Style my Small, Home Office Nook with Me
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Over the last few years the world has seen an increase in work from home and flex-working situations that has made having a beautiful and functional home office essential. When creating your home office ideally you want to be able to carve out an entire space but space these days is at a premium, especially in my London flat. Having a home that is multifunctional and being creative is a must. I took an alcove in my living room and with careful planning, clever furniture and storage choices, created a chic and practical office that boosts productivity.
The first step is to decide where you are going to house your office. Whether you can allocate an entire room, transform a closet (“cloffice”), use the space under the stairs, or tuck yourself into a nook like I did, there is no space too small. One important thing to keep in mind when choosing your desk location is the presence of natural light. Natural light increases morale, work performance, and productivity and can make you feel more calm. Plus if you are in London, you just need that Vitamin D.
I am going to highlight how I styled my space and link some of those products or look-a-likes so that no matter how small your space is, or where its located, you can have a beautiful, inspiring and functional home office too.
Creative Vertical Storage
Two of the most important things for your office are having storage and leaving a personal touch. While the addition of storage may seem obvious the personal touches are what helps you feel comfortable and motivated. One of the easiest ways to do this is to add vertical storage. This is especially essential when working in a cloffice, alcove or under the stairs as square footage is limited. It’s important to keep the shelves spaced appropriately. You need them high enough that you don’t feel claustrophobic and you aren’t blocking important light but not so spaced apart that they aren’t functional or look odd. Don’t be afraid to get close to the ceiling with your shelves and utilize an antique footstool on double duty to the side as a plant shelf. If shelves aren’t the best option for you, you can utilize rails and hanging pots (Ikea has great options), monitor stands, peg boards with accessories, or even spice racks as slim shelving alternatives.
For my look…
I built book shelves using reclaimed, unfinished scaffolding boards and molding. I finished it off with a mahogany stain and a clear coat of polyurethane on the boards and white paint on the molding. You can find reclaimed wood at salvage stores or order it online.
- The scaffolding board that I ordered
- I used a mahogany stain and satin polyurethane or you can use a combo stain + poly
I have a monitor stand from Anthropologie (sold out but similar linked below).
More Plants, More Productivity
Of course I had to include a plant section. Besides being beautiful, adding color, and bringing in joy to your space, a 2014 study found that having plants in your office can increase productivity by 15%. Plants can be hung from your ceiling, trailing off your shelves, framing either side of your desk, or a cute tray under your desk lamp. I like to use a mix of terracotta and white ceramic pots because I have so many plants I found being consistent with my pots helps the plants shine and keep the space from being visually overwhelming.
Here are some of my suggestions based on different light requirements and your set up.
Hanging and Trailing
Pothos varieties Neon, Golden, Satin, Marble Queen and N’Joy which all function in low to bright indirect light. The variegated forms prefer a slightly brighter light or they lose their variegation.
Philodendron Scandens varieties Brasil, Heartleaf and Neon which all function in low to bright indirect light. The neon form prefers a slightly brighter light or it loses its vibrance. I have a Brasil, which is the variegated form with neon splotches on the dark green in one of my book end planters.
Framing Your Desk
Sansaveria (Snake Plant) can come quite large and will frame your space perfectly while needing very little light or care to thrive. The most common large varieties are Laurentii and Zeylanica.
Algaonema (Chinese Evergreen) comes in many colors, patterns and leaf shapes. I have a care guide here. They are full and bushy and the green and silver varieties need very little light to thrive while the pink ones need bright indirect light. Two of the most common varieties are Red Chinese Evergreen or Silver Bay.
ZZ Plants most commonly come in green but also come in Raven (black). They need very little light to thrive and are often used in office environments. I have a care guide here.
Under your Lamp
Make a succulent tray! I have a guide here on how to do this and even if you don’t have the light, there are cute desk lamps that can also feed your plants.
Dwarf Sansaveria (Snake Plant) varieties stay compact and need little light or care.
African Milk Tree is an euphorbia pretending to look like a cactus. It can get gigantic and be placed on either side of your desk but it also is great to buy as a baby. I have one to the right of my desktop.
Add Antiques for Warmth
Adding in vintage pieces makes a home feel warm and more personal. I like to mix and match new and old, with the antiques being the star of the show. Nothing is more a star of the home office than the desk so I spent a few months looking for the right antique piece. I had space limitations due to the radiator under the window reducing the max width but needing a good amount of storage at the same time.
Two other good places to add antique charm to your office are with your chair and/or a cozy rug. I am a big fan of Persian rugs and the pattern, color and depth they provide. Even major brands like Ikea have started selling Persian rugs. They have the beauty of looking vintage even when not.
The UK has this fantastic site called Vinterior that is a collection of vintage home furnishing vendors. I found an 1860s walnut desk with surprisingly deep drawers and a beautiful finish. If you are searching for a unique antique piece I recommend checking your local flea markets, Craigslist and Facebook marketplace, follow local vendors on instagram and subscribe to their newsletters, and check Etsy, 1st Dibs and Chairish.
Mix up Materials
Mixing materials makes a space feel cohesive and comfortable. I like to use wood, rattan, bamboo and other organic items to create a warm feeling. I mix faux fur, leather, and fabrics for softer, touchable elements and dimension. Since I have a lot of plants I try to use white ceramic and terracotta for consistency but pots are a great place to add a pop of color or texture. Lastly using art and metals creates visual interest and unique highlights. Mixing metals can seem intimidating but stick to warm or cool tones. For example, gold, brass and copper or silver, aluminum, and nickel.
Start with a good base and then add groupings of mixed materials in threes at different sizes. Since gold is my metal of choice, I like to sprinkle it throughout in frames, edges of my old books, and desk accessories. I have warm wood elements in my desk, chair and decor I got traveling. I have rattan in baskets and my chair for texture along with a faux fur throw that you just want to touch.
For my look…
Shelf Styling
I love shelf styling. It’s like a puzzle I get to solve with no right or wrong answers, just creativity. There are a lot of ways you can organize books:
- Size
- Color
- Author
- Genre
My shelves are actually a mix of all the above. Large series I like to keep together (peep my Laura Ingall's series that was my mom's as a kid) while books by the same author I will split up if I need to balance the look. Stacking books horizontally is a good way to visually break up the shelf. I use large books sideways as a good placement for plants. Smaller books stacked horizontally make a good spot for baskets or mementos. You can organize books by color by putting the pinks and reds, blues and teals, and whites and creams together etc.
If you have very long shelves then split up placement on the edges and centers and break it up visually with varying heights, horizontal placements, blank spaces for frames and mementos. Alter the weight of books across your shelves. So do not have all your magazines in one area and your Tolkien in another.
If you have any books that feel like they are sticking out or not fitting your decor, here are two solutions:
- Turn them backwards for the neutral look of the pages
- Take colored cardstock and use that as the book jacket
When it comes to decorating your shelves there are so many options. I like to sprinkle in plants and even buy bookends that double as planters. Texture is important so try to add in baskets, bowls and bins that double as storage and visual cohesion. Your shelves are a way to show your personality and be functional. Have fun with it!
Having a small office means being creative to get the most out of the square footage, whether thats vertically or horizontally. Just remember to add in those personal touches so you feel comfortable and inspired working there. In my opinion, the more plants the better and science backs that when it comes to offices! Hope you had fun styling my space with me and tag me in your home offices @thegreenmadhouse.
