Working from home sure has its perks, but one downside is that your home office can easily stop feeling like home and start feeling like a never-ending workplace. Before you know it – you’re working from home, you’re living at work! If you find yourself dreading your home office or feeling uninspired, it’s time to turn that space into a sanctuary – one that’s not just for work but for comfort, creativity, and relaxation.
Here are some top tips to make your home office feel less like work and more like a personal haven.
1. Choose a Colour Palette That Inspires Relaxation
Colour psychology plays a significant role in how we feel in a particular space. For a home office that feels less ”worky”, consider choosing colours that promote calm and creativity. Soft blues, greens, and neutral tones can help to reduce stress and anxiety, while touches of yellow or coral can provide a pop of energy that can help with creativity. Any colour is also going to be a huge difference compared to landlord-white walls.
Crucially, when choosing a colour palette, think about how you want to feel in your space. Do you want to feel calm and focused, or energised and creative? Once you’ve settled on a colour scheme for the room, carry it through the rest of your décor choices, from wall paint to desk accessories. Even the artwork you choose, like high quality metal posters featuring serene landscapes or your favourite anime characters, can complement your chosen colours and set the right tone for the room.
2. Incorporate Comfortable Furniture and Ergonomics
While aesthetics are crucial for creating a home office sanctuary, comfort should never be overlooked – especially when thinking about the long term cost of health. Invest in ergonomic furniture that supports good posture and reduces strain, such as a high quality chair with lumbar support, an adjustable desk, and supportive footrests.
You can also bring in certain elements to make the space cosy whenever you need to. Things like a soft throw blanket, plush cushions, or a stylish rug can be easily moved but are touches that can make your office space feel more like a comfortable nook rather than the corporate cubicle Thomas Anderson was forced to work at. Comfort and good ergonomics will not only make your home office feel less like a work zone but also enhance your overall productivity and well-being.
3. Personalise Your Space with Unique Wall Art
One of the most impactful ways to transform your home office into a more personalised and enjoyable environment is by decorating your walls with art that resonates with you. You’ve already established a colour palette, invested in some ergonomic furniture, and created snuggable elements to your office, but don’t be afraid to move away from bland corporate artwork. Instead, show off your own personality and interests though things like metal posters that vividly display what your passions are – whether those passions are anime series, fantasy films, or travel, there’s value in expressing yourself.
Metal posters are particularly well-suited for home offices because they’re durable and easy to hang – so they can easily be swapped out for a fresh look whenever you need a change. In essence, the room should be an extension of you, it shouldn’t box you in, so surrounding yourself with art that you love can feel a lot more like an extension of yourself rather than a corporate environment.
4. Create a Green Oasis with Indoor Plants
Plants are more than just a pretty addition to your desk, they have been shown to improve air quality, reduce stress, and even boost productivity. Incorporating a variety of indoor plants in your home office can make it feel more like a peaceful garden retreat than a sterile work environment.
Consider low-maintenance options like succulents, snake plants, or pothos if you’re not known for your green thumb. For a bit more vibrancy, try a fiddle-leaf fig or a peace lily. The addition of plants can soften the space, adding texture and life that make the room feel more organic.
5. Incorporate Personal Touches and Motivational Elements
Adding personal touches to your home office helps to create a space that feels uniquely yours. Display a few cherished items, such as family photos, travel souvenirs, or your favourite books. Not only do these elements make the space feel warmer and more inviting, but they also serve as sources of inspiration and comfort throughout the workday.
Motivational elements, like motivational metal posters with inspiring quotes or artwork that represents your favourite hobbies, can act as clear visual reminders of your goals, passions, and dreams. They help to maintain a positive mindset, which can be crucial for both productivity and wellbeing.
6. Manage Lighting for Both Function and Ambiance
Lighting can make or break a home office. Harsh, cold lighting can make a space feel clinical and draining, while too little light can make it feel like a cave. To strike the perfect balance, layer different types of lighting that you can move between at different times of day: ambient lighting for general illumination, task lighting for focused work, and accent lighting for creating a gentle and cosy atmosphere.
Consider adding a stylish desk lamp or some warm-toned string lights to add a bit of personality and warmth to the space. If you have artwork or metal posters on display, adjustable wall lights can highlight these pieces, creating an inviting and artistic atmosphere. Natural light is also essential for your circadian rhythm, so try to position your desk near a window to let in as much sunlight as possible.
7. Keep Clutter at Bay with Smart Storage Solutions
Nothing makes a home office feel more like “work” than clutter. Papers strewn everywhere, tangled cords, and random office supplies scattered about can make the space feel chaotic. Invest in smart storage solutions that keep the clutter hidden and the essentials within easy reach. Floating shelves, storage bins, and cable organisers are all small details but add up to considerably less strain on your heart (through stress).
8. Use Scent to Set the Mood
This one is often overlooked, but our sense of smell is deeply tied to our emotions and memories. Incorporating pleasant scents into your home office can have a profound effect on your mood and productivity. Consider using essential oils, scented candles, or diffusers to introduce calming scents like lavender, eucalyptus, or vanilla – just be careful not to overdo the smellies to the point that you’re distracted by them.
If you’re looking for a burst of energy, citrus scents like lemon or orange can provide a refreshing boost.
9. Dedicate a Relaxation Corner for Breaks
Your home office should have more to offer than just a place to work. Consider dedicating a small corner or nook for relaxation. This could be a comfortable reading chair, a small meditation area with a yoga mat, or even a mini coffee bar.
Decorate this corner with soft lighting, comfortable textiles, and your favourite metal posters to create a space where you can unwind, take a break, and recharge during your workday. Having a designated spot to relax can also help create a boundary between work and leisure, making it easier to switch off at the end of the day.
10. Regularly Refresh and Rotate Your Décor
Finally, don’t let your home office become stagnant. A set of new posters, for example, is great for a while, but the benefits of inspiration and excitement wear off when the posters become so familiar they become invisible. Instead, regularly refreshing and rotating your décor can keep the space feeling new and exciting. This could be as simple as changing up the artwork, swapping out some plants, or even adding new collectible metal posters that reflect your current interests or motivations.
Not sure where to start?
If you’re not sure where to start in terms of themes, it can help to start with the artwork first and then extrapolate out to the rest of the room’s decoration. Quickly browse our huge range of metal posters and to find what catches your eye – then work from there!
