WFH is Here to Stay: How to Upgrade Your Home Office

dayIf, for the past 10 months (or more), you’ve been doing your work at a dining table, no doubt you’ve wondered if it’s time to set up your very own home office. And, while lockdown looks likely to ease this year, 67% of companies have said that working from home is likely to be long-term or permanent. Put simply: WFH is here to stay. 

That’s why there’s no better time to give your desk space an upgrade, whether that means creating an office corner or making your study feel lighter, brighter and more welcoming. Keep scrolling for ideas on how to optimise your workspace in style, with tips on productivity-boosting decor and making a smaller set-up work… 

1. Find a Home Office Desk

Choosing a desk isn’t as simple as picking out a surface that looks good. You need one that suits your working style, whether that involves piles of paperwork or space to sketch and take notes. 

If you tend to have pens and pads sprawled across the table – with nowhere to tuck them away – opt for a desk that has plenty of drawer space, like the Redonda Large Desk. If room is limited, the Bordeaux Corner Desk has you covered with a sleek and compact design. Meanwhile, the Blake Desk features two handy drawers and a mid-century look that enhances the whole room.

2. Add Touches of Green

If you’re looking for ways to add colour to your home, start with your new home office set-up. Here, shades of green are believed to relieve anxiety and make you feel more relaxed. Try setting the mood with a green chair, like the Alfredo Chair in Dark Green Brushed Velvet. Or add green cushions for extra cosiness. We love the Miami Green Cushion and Shatter Teal Cushion. 

 

Look to greenery for a mood boost, too. Devil’s Ivy or a small Snake Plant are perfect, as they’re just the right size for sitting on a desk and they grow in all manner of light conditions. No time for watering? Go faux with the Small Aztec Plant or the Tillandsia in a Geometric Pot. No one will ever know the difference. 

 

3. Hang Prints On the Wall

Unless you’re lucky enough to have your desk in front of a window, chances are you’re facing a wall for at least eight hours of the day. Add wall art that livens up the space and give you something to gaze up at. 

Wanderlust-inspired prints are our go-to for a reminder of adventures that lie ahead, with the Copenhagen, Paris and Amsterdam Maps lending a minimalist, monochrome feel. For added colour, hang up the Venice Framed Picture or Times Square Picture. Place two or three pictures side by side for a subtle and simple gallery wall.

Unless you’re lucky enough to have your desk in front of a window, chances are you’re facing a wall for at least eight hours of the day. Add wall art that livens up the space and give you something to gaze up at. 

Unless you’re lucky enough to have your desk in front of a window, chances are you’re facing a wall for at least eight hours of the day. Add wall art that livens up the space and give you something to gaze up at. 

 

4. Choose the Perfect Lamp

Because no workspace is complete without a lamp, choose from fun and quirky or stylish and sleek designs. Right now, text bulbs are exploding on Insta, and our Dream Text Bulb is proving a hit. 

For a touch of monochrome, you could also switch on the Terrazzo Marble Lamp. Or, if gold hardware and modern-retro furnishings are your style, placed the Antique Brass Metal Task Table Lamp on a corner of your desk.

5. Add a Tray to Declutter

Finally, once you’ve got your workspace set up, find ways to keep clutter at bay. As well as tucking paperwork in drawers, we recommend placing a tray by your computer for both functional and decorative pieces.

The Marble Effect Tray has you covered. Place pens, post-its and any other essentials in there. To lift your mood, you could also add the warm and spicy Joyous Infusion Candle. Light it at the start of each day.