try to keep things simple and clean to optimize workflow. A console table in front of a window will boost your energy, as Reath Designs proves here.

6

Fix Your Gaze

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Whether it's in your childhood bedroom or the attic, a window framed by an art gallery will give you all the encouragement you need to think of the bigger picture. The rattan chair and woven shade in this small home office designed by Heather Chadduck make answering calls a million times more pleasant. Window trim painted in Green Blue by Farrow & Ball connects it to the outdoors.

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7

Choose Primary Colors

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If you're converting the corner of your bedroom into a WFH zone, go back to the basics with primary color accent decor. Against the white in this office, it pops and inspires you to work twice as hard while feeling chic and modern. Designer Raji Radhakrishnan made this home office look vibrant with bold stools and a graphic rug.

8

Optimize Your Writing Surface

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Designer Wesley Moon managed to pack a lot into this tiny makeshift office area thanks to an eclectic mix of furnishings, smart storage, pretty decor, and a refreshing color palette. He covered an Italian shield-back chair in glazed linen by Ralph Lauren Home and then updated the antique secretary with a white leather writing surface and decorative with tchotchkes inside bell jars to play up the whimsical and dreamy vibe of the light blue colors.

9

Employ Invigorating Colors

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This office designed by Nicole Dohmen of Atelier ND makes another strong case for one of our favorite home office decor ideas: experimenting with a unique color palette. The chartreuse paint is a custom blend by IJM Studio, and while they loved it, it was deemed too harsh for a large room. It is, however, perfect for the home office, as it feels both creative and understated. The floating desk matches with the blond wood flooring and chair to give the room an airier presence.

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10

Embrace Nostalgia

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The landing, mudroom, and office are all filled with antique bowls, baskets, and Americana in this home designed by Massechessets-based designer Katie Rosenfield. She warmed up the green tones with cream and beige paints as warm wood and brass elements for a charming, nostalgic, and cozy office scheme. Antique books, artwork, and an area rug help assert that sensibility.

11

Break Up Cabinets With Decor

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The main level of this Seattle home by MB Design Group boasts an open-concept floor plan, so the concrete slab flooring connects it to the surrounding space and complements the steel structural elements. A wall dedicated to storage is tucked into the corner while pretty decorative items and artwork break up the functional elements.

12

Float the Desk

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Workstead's re-imagining of Sommariva, a sprawling Hamptons residence that dates back to 1872, blends the best of old and new. The home office is no exception. Taking inspiration from the home's Italianate architecture as well as the coastal surroundings, the team went for a monochromatic treatment in the office, painting the walls and trim in the same jewel tone. Elaborate orange florals bring in just a touch of contrast, but tabletop clutter is kept to a minimum.

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13

Consider Your Creative Process

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Designer Eric Smith was tasked with transforming this study (formerly an old stone barn) into a wood-lined studio that appears to be floating in the forest. The objective was "to create a built expression of an artist’s creative process, from start to finish," explains Smith. So the hallway is lined with books, the materials are refined and down-to-earth, and everything is about the view beyond the window.

14

Lean Into Function

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One of Lauren Waters's main goals in this Tribeca loft project was to carve out a comfortable work-from-home space that didn't encroach on the living room. Waters selected industrial pieces, including a utilitarian metal filing cabinet and sculptural schoolhouse desk, in cheery hues. “We wanted this nook to be as colorful as the rest of the apartment,” the designer shares.

15

Match the Surrounding Area

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If your home office is nestled into the corner of a living or family room, pick one item that connects it to the rest of the space. In this example from Heidi Caillier, the classic farmhouse chair got a fresh coat of red paint, nodding to the gingham upholstered ottoman in the sitting room portion of the space. It's separate enough to focus on the distinct tasks while visually cohesive.

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16

Carve Out a Reading Nook

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Set up an extra reading nook, if you have the space. It can be used by you when you're doing research or you just need a break from your office chair, or as a mini "waiting room." In this reading nook off the office, Lauren Nelson chose plum chairs and incorporated pops of purple because the homeowner loves figs. Take a page from her book and use your favorite colors!

17

Channel a Countryside Library

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Turn any old task into something invigorating with home office decor that channels a dreamy library. Retro-inspired lighting, antique furniture, cafe curtains by the window seat/reading nook, and fully-stocked bookshelves set this one apart. Leanne Ford proves that you don't need to buy all new items for a well-decorated office either.

18

Highlight Architectural Features

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Architect Jeffrey Dungan proves how transformative built-in features are in this home office from a Birmingham, Alabama, home. An oval cutout on the back wall behind the desk opens up to the entry, which you can see a hint of in the antiqued mirror. A spacious table and cabinets were custom-made.

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19

Showcase Your Personality

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While everyone could use a little more inspiration in their lives, creatives really need a workspace that truly enhances their imagination and personality. In pattern-prone designer Anna Spiro's home office, bold colors, eclectic furniture, and all sorts of prints join forces to reflect her style.

20

Incorporate Mirrored Elements

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Nothing commands respect like a show-stopping chrome desk, whether you're running board meetings or hosting open-door office hours for the family pet. But seriously, mirrored accents are some of our favorite office decor ideas to bounce light and maximize size.

42 Office Decor Ideas Guaranteed to Boost Productivity (2024)
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