10 Simple Ways to Spruce Up Your Home Office (Now That You're Using it More)

If you’re working from home (as so many of us have been this year), you, of course, want your home office design to be comfortable and functional – but if you’re spending a lot of time there, why not make it look great, too? By customizing your workspace with these simple home office ideas, you can elevate your workspace from just practical to perfectly stylish – which, in the end, will do wonders for your productivity and creativity.

clean wooden desk with laptop and small green plant

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Clear the Clutter

This home office idea is simple, totally free and can make a huge difference when it comes to the look and productive feel of your work space: declutter. It’s hard to get down to business when your desk is a mess, so your first step for a home office design refresh is to clean things up: recycle unnecessary papers, get rid of anything that’s broken or no longer functional and put items that belong in other rooms (ahem, kids toys) in their place.

white desk with colourful desk organizers on top in shipping container office

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Contain It All

Decluttering is so satisfying when it comes to sprucing up your home office, but maintaining that clean desk space can be a challenge. The solution? Invest in a few stylish vessels to keep your most-used home office supplies like pens and paper on your desktop, as Brian McCourt and Sarah Keenleyside did with the colour-pop organizers in this unique shipping container home office for Backyard Builds. You can also create your own office organizers for a custom feel – these DIY cork board office organizers make it easy.

work from home space with round table and plenty of green indoor plants

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Add Some Green

We’re big fans of indoor plants in the home, and that plant power can go a long way when it comes to refreshing your home office design. Add a few easy-to-care-for indoor plants to your desk or shelves in your workspace (or, if surface space is sparse where you work, you can also make or buy a hanging planter) for a mood- and productivity-boosting pop of green.

L-shaped white double desk in navy home office with assorted items on hall

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Look Up

Vertical space on the walls don’t have to be blank. When crafting your home office design, look to your walls for opportunities to add inspiration (through things like wall art or framed photographs) or functionality (though things like peg boards, wall organizers or calendars) – this Property Brothers home office designed by Jonathan and Drew Scott does both. Want to make your own solution? This cork board wall organizer is simple to DIY and it’s the best of both worlds – it’s pretty and practical.

wood desk in front of window with shelves and a black lamp beside ot

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Change Your Perspective

Never underestimate the power of a new view – even if that means just rearranging your home office furniture. If the room you work in has a window, try repositioning your desk so that you can look out into nature and get the most natural light. If you don’t have a window, see if you can move or angle your furniture so that you’re not staring directly at a wall. Want more tips for taking your home office from not bad to next level? HGTV Canada expert Brian McCourt has a few ideas for you.

wood desk with laptop and plants on top, with white wall sconce light

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Find Your Best Light

Good lighting can do wonders for your workday. When you can see what you’re doing without squinting, you’ll be more productive, and no one wants to work in the dark. And, if you’re having meetings or interviews via Zoom, good lighting can make you look more professional when you’re working from home. If your home office is dimly lit, look at adding a bright desk lamp. If you don’t have a lot of space on your desk, consider a wall-mounted sconce to illuminate your work – while keeping your desk clear.

white desk and chair on top of patterned pink area rug

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Start From the Ground Up

When it comes to home office design ideas, we often think about what’s on our desks and where we’re going to sit, but that answer to a fresh look and comfier feel in your workspace could be underfoot. An area rug is an inexpensive way to dramatically change the look of a room (here’s some budget-friendly area rug inspiration), and a plush rug is a little comfy luxury for tired feet during a long workday.

playful home office with pink accents and ring light on desk

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Channel Colour-Pop Details

Don’t be afraid to bring some of your personality into your home office design. Customizing your workspace with elements, colours and details that make you happy goes a long way to setting you up for success. This doesn’t have to mean a big renovation, either: try adding a few colour-pop decor accents in your favourite hue or colour palette for an instant bright update.

white desk in white home office with lots of electronics on top and small neon light on wall

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Power Plays

If working from home is new to you, it’s natural for your home office design setup to feel somewhat impromptu – but that doesn’t mean that your workspace shouldn’t be convenient and comfortable. Invest in a new set of dedicated charging cables for your desk so you can charge your electronics (like your phone, smart watch and laptop) while you work. If you use a laptop, riser stand makes it more ergonomic to look at the screen, and can make your desk feel more like an office and less temporary.

clean wood desk with small reed diffuser jar and snake plant on top

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Successful Scents

One simple way to elevate your home office experience is to integrate scent into the space. In your office, you can combine scent with design by adding pretty reed or scent diffusers (if you have a pet, be sure to check that any scents you choose are pet safe). Not sure what your ideal home scent is? Your zodiac sign might point you in the right direction.