13 Things Every Home Office Absolutely Needs

Stylish chairs are like come-hither dresses at the store. Good from afar, but not always practical. And when you’re sitting on your rump for hours on end you can’t be cheek-against-wood. Go for a quality, cushioned, adjustable ergonomic seat with armrests. Aw, don’t you feel better already?

Not everyone has the luxury of living in a home with skylights and lots of windows, but if you do put your desk in the room with the most light. There’s something refreshing and wonderful about being connected to the outdoors as you work. (Oh, and we know that yellow chair breaks our rule number one. Must send memo to these homeowners about it, stat.)

If you wanted boring, you’d be under fluorescent lights in an office with removable ceiling panels. You are not that type of person. You crave delightful, engaging environments, like this one showing off a West Elm desk with a vintage vibe and cheerful blossoms. Surround yourself with beautiful, neat things. We like the white lacquered tray that corrals everything from paper clips to stickie notes.

A personality-packed office space is so inspiring, we thought we’d show you another. From the faint pink walls to the fun and fuzzy chair, we love the way this space sings. And how about that teal door. Roar.

Having room to lay out paper, your phone, your elbows and that takeout coffee (far away from your keyboard, please) is essential in a home office, as seen in this white-and-wood looker from West Elm.

A nice, respectable receptacle for tossing trash adds up to a zen environment. Now you can get started on that novel you’ve been ruminating over for a decade.

Ok, so let’s say you don’t have a room with natural light or there’s no way you can fit in a large desk. Do you give up? No, you find a nook somewhere and make it happen. This cute corner was created out of a wardrobe and neatly tucks away when not in use. A mounted task light and a magnetic note-board rounds out the look.

There’s a tendency when a designing a room to shove all of the furniture against a wall – resist the temptation! Sometimes having a floating desk, like this one, is a much better arrangement. Not only does it mean you’re not staring at a wall all day, but if see clients at home you can create a much more engaging set-up – add a makeshift area for clients with a comfy chair and table.

Home offices don’t have to be relegated to the basement. If you’re lucky enough to have a sublime view, like this awesome west coast office in Victoria does, then take advantage of it. We guarantee improved productivity.

The owner of this home office had a problem: small room, lots of stuff. He turned the room’s lean proportions into a space with ample storage by thinking vertically and mounting the full-height shelving on the wall. Leaving the floor empty ensures the room doesn’t feel cluttered. And painting out everything grey, including the cubbies, also makes it feel cohesive and clutter-free.

In this illustrator’s fun home office all of the tools of the trade are easy to access. No fumbling for pens stuck in a drawer somewhere. Also note the double-light action. A smart idea in darker spaces.

If a French shabby-chic aesthetic tickles your fancy, then apply the same thinking to your office, like Amy Chalmers did. She’s the blogger behind Maison Decor and her space is a good reminder that office furniture doesn’t have to be ugly.

We love this positively pretty space, from the chunky gold mirror and the wrought iron pendant to the whitewashed cabinet for stowing supplies. Tres chic! Click here to find out how Amy put it all together.

Now that you’ve carved out the perfect office in the comfort of your own home, there is just one thing missing: a furry friend to bring it all together. The best thing about having Rufus or Garfield as a co-worker? Not having to listen to them drone on about their weekend plans. The worst thing? Occasional tufts of fluff in the keyboard.