How can I make my home office look good?

Spaces designated for working and studying can often feel sterile or blasé. To strike a balance between a conducive work environment and a place that feels true to your design style , find a mix of decorative objects and functional pieces. Fortunately, there is an abundance of desk, office chair, and organizational system options that are far less corporate and more visually pleasing. Seek out inspiration and put together a design board to help you plan out an office you enjoy spending time in.

How should I decorate my office?

First, pinpoint two important things: your work style and your decor style. A preference for sitting or standing (or a mixture of both) will impact the furniture you’ll want to buy. The hours you work and if you spend time on video or phone calls also matter—exceptional lighting fixtures or sound systems are key in these situations. Once you’ve laid this out, then delve into your style preferences. Minimalist and clean spaces are popular for offices, but a maximalist, colorful room can also be fun for branching out from the usual home workspace.

What supplies do I need on my desk?

Every person has a different job description and set of tasks that needs to get done during the workweek and not all desk supplies will be relevant for everyone. That being said, the most common items include pen and pencil holders, paper dividers, drawer organizers , desk lamps, planners, and basics such as tape, tacks, staplers, notepads, envelopes, and paperclips. This list can be expanded upon or shortened.

The 11 Best Home Office Decor Pieces of 2023

Best Home Office Decorations — The Spruce / Michela Buttignol

The right office decor accessories can help boost productivity and make your workspace more comfortable and inviting.

We researched dozens of stylish office decor options, evaluating style, functionality, and overall value. Our top picks include the Jarvis Bamboo Standing Desk, the World Market Kira Task Lamp, and the Umbra Trigon Magnetic Bulletin Board.

Here are our favorite office decor accessories.

Our Top Picks

Best Standing Desk:

Fully Jarvis Bamboo Standing Desk at Amazon

Jump to Review

Best Cable Organizer :

Yamazaki Cable Management Box at Amazon

Jump to Review

Best Desk Lamp :

World Market Task Lamp at World Market

Jump to Review

Best Bulletin Board :

Umbra Magnetic Board at Amazon

Jump to Review

Best Wall Storage :

Pottery Barn Teen Wall Storage at PBteen

Jump to Review

Best Desk Organizer :

Marie Kondo Desk Organizer at The Container Store

Jump to Review

Best Floating Desk :

AllModern Barry Floating Desk at Allmodern.com

Jump to Review

Best Side Chair:

eModern Decor Side Chair at Wayfair

Jump to Review

Best Wall Calendar :

Girl Friday Acrylics Acrylic Calendar at Etsy

Jump to Review

Best Mousepad:

Northwind Supply Personalized Leather Mousepad at Etsy

Jump to Review

In This Article

Our Picks
What to Look For
FAQ
Why Trust The Spruce?

4.2

View On Amazon View On Fully.com

While there are many decorations you can have in an office, a desk is a central focal point. The Fully Jarvis Standing Desk is our favorite statement piece for a home office because it offers high functionality and a beautiful design.

This desk has dual motors in each column to raise or lower the top to a standing or seated position. There are also four presets to program the desk for multiple preferences or users, and rubber grommets help muffle the noise when lowering and raising the height. The base is made from heavy steel to create stability, and the frame can hold up to 350 pounds for maximum strength.

The Jarvis desk isn't just practical. It features a stunning, sustainable bamboo surface protected by a durable UV coating to prevent scratches and make it easy to clean. The desk comes in four finishes and eight sizes for personalization and an optional cord management system to hide the clutter of stray wires. Though this is an expensive product, its customization, value, and 15-year warranty protection justify the cost.

Price at time of publish: $1,029

We Found the Best Standing Desks for Any Office

Courtesy of Amazon.

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Tangled wires can take up tons of desk space, so having a way to organize them is a real game-changer. The Yamazaki Hidden Cable Box was designed with small spaces in mind, and offers a stylish, minimalist way to hide wires and plugs with ease.

