The concept of having a home office is not very new in itself. But, most people still harbour inhibitions while deciding on the design and decor of their home offices. They are afraid of either over-doing it or under-doing it. The thumb rule is that home office designs should follow the same path as the designs of the rest of the house; they need to blend in with the already existing interiors of the rest of the house. By extension, a home office within contemporarily decorated house must be contemporary too.

A primary feature of contemporary decor is minimalism, which is actually a great advantage in terms of expenditure. The idea is of a decor that is subtle and easy on the eyes. A few selected furniture units must be tastefully chosen instead of many units creating a clutter. Minimalism does not demand much in terms of the material needed. This is not only true of home decor but also of home office decor. A minimalistic home office would need less decor since cluttering it with too much furniture would hamper its clean layout.

Furniture Units

Since one may not always be able to allocate a big room as office space, practicality and functionality become important factors to consider. Having talked about using only the minimal, one important task of creating a contemporary home office is deciding what one would actually need.

To ensure that the sleek design of the office is maintained while getting ample storage space, one would opt for a desk with built-in drawer space, accompanied by a tall shelving unit. Vertical units merge well with the minimalistic theme and provide enough storage.

Ideally, the colour, design, and material of units (like chairs, sofas, and desks) should match with those placed in the other rooms of the house.

Colour scheme

A lot has been said about what different colors symbolize and the emotions they evoke. For instance, the popular belief is that blue promotes clear thought and calmness while yellow boosts creativity. But, while designing his home office, one needs to keep in mind that the workspace has to be such that one is able to concentrate.

Solid colors like blue, yellow and orange may seem pleasing for the first hour, but may soon get too bright to look at constantly. It is advisable to keep the workspace light and airy, preferably in a pale pastel shade which can make the entire atmosphere seem lighter.

Having said that, the color theme of the office space will also depend on the business and the kind of clients one expects to cater to. If the office space is to be used for a business that runs on creativity, then one can consider using bright colors, or perhaps have one feature wall of a brighter colour.

Light

There is just no requirement as important as that of proper lighting. A well-lit room is essential for feeling energized and positive. It also helps boost positivity. Yes, one can use LED lights and place them within shelves for a subtle effect, but nothing can surpass the effect of natural lighting. As far as possible, try to arrange the work desk in such a way that it faces the window instead of another wall.

Green elements

It would be a good idea to add some green element into the workspace to create a refreshing ambience. For people with fairly large home offices, one plausible option is to use one of the walls for vertical gardening. For those with small workspaces, the green quotient can be achieved by placing potted plants on window-sills or side tables.

Personal items

A home office is different from a conventional office not just in the convenience it offers, but also in the extra liberty one can make use of while decorating it. A home office is a more personal space, and so it would suit the overall personal feel of the office if one were to place certain personal items around. Personal photographs, mugs, inspirational posters, preferred stationary items etc. are some things that can add a more individual touch.