With the new year comes fresh intentions. It’s the ideal time to reset and reinvent your home office or workspace and imbue it with the energy you need to kick your work goals throughout the year. Whether you’ve got big career plans or entrepreneurial dreams or just want a calm and organised space, interior designers Bree Banfield and Lisa Willard share their expert styling tips to help you transform your home office into a motivating haven in just a few simple steps.

Why Reinvent Your Home Office This New Year?

Any time is a good time to restyle your spaces, but the new year signals a fresh start and the beginning of a new chapter. “It’s part of our natural reset instinct to bring a new energy and approach to our lives and goals in the new year, and why should our spaces be any different,” says Lisa.

It only takes a few simple changes to transform your home office into a reinvented, inspiring space. “A new layout, a fresh coat of paint, or even changing the lighting can make you feel more motivated and organised without a full renovation,” says Bree.

A white‑and‑wood minimalist home office setup with a black ergonomic chair in front of a white‑and‑wood corner desk, shelves and storage, potted plant and pendant light.

‍How to Find Your Sense of Style

Finding your sense of interior style is as simple as paying attention to the decor and furniture you’re drawn to. As Lisa puts it, it’s a simple process. Consider what you love in the pieces you collect – the colours, textures, patterns and scents – and build out from there. Then, it’s a matter of bringing those elements together into balance.

Bree recommends saving images you see online to help you identify common trends in your favourite decor and office furniture. You could collect those images and make a mood board from them. “Pay attention to what colours, materials or shapes give you that feeling; are you drawn to warmth or contrast, simplicity or layering? Once you recognise the common thread, that becomes your aesthetic.” 

SEE ALSO: Home Office Organisation Tips for Boosting Productivity

Close-up of a modern desk with light timber top and grey frame, black dome lamp, potted plant, headphones, laptop, notebook, pencils and phone.

How to Keep Your Colour Scheme Consistent

You’ve pinpointed your interior style, now it’s time to bring it all together with a cohesive colour scheme. “To keep your palette and materials consistent; you don’t need to match everything, but repetition creates cohesion,” says Bree. “For example, echo the tone of your timber desk in an artwork frame or shelving. If you’re mixing old and new, make sure each piece has a shared visual language, either through colour, proportion or texture.” 

Trending Contemporary Colour Schemes to Consider

Need some colour inspiration? Bree and Lisa break down their favourite contemporary colour schemes, ideal for home office spaces.

“Soft neutrals with depth, colour with yellow or green undertones, mushroom tones, muted sage or earthy clay hues are all timeless colours,” says Bree. “For something bolder, deep blue-green or charcoal can make a great backdrop for artwork and can also make smaller spaces appear larger. The goal is a palette that supports focus and doesn't compete with it.”

“I love brown colour schemes at the moment; it’s neutral, feels very calm and earthy, which is perfect for an office environment. Think about different timbers, creams, oat linens, soft brown paint, leather accessories,” says Lisa.

A neutral-toned home office setup with oak desk, white fabric ergonomic chair, white pendant light and grey wall. A notebook, cup, potted plant, headphones and stationery sit on the desk.

How to Make a Functional Space Fashionable

A stylish home office needs to strike a balance between flawlessly functional and effortlessly chic. The key is to select the right office furniture. “There are great solutions that prioritise ergonomics, which is the most essential element given how much time we spend at a desk. A chair that offers the right back support, has an adjustable seat height and fits the scale of your desk is really important,” says Lisa.

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“Function is essential, but character and connection is what keeps you inspired,” says Bree. “Bring in art, ceramics or a playful lamp that makes you smile. Even a small vase of flowers or a patterned rug can add life to an otherwise practical setup.” Bree also suggests looking for designs with neutral textures, interesting lines like curves and even a nice statement colour or two.‍

SEE ALSO: How to Create a Movement-Friendly Home Office Setup

An assortment of chairs and desks for a home office, shown on various brightly coloured backgrounds.

What to Try

An assortment of shelves and book cases for home office storage, shown on various brightly coloured backgrounds.

How to Make Your Storage Stylish

Storage elements are another opportunity to add style and dimension to your home office. “Combine both open and closed storage by keeping the practical items behind doors or in drawers, and use open shelves to display books, objects or art,” says Bree. “That balance of order and personality keeps things feeling considered.”

“I’m a sucker for matching or cohesive boxes and folders. Choose a scheme and just go for it,” says Lisa. “You can even cover existing boxes in new fabrics or paint them to upcycle what you have on hand.” 

What to Try

SEE ALSO: Smart Home Products for an Effective Home Office

An assortment of home office lighting products, shown on various brightly coloured backgrounds. Products include things like desk lamps and ambient lights.

Why Lighting is an Essential Style Feature

Both Lisa and Bree agree that lighting plays the most important role in a space, especially in your workspace. “Lighting can affect our mood fluctuation as well, so in an office environment, keeping it calm and level is essential,” says Lisa. “Harsh lighting can feel really stark and will often cause more strain on the eyes after a period of time, not to mention unflattering in a video call.”

When it comes to bringing light into your home office space, Bree swears by these steps to creating layered lighting. “Start with ambient lighting, like ceiling or wall lights, to create an even light in your space. Then, add focused task lighting, [adjustable floor lamps] or a desk lamp,” says Bree. “A dimmable table lamp or LED strip under a shelf can add a nice mood for late-night work sessions, so that’s always a good idea.”‍

What to Try

How to Keep Your Home Office Styled Year-Round

It’s one thing to style your home office, it’s another to keep it organised every day. Both Bree and Lisa say a daily reset ritual will set you up for success each work day.

“Before you finish work, wipe down your desk, close your laptop, pop pens back in their holder and everything back where it belongs. It signals the end of the day and keeps your space ready for the next morning,” says Bree. “My essentials are a small desk tray for loose items and a cable dock to keep cords in place. It’s the kind of five-minute habit that keeps your workspace looking styled without any effort.”

An assortment of home appliances and snack foods, shown on various brightly coloured backgrounds. Products include things like kettles, coffee machines and biscuits.

Kit Out Your Home Office ‘Break Room’

Taking a step away from work and revitalising yourself with regular breaks is essential when it comes to avoiding burnout. A sleek kettle will make it easier to take a breather with a relaxing brew or treat yourself to cafe-style cappuccinos at home with a coffee machine. Make sure you’ve got your drawer filled with all your favourite snacks to help you through the afternoon slump.

What to Try

SEE ALSO: Your Guide to Smart and Small Home Appliances