Available in two colors—black and white—the plastic organizer can be placed on top of or underneath your desk, and even behind your television if you want to use it for something else besides your office space. Regardless of where you place it, the heat-resistant box will keep your space looking way less cluttered.

Price at time of publish: $40

Brass Kira Adjustable Task Lamp With USB Port

Courtesy of World Market

View On World Market

Good desk lighting is the key to a successful home office setup, especially if you have minimal natural light throughout the day. This metal lamp is as stylish as it is practical, with a shiny brass finish and adjustable arm and shade so you can ensure you have proper lighting no matter the hour.

In addition, the lamp also features one USB port so you can keep your phone charged throughout the day. The lamp includes an easy-to-use on/off base switch and 6-inch cord—it's important to note, however, that a lightbulb will need to be purchased separetly.

Trigon Magnetic Wall Mounted Magnetic Board

Courtesy of Wayfair

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Whether you have paperwork all over your desk or just need a place to put your daily to-do lists, a magnetic board makes it easy to keep everything in one spot for easy viewing. Umbra's Trigon Magnetic Board is a wall-mounted option with a geometric pattern that'll look like a piece of art in your office.

The board features a dual surface, so you can add to it using both pushpins and magnets. It comes with 12 push pins, 12 magnets, and mounting hardware so it's easy to set up. Plus, it's backed by Umbra's five-year manufacturer warranty.

Price at time of publish: $51

Courtesy of Pottery Barn Teen

View On PBteen

If you're tight on desk space, walls are the perfect place to add more storage. This mounted rack by Pottery Barn Teen includes three compartments that'll fit all the essentials, from writing utensils to paperwork and everything in between.

The storage unit is made of fiberboard and metal and has a weathered black finish that adds a stylish touch. The unit also comes with two screws and two anchors, so you'll have the necessary hardware to hang it up.

Courtesy of The Container Store

View On The Container Store

Desk clutter can be a major distraction during the workday, so it's important to find a place for pens, paper clips, and other odds and ends. Designed by organization extraordinaire Marie Kondo, this five-piece desk organizer makes it easy to keep everything in place.

The organizer is made of recycled paperboard and features a watercolor design that's like a piece of art for your desk. Within the set there's space for writing utensils, business cards, and notepads, as well as smaller bits like rubber bands and pushpins. It's is neutral enough to pair well with other office accessories you may already have, but it's also part of a set if you want a more cohesive look.

Price at time of publish: $17

The Best Desk Organizers That Are Functional and Attractive

View On Allmodern.com

Floating desks are ideal for anyone who wants to maximize the amount of storage space in their home office. This AllModern desk can be mounted to your wall so you can take advantage of your floor space, leaving plenty of room for decorative baskets to be placed underneath.

The solid wood desk is available in eight neutral finishes, each of which includes two storage compartments and one open shelf in the center. Even if you don't need a desk, this piece can be used in an entryway or as a television stand in your living room.

Courtesy of Wayfair

View On Wayfair

Adding an attractive side chair doesn't just let you have space for guests—it's also a fun way to show off your personality, especially if you need a more traditional ergonomic desk chair for getting work done. This one is based on a popular and iconic mid-century modern design, but at a price that can work with your budget. It's made from a brightly colored woven fabric as well as molded plastic, although take note that the fabric doesn't wrap around the chair, leaving exposed plastic on the back.

Price at time of publish: $300

Girl Friday

View On Etsy View On Girlfridayhome.com

Even if you're all about your Google Calendar, it can be helpful to have an attractive visual reminder on your wall to help keep you focused and thinking about the future. This acrylic calendar is available in three sizes and comes with three hardware options—silver, gold, and black—for an elevated look.

The calendar is certainly a bit of a splurge compared to other styles, but think of it this way—it's meant to be written on and erased, so you can start fresh at the end of every month and year instead of always buying a new calendar. It also includes a wet-erase marker, so it's ready to be used once you get it.

