Make your home office a warm, inviting space.

Personalize it with color, artwork, rugs and memorabilia.

A home office is not an impersonal work cubicle.

So often, our home offices are an afterthought – a room that’s functional, but not fashionable, and often they end up as the place that collects clutter. Don’t let that happen to you! Make your home office a reflection of your personality, as well as a functioning room for the tasks you need – or want – to do there.

Whether you call this room a home office, a study or a library, your first consideration is to customize it for the tasks you need to complete. You may need this room for heavy-duty desk work on a daily basis, or just use it once in a while to check your laptop or write a few personal emails.

Most important is a desk that works for you and a good quality desk chair that’s the right height and is comfortable for you. And why not buy a stylish desk and chair, instead of the cheapest functional pieces of furniture you can find? Good lighting is key too – not just ambient lighting, but task lighting on or above your desk. Think ahead about all the devices and equipment you need, including computer(s), printer(s), file cabinets and more.

Other enhancements to consider include:

• Built-in shelving to display work-related memorabilia, including certificates, diplomas, awards and photos
• Closed cabinets to store necessities that don’t look very pretty – envelopes, paper and toner cartridges
• A system to hide the “ugly stuff,” such as modems, routers, surge protectors, chargers and those oh-so-many cords that go along with all of the above
• Window fashions that block the glare on your computer screen that happens at certain times of day or certain times of the year

Whether you use your home office to complete important work assignments or just read the newspaper, take the time to make it a place that reflects your personality.

Copyright Hunter Douglas.