Burning a candle or adding a fresh vase of clippings or branches from outside will also lift your spirits and channel a productive energy and focus throughout the work day. Athena chose to incorporate a built-in cabinet that runs the entire back wall of her home office to house all of her office essentials. Use natural light and make sure to insulate your home. Organizational storage can also double as beautiful décor so you can hide papers, files, and pens while creating visual interest that draws the eye and fits your home’s aesthetic to keep it cohesive. Consider using sustainable building materials for your office and your office furniture. But in that process, always think about that fusion of the functional and the decorative. Your home workspace should be a reflection of you, a mirror of your internal visual language.

Not only does it stimulate the senses to get those creative juices flowing, but it also makes me smile and that’s just as important-and it doesn’t have to be expensive or precious either.

After a long day, one can relax in this high-back wing chair at home with a warm beverage while reading a book and sipping tea or coffee. Surrounding myself with beauty is endlessly inspiring to me. Still, if you choose the proper materials and patterns that go with the rest of your home design, they can blend seamlessly into your contemporary aesthetics. Increased productivity by way of beauty? Yes, please.

Designing a home office