Must-Do's For a Functional and Beautiful Desk Space
/Ah, September. The start of school, and this year, perhaps back to work for parents now that kids are at school in-person. Which means one thing - you need a desk space at home. Whether it’s homework headquarters for your teen, or a home office, I have some must-do’s for you to keep in mind to make this zone productive, functional and beautiful.
Have Something Pretty to Look At
Your desk should be a pleasant place to be - help it along with something beautiful to look at. Gazing out a window is great, but not always possible. Wallpaper, some art you love, or a pin board with inspiring images are all ways to spruce up your work space.
2. Go Simple for a Budget-Friendly Design
If budget is tight (or you need multiple work stations and want to be conservative), go with a very simple desk. Simple lines, and a white finish will always look better than a cheap faux wood. This desk is from CB2 and is under $200, and the drawers are from Ikea. You’ll want drawers for pens, post-it’s, chargers, etc. With the money you saved you can put a little more into a comfy desk chair.
3. Hidden Storage is Key
Having a home office comes with so much STUFF - and same for keeping a school supply stash at home for projects and 9pm requests for a folder that they need first thing in the morning. Ahem. My favorite way to add storage is with a very non-office piece like a dining room credenza, media console, or any cabinet that is stylish and has doors and/or drawers. Think printer paper, labels, glue sticks, tape, extra staples, construction paper, file folders… etc. Bonus, they are usually appropriately sized for a printer to sit on top.
P.S. If your credenza only has shelves, you may want to get some acrylic bins to help corral and organize the smaller supplies but still easy to see without pulling them out.
4. No Dedicated “Office” Room? No Problem!
Maybe you don’t have a spare room that functions as an office. Or maybe your partner is using it to work full time and you need a second work-from-home space. Or maybe your kids are young and you’d like to keep an eye on them when they are at the family computer. A work space that is incorporated into the rest of the home (especially open concept spaces or apartments) is totally doable when you pick simple, attractive pieces and avoid the cubicle-style furniture found at the office supply stores. Add a lamp, some art, maybe a nearby file tray or printer (or get a small storage cabinet), and it will blend in seamlessly.
Hope these tips help you get back to school and back to work! What other design tips would you like to see us cover here? I’m all ears!
