When you own a freelance business, telecommute often, or simply have a busy schedule, having a real home office to manage paperwork is critical. Ideally, it should be filled with custom furniture that echoes your style and facilitates your work. Because it’s also your personal home office, though, the list doesn’t end there; it should also be comfortable.

How to Design a Cozy Home Office

1. Custom Office Desk

As mentioned above, there’s nothing like having a piece of custom furniture. Having a desk that’s made specifically for both your needs and the restrictions of the room makes the most of the space. It also makes it easy to move around, especially if you’re using a spare bedroom; many of them can be quite small and awkward for standard-sized desks.

2. Lighting

Whenever possible, orient the desk and workspace to let in as much natural light as possible. Not only is this easier on your eyes, but it also helps keep your utility costs down! You’ll still need to add both task and ambient lighting but arranging items this way minimizes how much you’ll have to depend on them.

3. Shelving

The more storage you have, the cleaner and more accessible your office will be. Whether or not you choose to have custom furniture, like bookshelves or cabinets, will depend on your budget, the size of the room, and your style. When it's adequate, you won’t waste time searching for the right documents or supplies. Although it's in your home, it’s still an office; you don’t want your productivity to sink.

4. Kid- & Pet-Friendly

Even though it's your working space, if you have kids or pets, it’s nice to make the room safe for them. This can include features like closed-door cabinets, covered trash and recycling bins, and a plush area rug. Keeping some toys around or a pet bed in the corner could also keep them busy and less likely to interrupt your workflow.

5. Color

Because this isn't a cubicle, you can personalize it however you want. You’re no longer restricted to white or off-white! Generally speaking, warmer, muted tones tend to be more soothing than brighter, highly saturated hues, but it all depends on what you’re aiming for. If you want an invigorating workspace, choose the latter.

For anyone in Connecticut’s Fairfield County who’s interested in having a luxurious home office built, complete with custom furniture and wall-to-wall shelving, call Marlon Architectural Woodworking at (203) 650-2245. Based in Bridgeport, they have more than 25 years of experience, so whatever your vision may be, you can trust them to bring it to life. To see examples of their previous work, visit their website.