The Cure for Houzz Envy: Home Office Touches Anyone Can Do

Home office envy hits the hardest when yours feels like a disorganized mess, or you don’t even have one in the first place. Some of the offices I see are so beautiful, I wonder if anyone ever uses them. I know I’ve looked through Houzz and wished I had a clear desk, pretty organizing solutions, a board full of inspirations or simply enough surface space for my laptop.

Here I’ve gathered some of the most stunning home offices on Houzz. Feel free to steal ideas from them — even if your desk is wedged in a corner of your bedroom.

More cures for Houzz envy: Kitchen | Dining room | Guest room | Living room | Entryway | Bathroom | Closet | Mudroom

Splurge on a good chair. You don’t have to buy an ugly task chair — there are plenty of stylish and ergonomic choices out there.


Float your desk. Don’t shove yourself up against a wall if you don’t have to; take advantage of a view out the window or out into the room. If you find you like this view, consider having an electrician install outlets in the floor so you don’t trip over cords.


Hide unsightly electronics. Printers, fax machines, scanners etc. are not pretty. Try to tuck them into a credenza or cabinets, or stash them on out-of-the-way shelves so you aren’t looking at a pile of electronics all the time. This is especially important if you have a workspace that doubles as a guest room.


Have a comfy seat away from the desk. I don’t care if it’s a settee, a beanbag or a floor pillow; it’s nice to be able to take a break from the desk while you read that boring report or browse on your iPad. Just be careful not to take anything too boring to your comfy spot, or you may wind up falling asleep (unless that’s your intention).


Pick energizing colors. Accent walls, bold-colored furniture and cheerful window treatments will draw you in so you’ll get your work done.


Grab space wherever you can. If your home does not have a separate office, steal a few square feet from somewhere. This can be under the stairs or in a bedroom, guest room, kitchen, basement or hallway.

Here’s a positive way of looking at not having a separate home office: When your office occupies part of another space, it inspires you to keep it neat.

Some ideas for integrated workspaces:


Commandeer a niche with a built-in desk. One shelf can transform an awkward, unused area into a productive and attractive space.


Stash one in the bedroom. To keep that bedroom desk from sticking out like a sore thumb, make sure it blends with the room’s decor. Make it look less office-like by choosing a pretty table lamp instead of a typical task lamp. If you must leave out papers, keep them in a neat stack that won’t disturb you when work time is over.


Hijack a corner in front of a window.


Turn your closet into an office. Learn more here


Use one end of a mudroom, kitchen or hallway. Baskets and boxes can play a big part in enhancing the space and keeping everything you need corralled close at hand. You’ll shred your hands a bit putting them together (I speak from experience here), but the Kassett boxes and magazine holders from Ikea are some of the most attractive and reasonably priced organizers out there. You can also cover plain cardboard boxes with pretty paper or even get clever with decoupage.


Use little details for a big difference. The flower magnets on this inspiration board and the boat cleats used as drawer pulls are easy and inexpensive, and made this workspace personal.


Find a spot with good light. If your workspace doesn’t get good natural light, choose great lamps that brighten your room.


Surround yourself with your favorite things. Family photos, favorite mementos and artwork you love will make you feel comforted and inspired.


Mix up your books, binders and objects. Try something new: Wrap binders with scrap fabric or handmade paper. Stack books horizontally instead of vertically. Place personal framed photos or objects among your work items.


Ben's Garden Love Always Crystal Paperweight - $35 Add a paperweight you love. Make that stack of papers you need to deal with look less daunting by placing a favorite object on top. If you don’t have a paperweight you like, use a favorite rock, shell, saucer or other favorite item, so you can enjoy it every day.


Use chalkboard paint. This makes to-do lists and reminders fun. And as you accomplish tasks, you can have the satisfaction of crossing them off or erasing them. You can also take doodling breaks that will make you feel like a kid again. Thanks to the comments I received from Houzzers on my chalkboard wall art ideabook, I now know there are dust-free chalks and chalkboard pens that avoid dusty messes.


Figure out a personal organizational system. I had no idea I was allowed to be a piler until I read one of Alison Hodgson’s ideabooks. Decide if you’re a piler or a filer and make your own system.


Label it. You don’t have to have an old-school label maker; a bit of ribbon and simple tags from the office supply store can help you keep track of where everything is.


This one is for all of you regular readers of this series. Have you been missing the plates in the last few ideabooks?

If you have any additional tips to help spiff up a home workspace, please share them in the Comments section.

More: Create a Home Office on a Shoestring

URL: The Cure for Houzz Envy: Home Office Touches Anyone Can Do http://www.decor-ideas.org/cases-view-id-22726.html