6 Tips to Help You Design an Inspirational Office  

An inviting home office or workspace is essential for any professional woman working from home on a permanent basis or entertaining a side hustle after work hours. In fact, a home workspace seems to be on the must-have list for every home buyer in the country these days! Creating an area where spending time is enjoyable and user-friendly is important for both productivity and efficiency. A drab office environment doesn’t do anyone any good. A home office space should inspire, motivate and be efficient in order for maximum productivity to occur.

Get creative and add some personality (plus mega cute stationery) to a home workspace that is designated to all things business. Check out these styling tips on creating a totally irresistible home office for a true #GirlBoss!

Add Pops of Pastels
A simple, minimalist office with a few pops of pastel colors can look very chic! Use accessories to bring in calming, pastel shades of pink, mint, blue or lilac. Cute yet convenient accessories that look stylish in any office include candlestick holders, trinket boxes, penholders and vases. Don’t go overboard though; there is a fine line between minimalist with a dash of pastel and little girl’s bedroom! Add touches of gold or silver to offset the pretty pastels and make it big-girl appropriate. Subtle, little additions such as this pastel mint green tape dispenser work really well.

Buy Fresh Flowers
Did you know it’s scientifically proven that plants and flowers help to boost overall mood? There is no better excuse than productivity for treating oneself to a lovely bouquet of fresh flowers. If maintaining plants or getting out to a local florist or market regularly is a struggle, opt for faux flowers or plants instead.  There are some fantastic imitations that are inexpensive and require zero TLC.  Using flowers and plants help to add pops of color to a minimalist or neutral color scheme. Seek out white flowers for an elegant look, bold arrangements for energy, or change out plants and flowers seasonally.

Make the Most of Storage
No one appreciates a messy desk space. Stacks of papers, bills and magazines amidst lip balms, snacks, empty coffee cups and random office supplies strewn about a workspace is not business-friendly. Invest in storage that easily maintains a neat and tidy office area. For small spaces, wall racks such as these, are ideal for making use of unused space and offering a great way to store files and essentials. Face it; professional women tend to have a lot of “essentials”.

Trolleys and caddies are a sensible but stylish storage alternative and can be especially convenient if they have wheels. Storage becomes smart in these catchalls. They are the perfect solution for stashing stationery, notebooks and an endless amount of pens. If a career involves crafts, use carts and trolleys as craft stations to hold ribbon, construction paper, pompoms, yarn and other notations.

Display Prints and Quotes
Nothing breeds inspiration like a motivational quote! A meaningful quote is just what a busy professional woman needs to power through the afternoon to hit an important deadline. There are some fabulous prints on Etsy at a great price, or special quotes can be applied to create prints on Photoshop. Just follow the steps on Photoshop to add a personal touch with one’s own selected color palate.

Utilize wall space to display prints that relate to the business at hand. Whether one’s business is related to numbers, facts, figures, or the arts, prints are available and affordable in every genre. Shelving is a great way to display multiple prints and can add a touch of creativity to a workspace. Take this example of a monochrome workspace as inspiration!

Add the Cute Stationery
The best way to inspire creative thoughts and ideas, thank a colleague or add a signature statement to a sale is stationery.  It is what makes an office personal. Since extra storage is not a problem now, do not be afraid to stock up on super cute notebooks, pens, pencils, folders and journals. Kate Spade is always a winner for chic stationery, but there are a variety of less expensive alternatives available on line or in stores. Ban.do designs carry fun notebooks and planners with quirky patterns and slogans.  This “I am Very Busy” agenda lets everyone know who’s boss!

Give it a Personal Touch
While making your home office look as chic as possible, be sure to add a few personal touches here and there. Perhaps it’s time to ditch the mouse mat with the old family photo and get a little more creative. For example, use pictures to design a photo wall with Polaroid’s and washi tape or make a photo bunting. Incorporate elements from your home business into your decor to spark focus and vision, construct a dream board for inspiration, or employ a chaise lounge for relaxing while researching or conjuring up new ideas.

A tidy desk is a tidy mind! With extra storage and some beautiful new accessories, a tired home office can be transformed into a hub of inspiration and productivity in no time. There’s nothing like style to secure success!