If your home office area doubles as a living area, creative arrangements might be required in order to distinguish your work space from other parts of the room. Use design elements as markers between your working area and other parts of the room.
Example: Place a desk behind the sofa, using ottomans as seating to help separate work from lounge area while maintaining coziness of environment. This way you’ll enjoy having an home office area in your living room at hand yet still feel connected.
1. Place a Desk Behind the Sofa
Space behind a sofa is often neglected and makes the ideal location for creating a home office area. Simply add a desk and select an attractive chair that complements the rest of your living room decor or choose bold contrast colors for an eye-catching effect!
If your room features open shelving, make it into an office nook! Make sure that its color complements that of the desk for a streamlined appearance.
Closets can also make suitable home offices if they feature doors to partition off their workspace from visitors and children, and use of folding screens or room dividers is another popular design trend that creates privacy while separating work from living areas of your home. There are even foldaway desks that look like console tables when not in use!
2. Place a Desk Against a Window
As an independent contractor working from home, having a dedicated workspace is necessary for productivity. Unfortunately, not everyone has a spare room they can convert into their workspace; but even without enough money or space available for this, there are ways you can still create an effective home office in your living area which will help keep you working productively.
One option for better focus while working is placing your desk near a window, with natural lighting providing ample natural illumination while you work and additional window treatments for added protection against monitor glare.
Reducing clutter in an office area requires using walls or panels. Painting them a different hue or wallpapering them to define a distinct work zone can add style and personality to any home office area.
3. Place a Desk in a Corner
Your living room provides the ideal place for you to set up a home office area that won’t consume too much space, making your workday easier while conserving precious square footage. A simple vintage writing desk makes the ideal solution, fitting seamlessly amongst the other furniture pieces. Or you could choose a corner desk that matches the color of the walls for an even more seamless appearance in your office.
Adding a partition or curtain can transform any small area into an office, providing privacy from guests or children while offering you some work space.
If your ceiling has sloped slopes, why not turn it into a workspace by fitting a desk and shelves into this area. This idea works especially well if your office contains an artwork such as a painting as its focal point.
4. Place a Desk in a Wall
If you lack a separate room to dedicate solely to work at home office area, adding a desk to a wall in your living space may provide an ideal way of creating an area in which to focus without disrupting other members of the household.
To create an effortless living space, select a desk that complements both its color and style of the rest of the room. Megan Molten of interior designer Megan Molten utilized this strategy by placing a wooden desk with shelves matching those on her sofa as her workspace.
A large painting adds visual interest above the desk, while fabric blinds help control light levels by shielding direct sunlight that could distract from work and produce unnecessary glare. Furthermore, houseplants help screen off the workspace for privacy and add a soft and natural element to its design.
5. Place a Desk in a Shelving Unit
Home offices benefit from having bold wallpaper to add an air of elegance, as well as room dividers if their desk sits within an open-plan room. In this example, mid-century abstract expressionism serves as both feature wall and room divider, separating workspace from storage area.
Shelving can be an efficient way to store office clutter while adding style with natural materials like cork. Consider opting for geometric bookshelf instead of standard open shelving solutions and add in bold shapes like hexagonal elements for an eye-catching display.
If you’re planning on commissioning built-in joinery, make it work harder by designing for multiple workspaces. Here, wooden shelves wrap around an L-shape to give each person their own space in which to work.
6. Place a Desk in a Coffee Table
Substituting wallpaper designs with bolder prints for more traditional wall paintings, you can add an eye-catching piece of wall paper in smaller areas to make a statement and draw the eye away from plain walls and furniture. This technique works especially well on room dividers or accent walls which can easily be concealed when not being used.
Foldaway desk options that resemble coffee tables and can easily be stored away when not needed exist too, like this chic marble and walnut wood table from La Redoute featuring a fold-out cabinet desk hidden beneath its sleek top surface.
Repurposing a kitchen bar or counter-height table into a stand-up home office is another trendy trend that can help relieve back and neck pain caused by sitting all day, while simultaneously offering protection from guests or children in your living room.
