With bright colors and bold patterns emerging as huge players in crafting up-to-date interior design, it is surprising to see key trends for the home office keeping things simple and streamlined.
When designing or redesigning your home office room, nook, corner or wall this year keep these trending keywords in mind:

Sleek, Clean, Bright, Utilitarian, and Minimalistic

But, don’t let this stop you from incorporating pops of color and dynamic patterns. Think mixed metals, natural wood tones, geometric prints, and functional lighting. Use them in congruence with a somewhat analogous, neutral color scheme and key pops of color to keep things interesting.

So, I have a neutral palette, where can I add pops of color?

Find clever ways to incorporate bold accents. Such as:

• The backsplash of bookshelves
• Office chairs, desk tops or legs
• Unique trims, bead board, or wallpaper
• Throw pillows
• Window treatments
• Rugs or flooring
• Plants
• A unique piece of art or sculpture
• Statement wall

The same areas can be used if let’s say your analogous palette is made up of blues. Incorporate depth and intrigue by adding in splashes of neutrals, taupe and beige are popular. Or go for an even more radical look with complimentary hints of orange and yellow.

Need more ideas? Check out Architectural Digest’s list of 65 home offices for some cream of the crop inspiration.

The Desk and Chair

No longer does an immaculate home office need a large, stately desk to anchor its identity as important and purposeful. Minimalism is huge for home office spaces and that means working to create a space focused on necessity and purpose. A gorgeous functional desk doesn’t have to take up the whole room or weigh down a design. Look towards desk pieces that bring elements of airiness to the space for flowing creativity. Ground the space with accents of natural textures and metallic accents; items that bring balance, calm, focus.

As for the chair, it is important to choose a comfortable one. We are seeing more and more of ergonomic office chairs with stylish colors and accents that aren’t totally hideous. If a posture supportive chair isn’t working with your ideal look, you can still create comfort in a stylish chair. Use unique throw pillows, seat cushions, or decadent upholstery to cozy up a trendy, less functional desk chair. It doesn’t have to be all or nothing when it comes to function and form in 2020.

Home Office Colors that Work for You

Think of things that will help you do your work better. If that’s bright colors like yellow, coral or orange to inspire creativity, incorporate those. Maybe soft blue and grey tones will enhance your focus. Perhaps vibrant greens will invigorate and calm while boosting concentration. Choose colors that work for your headspace. Here are three workspace color palettes to explore from Sherwin Williams.

Home Office Storage That Works

Inevitably your workspace may get cluttered. Sometimes getting into a project requires getting out all of the elements to peruse, contemplate, and inspire. Incorporate storage spaces and organizational tools that really optimize how you use your space. This could be paper trays, hidden cabinets, slide-out work spaces, or more. What you’re working on at the moment, doesn’t have to linger on visually all day. When you’re ready to pivot to another task, use storage spaces to clear away clutter. Then, start fresh with a clear head and desk space.

Intuitive storage also allows you to stash office supplies when you need. After all, staplers, pens, and notepads in even the most stylish of products don’t always make the best interior accessories. In an article from Forbes, interior designer Joyce Downing Pickens, “notes that hiding everything away allows you to feel as if you’ve left the office. “With more and more people working from home, the desire to leave your work behind at the end of the day is becoming more of a challenge,” she says.

This means shying away from the open shelving style to closed cupboards. Or explore hidden cabinetry as seen in these rooms:

Optimize smaller areas and multi-purpose rooms for a home office:

There are some really clever ideas out there for making a small multi-purpose space work as an office. This could be a great piece of furniture that pulls out as a desk and closes up to look like simple storage cupboards. A unique pull-down writer’s desk that’s built into the wall could work. Wall mounted floating desks are another option that add function but don’t take up floor space. There are clever, attractive options for small spaces out there to consider so don’t feel stuck with your small space. Just get creative!

Many people may have one room to spare in their house and have to choose to use it as a kid’s playroom, an office, or a guest bedroom. Why choose one when you can have it all?

Put Yourself First:

To incorporate a guest bedroom and office together, focus on how you will be using the space most. Instead of squeezing an office into a guest room with a full guest bed, incorporate a fabulous pull out sofa or daybed. This will give you a second place to sit and focus when you’re using it for work but provide the added function of housing a guest. Purchase some extra nice pillows and linens for the occasional house guests to use. They likely won’t be hindered by the pull-out couch experience once you make it comfortable. You will be infinitely happier working every day in a space meant for work rather than jammed into a room built for another purpose.

Cozy throw pillows and linens can spruce up a sofa or day bed for guests, while looking fabulous day to day.

Plan for Distractions:

Getting the right lighting for your ideal workspace is just as important as choosing your color palettes and desk area. Whether it’s the perfect task lamp, natural light, or preferred overhead lighting, its important to optimize for your preferences. With the wrong lighting, all of your other little choices can get completely thrown off.
This guide from Phillips provides ideas on types of home office lighting offering optimal light bulb choices for work spaces.

Optimize Natural Light:

Consider how the natural light in your office space will work for you throughout the day. Maybe you love the indirect light of your west-facing windows in the morning, but the afternoon sun is scalding and creates major glare on your monitor? Incorporating window treatments that serve practical purposes would be a great addition to keeping you on task.

Smart motorized window treatments are also a great way to stay on task without the worry of setting the shades. You can set schedules with easy in-app control. Somfy’s myLink app, is one way you can easily integrate smart shades into your home. Shades will raise or lower when based on your set preferences.

But these practical treatments don’t mean a lack of style. There are plenty of functional attractive shades to choose from.

What Treatments to Choose?

One option to let in some light but maintain a semblance of privacy are transitional shades. These are perfect for a front of the house facing office window where neighbors passing by can distract. Transitional shades can be drawn closed, but the unique banding allows light in while providing privacy.

Allure Transitional Shades provide a variety of viewing options.

Roller shades are also a great choice for function and come in solar screen options to prevent glaring sun.

Genesis Roman & Roller Shades come in a huge variety of colors, opacities and options to meet your needs.

A hugely popular choice right now is woven wood shades. These textured shades provide an element of nature that contribute to a calming work atmosphere. Woven shades can purchased unlined to allow light to gently filter through the natural weaves. For more light control, a light-filtering or room-darkening liner can be added.

Manh Truc Woven Wood Shades add texture and soft ambiance.

If your natural light is perfect without shading there are other ways to add accents with window treatments. Incorporate your color and pattern palette in a valance, cornice, or decorative side panel. These touches of textiles can bring a smaller space to life, without cluttering the ground or walls with excess decor.

That’s the end of our tips on trends! What have you incorporated into your home to optimize your home office or create one from scratch? Share in the comments or email us with questions at lifblog@lafvb.com.

Lafayette Interior Fashions is a to-the-trade manufacturer of custom-crafted blinds, shades, shutters, draperies and more, all made in the USA. Discover more, browse our products or find a dealer to purchase.