Does your home office consist of little more than a plain desk and office chair? While that might be an adequate solution, a home workspace can be so much more! It doesn’t have to be serious and somber. It doesn’t need to be as unimaginative as your typical corporate cubicle. It can be a space that adds an inspiring note to every day.

Here are some reasons to liven up your WFH headquarters and some home office design ideas to make it happen.

Why a Happy Home Office?

In the downtown office, there’s a limit on what you can do to cheer up your assigned space. A few pictures on the wall is about the max. At home, you’re free to arrange things however you want! And there are several reasons why you should.

Studies indicate that people work better in a more attractive environment. A pleasant design can bring inspiration and boost creativity and motivation. Whether you’re spending a couple of hours a day or whether you WFH from breakfast until dinner, you ought to pass that time in a cheerful place. It perks you up and makes you happier, and these factors may just improve the work that you produce.

How To Brighten Up Your Office

Have you ever found yourself deserting your desk and sitting with your laptop on the living room sofa? Why would you do that? Well, maybe it’s because the living room is a more comforting spot! Here are some ways to make your office space just as enticing:

• Fine furniture. The first duties of a desk and chair are to be ergonomic and practical, but there’s no reason they can’t be beautiful as well. They don’t have to look like they came from an office warehouse overstock. Some writing desks are elegantly crafted, and even traditional office desks can be stylish pieces of furniture. If there’s room for a side chair, consider a bright accent chair or even a loveseat.

• The kibosh on clutter. A crowded space is inherently unappealing, and it creates stress. Have a place such as a drawer or a shelf for everything. When you’re done with your day, take a few minutes to put things away so that a fresh desktop is ready to greet you tomorrow.

• Vertical space. If your workspace is on the smallish side, expand it by embracing verticality. Use a tall and narrow bookcase for storage. Consider floating shelves that go high up the wall.

• Natural light. If you have a window, use minimal curtaining and position your desk where you can glance up and see the outdoors. Even a peripheral view of nature can improve your mood and enhance your psychological well-being.

• Tasteful lighting. A lighting source can be as beautiful as the illumination it produces. An office desk lamp needs to flex to cast light where it’s needed, and thus it can be designed with striking creativity. But don’t ignore the possibilities of an office floor lamp. An arced lamp will bend to illuminate tasks on your desk, while a more traditional floor lamp cheers the room with ambient lighting.

• Color. Your workspace doesn’t have to be “office beige.” You can paint it with a color that matches the attitude you bring to the job. Yellow is happy and optimistic, pink denotes energy and glamor, green contains energy, and blue is calm and competent. You might even opt for wallpaper with a pattern that speaks to you.

How about a side chair in a sassy accent color? And a bright area rug, even if it’s atop a carpet, keeps the energy level high. One easy addition to a room’s ambiance is a chair mat. A colorful mat protects the floor from rolling wheels, and it’s an incalculable improvement over its clear plastic cousin.

• Decor. If your window is small (or non-existent), consider wall art with nature scenes to give you an enlivening taste of the outdoors. Another option is to choose decor that invigorates the room with accent colors. Or select metallic desk sculpture to enhance lighting and boost the brightness. A cherished mug can be repurposed as a pencil holder. Pictures of loved ones are as encouraging on a home office desktop as they were in that old cubicle downtown. For something to tickle your happy bone every day, how about a quirky desk clock?

• Greenery. Plants are a delight to look at, and they bring that oh-so-necessary touch of nature indoors, but they offer more than merely a treat for the eyes. Aloe vera, for example, purifies the air and clears out toxins, and potted herbs bring natural scents to your workspace. Every bit of live nature you add to your room promotes calm, rejuvenates and satisfies your deep inner need to connect with the natural world.

If you spend a sizable chunk of your waking hours in a home office, it pays to make those hours as agreeable as possible! With a bright, welcoming WFH space, it’s easier to get going in the morning and to keep your attitude and energy high as the day proceeds. You arrange the rest of your home to make yourself happy and comfortable. When you bring the same creativity to designing your home workspace, every day at the desk will be more positive and productive!