7. Place a Desk in a Bookcase
An alcove or niche home office is an effective way to divide space without taking up too much floor area. In this design, a wooden desk was fitted into an existing wall-mounted shelf painted the same shade as the living room panels for an unifying effect and completed by adding an attractive green house plant as an accent piece.
Building your home office area in a closet or nook can also be an excellent solution, providing an escape from distractions like kids and guests while working. A foldaway desk that can easily be stored away when not needed can also help; modern brands often offer stylish models for this option, while you could even consider purchasing one that doubles up as both desk and console table!
8. Place a Desk in an Ottoman
Ottomans offer many of the same benefits that coffee tables do, while adding seating without restricting conversational flow or closing off an area visually. If your living room already features multiple coffee tables, consider ottomans as an alternative that can serve many of those purposes too! Identical ottomans make excellent conversation pieces while providing additional seating without closing off visual space visually.
Pair your ottomans with window treatments that enhance their illumination and visual connection to the rest of the space, such as in this living room where a bold printed roman blind adorning its windows helps reduce midday sun’s harsh glare while adding a playful element.
Displaying large trays on an ottoman provides an opportunity for styling, creating different height arrangements and keeping the eye moving around the room. Plus, an ottoman serves as an ideal surface for displaying conversation-starting books and accessories just be sure to pick out fabric that complements your curtains for a seamless look!
9. Place a Desk in a Cabinet
Establishing a distinct home office area is one of the best ways to keep work from interfering with family life at home. A dedicated workspace will also help keep you focused and prevent distractions when watching television or someone sleeping nearby.
An alcove in a corner makes an excellent location for a home office area. A cabinet that provides plenty of storage, like this example from Fantastic Frank, or adding a desk shelf as part of your home office may work wonders.
If you’re working in an open floor plan, using room dividers or folding screens to create visual barriers is key for delineating zones effectively. Painting this zone a contrasting hue will further define its design impact while flat file cabinets provide excellent options for storing large documents or prints.
10. Place a Desk in a Drawer
if you have a closet or nook that would make for an ideal home office area, consider turning it into your office space. Just ensure the desk and nook are large enough to comfortably house a computer, books, binders, supplies and more. Finally, use DIY drawer dividers to help organize clutter on your desk drawers so it is easier for you to locate what you need when searching for something specific.
Make use of a contrasting color to visually separate the workspace from the rest of the room and add visual interest, and don’t forget about adding houseplants proven to boost productivity by increasing oxygen levels! A folding screen or room divider may also come in handy, especially for tight spaces; they tuck neatly away when not being used; these options can be found online and at some home furnishings stores.
What Are Some Common Mistakes to Avoid When Incorporating a Home Office Area in a Living Room?
When incorporating a home office area in your living room, avoid cluttering the space with unnecessary items. Keep it organized and functional. Ensure proper lighting and comfortable seating. Maintain a balance between work and relaxation areas to enhance productivity.
How Can I Maintain a Sense of Separation Between the Home Office Area and Living Room Areas?
To maintain separation between the home office area and living room, position furniture strategically, like using bookshelves as dividers. Create designated zones for each area with rugs or lighting. Keep work items organized in dedicated storage to avoid clutter.
Are There Any Specific Lighting Considerations to Keep in Mind When Setting up a Home Office Area in a Living Room?
When setting up a home office area in a living room, ensure you prioritize natural light to reduce eye strain and boost productivity. Consider task lighting for focused work and ambient lighting for a cozy atmosphere.
How Can I Personalize My Home Office Area to Make It Feel More Inviting and Inspiring?
To personalize your home office area and make it inviting, infuse it with items that inspire you, like motivational quotes, plants, or personal photos. Use colors that uplift your mood and add cozy elements for comfort.
What Are Some Creative Storage Solutions for Keeping Office Supplies Organized in a Shared Living Room Space?
To keep office supplies organized in a shared living room space, consider utilizing stylish baskets, wall-mounted shelves, and multi-functional furniture like storage ottomans. These solutions help maintain a neat and clutter-free environment while blending seamlessly with your decor.