Price at time of publish: $100

The 13 Best Planners of 2023

Courtesy of Etsy

View On Etsy

Novelty mouse pads with sayings like "I Work Hard So My Cats Can Have a Good Life" are fun, but can start to feel dated quickly. If you'd rather go for a timeless office style instead, check out these monogrammed leather mouse pads. There are seven leather colors to choose from, and the lettering is done in either gold or silver foil. Hint: It makes a great gift for the long-term work-from-home person in your life.

Price at time of publish: $22

BirdRock Home Havana 2 Tiered File Cubby with Wood

Courtesy of Amazon

View On Amazon

This attractive storage solution would fit just as nicely in a living room as in an office. The baskets are made from woven hemp fiber, giving it a softer vibe than the typical metal file cabinet. They also have carrying handles, which are useful if you want to take your files to another part of your home, and can be used to hold either legal or letter size folders.

Even better? The tabletop is sturdy enough to support a lamp, and if you decide you don't need file storage anymore the bins can be easily repurposed to hold items like toys, games, or blankets. Another thing to love: It comes already assembled, so you can start using it as soon as you open the box.

Price at time of publish: $227

Functional Pieces

A large factor when it comes to decorating your home office (as opposed to other rooms) is that function plays a huge role. Style has its place, but utility is essential. A pencil holder may look chic, but can it hold all your necessary supplies? A sleek, streamlined desk may be trendy, but will it provide enough storage space and a comfortable place to work from? Prioritize finding pieces that excel at making an office functional or ones that serve multiple purposes.

Style and Theme

Once you’ve nailed down the utility aspects of a home office, the decor, theme, and color palette can be explored. Home offices are often neglected when it comes to design, but they shouldn’t be. People who spend most of their workdays in a home office deserve a room that is aligned with their personality. No one wants to dread working from their office space. Infusing personal touches, comfortable details, and even feng shui can help prevent that.

Ergonomic Furniture

The furniture of any room where you spend hours of time needs plenty of consideration—not just functionally or stylistically, but comfort-wise. A bad desk chair can be a distraction at best and harmful at worst. Spend time researching the ergonomics of chairs, desks, and other office items you’ll be using. It’s so important to feel as good as possible physically after a long day. Even small adjustments can make a big difference, whether that’s a laptop stand or a standing desk.

FAQ

How can I make my home office look good?

Spaces designated for working and studying can often feel sterile or blasé. To strike a balance between a conducive work environment and a place that feels true to your design style, find a mix of decorative objects and functional pieces. Fortunately, there is an abundance of desk, office chair, and organizational system options that are far less corporate and more visually pleasing. Seek out inspiration and put together a design board to help you plan out an office you enjoy spending time in.
How should I decorate my office?

First, pinpoint two important things: your work style and your decor style. A preference for sitting or standing (or a mixture of both) will impact the furniture you’ll want to buy. The hours you work and if you spend time on video or phone calls also matter—exceptional lighting fixtures or sound systems are key in these situations. Once you’ve laid this out, then delve into your style preferences. Minimalist and clean spaces are popular for offices, but a maximalist, colorful room can also be fun for branching out from the usual home workspace.
What supplies do I need on my desk?

Every person has a different job description and set of tasks that needs to get done during the workweek and not all desk supplies will be relevant for everyone. That being said, the most common items include pen and pencil holders, paper dividers, drawer organizers, desk lamps, planners, and basics such as tape, tacks, staplers, notepads, envelopes, and paperclips. This list can be expanded upon or shortened.

Lexi Dwyer is a parenting and lifestyle writer for The Spruce. Her work has appeared on digital media outlets like Fatherly, What To Expect, and Today.com. Additional reporting was done by Melissa Epifano, a news writer for The Spruce who covers trends, decor, and design topics with a deep appreciation for all things interiors and exteriors.