5 simple ways to upgrade your home office

After months of working from the living room sofa, the dining room table, and select local coffee shops, I finally realized in December that I needed a dedicated office space in our home. I couldn’t have a room of my own since our townhouse doesn’t have any to spare, but there was an unused wall in our basement begging to be turned into an office nook.

Working with The Land of Nod, I picked desks, bookcases, and chairs that I could share with my four-year-old son, Levi. He takes his art very seriously and wanted a place to “work” just like mommy. So cute, right? Eventually, I’ll let Asa have my desk, but he’s not quite old enough to need a proper workspace yet.

But there’s more than just furniture to a stylish office. When it came time to decorate, I learned that there are many ways to upgrade your home office. Read on for 5 easy tips that’ll take your workspace from standard to chic.

1. Set the mood with a candle. Candles are the easiest way to add a decorative and fragrant touch to your home office. I also love the idea of a candle-lighting ritual every time you sit at your desk to get you in the mindset to work. Anthropologie has some of the prettiest and best-smelling candles, including this cut-work candle and this patterned candle tin. PS: Don’t forget matches!

2. Add some greenery. Studies have shown that working in an office with plants can help reduce blood pressure, lessen stress, and increase productivity. Plus, it’s just nice to have a bit of nature nearby when your home office is in a basement. For smaller plants, I’m digging these small clay urns and this hanging pot from Terrain.

3. Make a statement with wallpaper. When you work from home, you can use all of the energy boosts you can get — and there’s just something so energizing about a patterned wall, isn’t there? I’m so grateful to Chasing Paper for sending me several rolls of their removable wallpaper for my home office makeover. While The Land of Nod desks and bookcases looked fantastic on their own, the geometric star pattern took the space to the next level.

4. Frame some artwork. Sure, you could use washi tape to secure small prints and postcards to the wall, but hanging framed artwork makes a room feel more finished. This framed Minted print was actually hanging in our dining room before I realized that my workspace’s blue and white color palette was begging for a pop of orange. This abstract and this birthstone print could also work in my space — and maybe yours, too?

5. Introduce decorative objects. Once you’ve organized your pens, notebooks, and paperclips, it’s time to add a bit of flair. When my friend Jeran suggested I add something gold to my workspace, I hightailed it to Target and picked up this metallic sheep figurine. It may seem totally random, but I’m an Aries, so I think it works! You could also try decorating with chic bookends or a geometric sculpture.

Would you try any of these easy ways to upgrade your home office? Tell me about your workspace. If you work from home do you have a dedicated workspace or do you curl up on the couch with your laptop? Or does your job happen in a corner office or cubicle?

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I’m sharing more photos of my home office makeover, plus additional details about Levi’s side of the workspace, over on The Land of Nod‘s blog, Honest to Nod. Please check it out!