A home office is becoming the “norm” in many residences.  Whether you work from home or perform many office tasks from your house, an office is where you are likely to spend time working, balancing your budget and paying the bills.  With the right decor, you will find that you actually enjoy spending time in your home office.

What do you need in your home office?

There are some things that are necessities and others that simply lend to a relaxing atmosphere conducive to work.  The right desk is essential; it is the center of your home office, and you need a place for everything so that you have easy access; as the old saying goes, “a place for everything and everything in its place”.

Organization will ensure that you can easily access anything you need when working in your home office.  Since your desk is where you will spend most of your time it should be the right size.  A small desk won’t provide adequate space for your needs, while one that is too large tends to get cluttered.  Choose one that’s the perfect size for what you intend to accomplish, one that has adequate shelving and storage space along with just the right amount of open area on top.

Shelves handle everything from personal items to files

Shelves are essential in the home office.  You always want to add a personal touch so that your office feels comfortable and relaxing. It’s important that you include photos and even a few of those trophies or awards your children have won.

Shelves can perform a variety of functions, from holding file folders and sticky notes to awards, family photos, plants and other items that give your home office a personal touch.  You can select prebuilt units, place shelves in convenient spots on walls or use a combination of both.

When you’re short on space, a chest or armoire works wonders

According to Martha Stewart, you can keep your office organized and stylish by keeping extra paper, staples, and other office supplies out of sight.  A chest or armoire is perfect for this, as you can store anything inside so that you don’t have a lot of extra “stuff” setting on shelves, filing cabinets and your desk.  A neat, well-organized office is conducive to work and provides a welcoming atmosphere. 

Plants – a necessity for every home office

Whether it is a bonsai tree or an elephant ear plant, you need natural elements in your home office.  Set a corn plant or fern in a corner near a window, or place smaller plants on shelves.  Greenery adds a natural element that makes any room more inviting.

It’s best to use plants which require a minimum of care in your home office.  Bonsai trees are perfect for this use because they take up very little space and require little maintenance.

A bulleting board is another item you will want to place in your home office, so that you can keep up with meetings, deadlines and other events.

Dress up a cork board with a fabric that coordinates with the overall décor and then frame it any way you like.  This makes for an element that is not only practical, but ornamental as well.

Dress up your home office, and make useful and comfortable, appealing and relaxing!

It’s not unusual for home offices to be decorated very plainly. But why shouldn’t your home office be just as stylish as your living room or kitchen? When you add style to your home office, you create a space that’s much more enjoyable to work in.

Add Style with Color on the Walls
Try not to paint the walls a neutral color. Thus, you should stay away from colors such as gray, tan, cream, and even white. Pick out colors that are bolder yet still appealing, like blue, green, and even pink. If you’re unsure about using bolder colors, try painting one wall an accent color first and see how you like it, before committing to the entire room. If you find that you’re comfortable with it, then you can go ahead and paint the whole room a more vibrant color.

Add Style with Artwork
It’s easier than you think you change your dull and boring home office into a stylish and trendy one. Just add a special piece of art. You can achieve this with just about any type of art, from a large painting to a sculpture sitting on a bookcase. Be sure you’ll enjoy looking at it for a long time though, as you want to enjoy spending time in your home office.

Add Style with Functional Accessories
By decorating with functional accessories, you can add style to a small home office without taking up space. You can add some color and pattern to the room with a fabric covered bulletin board—which will also give you an area for your work. Adding a unique lamp to your on your mission desk is another great way to add practical style. Try to find one that has an interesting aspect to it, such as a funky lampshade, but will still give you the required amount of light. You might also consider adding other functional accessories such as a pen holder, colorful bins and baskets, and an area rug under your desk chair.

Add Style by Highlighting the Windows
If you have a window in your home office, this is a really important area to highlight. It can get lonely working from home all day, and bright sunlight can help you to stay motivated. By using colorful and playful window treatments, you can really emphasize the window area. It doesn’t matter if you use drapes, a valance, or blinds, as long as you are drawing the eye to the light streaming in through the window. A great way to create noticeable windows is to use contrasting colors for the window trim and window treatments. If you have a blue room, for instance, choose orange or brown window treatments to make them really stand out.

Chances are, you spend a lot of time in your home office. So why live with a drab and boring room? Adding style to your home office can make a world of difference and it doesn’t need to cost a lot to accomplish. And don’t forget, by using some creativity with the décor, you just might be inspired to be more creative in your job as well.

You can use whiteboard paint in many different rooms in your home, whether it’s to accessorize or add some personality to the décor. Although people typically think of whiteboard paint for a child’s room, it actually can be utilized in other rooms of your home as well. Here are just some of the many unique ways you can use whiteboard paint in different rooms in your home.

Whiteboard Paint in a Child’s Bedroom
The most popular place to use whiteboard paint is in a child’s bedroom. By painting one area of the wall, you can create for your children their very own whiteboard to draw on and play with.

Whiteboard paint can also be use on things in the room like tables and closet doors. In fact, with a little Whiteboard paint you can create personalized closet doors for your children, where they can design and draw any type of scene they wish. This can then be changed as often as they like, perhaps even with the seasons or holidays throughout the year.

Whiteboard Paint in the Kitchen
Section off a wall in the kitchen to be painted with whiteboard paint. Then you’ll have a place to write down menus, grocery lists, or whatever you prefer. If you don’t want to use the wall, you might take a piece of wood and paint it with Whiteboard paint. Then you can hang it up and write your weekly menus on the board for all to see.

You might also use the paint on the refrigerator, if you don’t mind your kids drawing there. What will result is your very own personalized fridge, freshened each day with new drawings from your kids. Another great place for whiteboard paint is your backsplash. This gives you a great place where you can write down messages and recipes, or just doodle while you’re cooking dinner.

Whiteboard Paint in the Home Office
In a home office setting, whiteboard paint can be used in several different ways. Paint a section of the wall, creating your very own message board or monthly/weekly calendar. You could also paint a small piece of wood with Whiteboard paint and frame it. Hang it outside your office door and write messages on it when you don’t want to be bothered. You can also have your family members write messages back to you, keeping them from bothering you when you are working.

Whiteboard Paint in a Game Room
If you have a game room, perhaps with a pool table, then Whiteboard paint makes the perfect place to create your own scoreboard. You can also use this area for other games, such as darts and even some card games. This is a neat permanent feature to add to your game room that can be played up with a nice wooden frame. When not in use, you can put a quote or an inspirational message on it as well.

What better way to add a touch of personality to your walls in your home than with some whiteboard paint? There are so many different creative ways to use whiteboard paint, beyond what you might think of.