Decorating & Design
Back To School: Get 25 Ways To Upgrade Your Workspace
Published on August 24, 2018
Back to school isn’t just for kids. The return of fall has a way of energizing everyone! So why not elevate your workspace for the coming season? You won’t regret adding some statement decor or functional storage. After all, a beautiful office is one you’ll actually want to spend time in.
Read on for 25 inspired ideas to upgrade your workspace.
Working in a soft spot to rest and recharge is ideal for those who work from home, and a petite loveseat like this one is a seamless addition in smaller spaces.
Short on wall space? Get creative and mount open storage from the ceiling to hang in front of your windows.
A colorful, kaleidoscopic pattern like this one has a dynamic feeling — perfect for waking up a staid home office.
Keep desktops clear with wall-mounted folder organizers, lighting and floating shelves. Our advice? Go all-white to keep visual clutter to a minimum.
Bring a bit of beachy style to a workspace with bamboo shades and rush seating, or add a small dash of texture with wicker storage bins.
We love the eye-popping look of a boldly colored, graphic piece of artwork, like this painting by Maison & Demeure stylist Valérie Morrisset.
Upgrade a boring workstation with a luxe gold task lamp, desk chair and accessories. Go the extra mile by replacing your desk’s hardware with metallic knobs.
Eminently practical, a simple, wall-hung memo roll will also add a dash of hip, unfitted style to a buttoned-up office.
Add character to a room with a rustic wooden work table. We love a trestle-based design — the more weathered, the better!
Don’t neglect overhead lighting in a workspace you use night and day. This delicate pendant doubles as jewelry in the room.
Floor-to-ceiling shelves are useful, but they can look bulky. Go for slim open storage in the same tone as your walls for a lighter, more seamless effect.
An integrated desk and plenty of closed storage prevent a workspace from looking too office-like in a shared space, such as a kitchen or bedroom.
Go for paler-toned wood on floors, millwork and furniture — a lighter twist on the classic, mahogany-clad library.
Replace side-by-side desks — or your desk and neighboring filing cabinet — with a single, console-style work table. You’ll get just as much surface area, but a much sleeker look.
If you tend to work in the dining room, corral pens, pads and other supplies on a pretty tray. (Stash it on a sideboard or shelf when guests pop by.)
We love this simple solution for keeping inspiring mementoes, art and curios nearby, while keeping desktops uncluttered.
Thin strips of ribbon, affixed to a memo board in a grid pattern, keep photographs and reminders organized in an elegant way.
If you have a petite desk, consider trading in a space-gobbling task lamp for floor lighting.
Without any contrast, all-white can feel uninspiring. We love how homeowner Tamara Taggart used bright accessories, art and storage cups to shake up her workstation.
A quick way to invigorate any space is with a couple panels of large-scale pattern. This moody-toned, mallard print would be a particularly stately addition to a home library.
Add function by setting up a designated area for reading (a plush armchair), workshopping (a small table) and brainstorming (a generous pinboard).
Infuse a bit of life into your work area with a few easy-care potted succulents, or go big with a feathery palm in a woven basket.
Love the cocooning feel of a cozy library? Follow architect Darcie Watson’s lead and paint all the millwork in an office in one deep, saturated hue.
Relocate your desk to look out onto a garden or backyard for ever-changing inspiration — even if this means placing it in a bedroom or kitchen!
Who says offices have to be stuffy? Top your desk with speakers, sculpture, flowering branches — whatever gets your creative juices flowing.