Your home office should be a space where you actually want to spend time, and more importantly, can get work done in. That is why it is important to outfit your workspace with functional but inspiring furnishings that will help you stay focused and motivated while you work. To help, we rounded up a dozen home office décor items that are every bit as practical as they are pleasing to the eye. From filing systems to floating shelves, here are 12 savvy home office essentials.
A Comfortable Chair
It might seem like a no-brainer, but a comfortable work chair is crucial when designing a home office. Ergonomic experts recommend buying an easily adjustable office chair that is at least 16 to 21 inches off the floor, like this eye-catching Eames-inspired stunner, so that you can keep your feet flat on the floor and your arms even with the height of your desk for maximum comfort and work productivity.
An Ergonomically Sound Desk
An ergonomically correct desk can be a game-changer for you and your home office. Designed to improve comfort, health, and productivity, an ergonomically sound workstation — aka a standing or height-adjustable style, like the UPLIFT Desk, that allows you to keep your wrists straight and eyes level with your computer monitor — can help protect your spine, back, neck, shoulders and wrists from unnecessary strain, so you can work more effectively throughout the day.
Space-savvy Shelving
Whether you are a fan of standing bookcases or wall-mounted cube organizers, shelving is essential to a well-organized home office. If you are not working with a lot of room, consider a floating shelf unit to score extra storage (without taking up any floor space). And if square footage is not an issue, opt for a large, freestanding shelving system, like the KALLAX from IKEA, to keep your books, paperwork and other office miscellany nice and organized.
Good Lighting
Good lighting is essential in any space, but especially in a home office. Switch out any incandescent, overhead light bulbs with smart (and energy-saving) LED bulbs with dimmers, like the Solana by Bulbrite, so you can create a warm but ambient office lighting scheme. Also take care to employ task lights, such as table lamps and wall-mounted sconces, on or around your desk so you have plenty of light to help keep you wide-eyed and alert if you are ever burning the midnight oil.
A Filing System
While storing and sorting certain files electronically can help keep office clutter down, a reliable filing system is must for hard copies of important paperwork. Fortunately, there is no shortage of sleek and space-savvy filing cabinets on the market, like this clean-lined rolling cabinet from Poppin and this midcentury style stunner at Design Within Reach, as well as desks with built-in file box drawers, such as this modular model at West Elm.
Proper Wall Paint
Never underestimate the impact of wall paint in a home office. Not only is it an easy way to revamp a humdrum work space, studies suggest that certain paint colors can boost concentration, creativity and productivity. Paint the walls of your home office a soothing shade of green or blue to improve efficiency and focus. Or consider a stimulating red or yellow to energize the space and bolster your mood and output. However, make sure to avoid bland, neutral shades, such as white, beige and gray, since research shows these paint hues can induce feelings of sadness and hinder your ability to execute tasks efficiently.
Desktop Organizers
It is hard to focus on the task at hand when your workstation is drowning in desk clutter. Keep your desk tidy and your supplies accessible by investing in a handful of sophisticated desktop organizers, like this rotating organizer at The Container store or this gold pencil cup at Kate Spade and stash your office staples in style.
Plants
There are a lot of reasons you should keep houseplants in your home office. Along with naturally purifying the air in your workspace, research shows that having plants around your office can boost your mood and increase your productivity levels, too. Do yourself a favor and place a leafy houseplant or two on your office desk or windowsill and then dress it up with a stylish planter for aesthetics.
Cord Corrallers
Too many loose cables can make for an unsightly—and disorganized—workstation. Good news: Cable clips are cheap (usually under $10), cute (available in lots of colors) and easy to find online—so you can keep loose cords from falling and getting tangled up with each other on your desk.
Elevated Office Supplies
Make no mistake: stylish office supplies can instantly elevate the ambiance of your home office. Invest in chic and stylish office essentials, like this acrylic tape dispenser at Anthropologie and this color-blocked ink pen at HAY, to dress up your office desk and help you stay inspired throughout your workday.
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