“Design your life, not your house.” Alexandra Stoddard

The homes we live in must always adapt to changing needs. And with so many of us now working from home, creating a stylish and functional home office is not a luxury – it’s a need. Here are some tips to help you create a better workspace:

Find your location. Many homes come with a single room for a home office—plus a tiny desk wedged into a corner of a kitchen. That may not work well for a two-career couple working from home.
Consider repurposing a room: A formal dining room that is rarely used, a living room that isn’t lived in much, a guest room that won’t be seeing many guests for a while. Now that the weather is warming, a screened porch might also become a workspace. Just because these rooms were intended for another purpose doesn’t mean they can’t adapt. Remove a bed, rearrange the furniture or set-up another eating area and reclaim space for work without being cramped. Perhaps you have a folding table for large family gatherings or wrapping holiday presents; cover it with a pretty fabric or tablecloth to create an inviting work area with lots of room to spread out.
Focus on what you need. Prioritize your job needs and comfort. Perhaps sitting at a desk for long periods of time isn’t for you. Make sure you have a comfortable club chair and an ottoman to put your feet up. Your specific needs will drive the design of your workspace.
Find a desk chair that’s more stylish than one from an office supply store. Your home office space doesn’t need to feel like a corporate office. Personalize your desk area with a stylish wing chair, Parsons chair or dining chair with arms. Perhaps you have one already. You could also reclaim a chair from a thrift store and have it recovered in one of our 1,500+ performance fabrics. Calico has the upholsterers who can restore a worn chair to like-new condition. Then add a plush pillow to support your back and add comfort.

Use distinctive furniture. If your workspace is in the corner of a living area, invest in a chair that is also a beautiful piece of furniture. If you’re lucky enough to have a separate home office, consider having your visitors’ chairs upholstered in a playful pattern, such as in designer Stacy Garcia’s office below.

Photo Credit: Reid Rolls

Create visual interest. If your office is a desk against a bare wall, consider livening it up with wallpaper. Or cover a large bulletin board with fabric or wallpaper to post reminders, lists, calendars and schedules.
Prepare for the unexpected. Home offices are subject to even more accidents than traditional offices, since they merge living and working spaces. Use performance fabric to keep coffee, salad dressing or snacks from staining your space.

Be inspired by a home office makeover by lifestyle blogger Jen Pinkston.
Recently Calico customer Jen Pinkston redid a home office in Austin, Texas shared by Jen and her husband Aaron Pinkston. She came to Calico for the sage green draperies and Roman shade to cut glare on screens while writing and editing, plus provide privacy at night. Calico also made the custom pillows to add pattern and cushy comfort to the daybed that doubles as a sofa.
Read more about her office reveal here.

Photo Credit: Aaron Pinkston

Organize ruthlessly. Clutter is a home office’s worst enemy, both from a productivity and design standpoint. Many home offices are scarce on square footage, so try and use your vertical space as well. Floating shelves, vertical file pockets and tall, shallow bookcases will help you stay organized within a smaller space. Add storage baskets to contain projects and paper clutter (i.e. Recipes, School, Travel, Sports, Scouts).
On Jen Pinkston’s blog, The Effortless Chic, she writes about her friend Margaret who has carved out a neat work area within her kitchen. Margaret also has some great suggestions for How to Keep an Organized Desk:

Photo Credit: Aaron Pinkston

Remember the advice (author unknown) to “Never waste a good crisis!” Use this extra time to upgrade or refresh your workspace to increase your productivity while making it look beautiful, too. Make the time spent there as enjoyable as possible. As your life changes in the years to come, perhaps this space will evolve to a playroom, a homework space for children, a craft or sewing room – or even return to its original design intent.

Stay tuned for Part 2, where we share another Calico customer’s home office!