I am of the belief that your office should look as cool as any other room in your space otherwise why would you want to spend time in there right? It’s not easy though as you have to somehow seamlessly combine practical with cool but hey that’s a challenge I’m happy to take on. Here’s some of my top tips for creating a happier space, plus lots of inspiration above.
Photo by Itziar Narro, AD Spain. Design by Apparatus Studio.
CREATE A PERSONAL SANCTUARY
Add artwork, mirrors stuff that you would normally find in your living room to make you feel inspired and happy to hang out in there. Push boundaries too! Whether your home office is small or large it’s one of the spaces that you can do things differently, so consider a daring wallpaper or paint colour, some statement art, or cool sculpture – basically try and create the coolest area on the planet.
DITCH THE OFFICE FURNITURE
I often use dining tables as desks that way my home office automatically feels grander and cooler. Yes I use an ergonomic chair but that is about the only practical thing in the space. My old desk was this dining desk (much beloved but unfortunately too small) and now I have this gorgeous cork dining table from Ilse Crawford’s IKEA range. Lamps are ornate and grand, Lazzaro chandeliers hang from the ceiling, fires get lit in winter its about as unoffice-y as you can possibly get!
Photo by Mikkel Vang, Elle Decor. Design by Kelly Wearstler.
MAKE IT LIBRARY-ESQ
All home offices need storage but storage can be a little boring I feel. So I combine a floor to ceiling bookcase with files and boxes of boring stuff in amongst books. Therefore it feels like I’m hanging out in some cool hotel library rather than a dreary home office. Here’s the breakdown on my studio shelves by the way.