The home office isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. In fact, we’re seeing the trend continue upward for 2022 with office workers doing remote work, freelancers and entrepreneurs starting their own businesses at home, and more.
Whether you have an entire room dedicated to your home office or a nice little work nook tucked within multi-use space, whether your style is maximalist, minimalist, colourful, or somewhere in between, there are some home office essentials that are key for all of us to make the best of our space. If your home office set up has been a temporary spot on the dining room table, now is the time to carve out a niche for yourself to be more productive and bring order to your home.
Here’s our guide to home office setup, essentials, and trends for 2022:
1. Where to set up your home office
The first thing you need is a space to call your own. Your home office working space need not be large, it just needs to be dedicated and organized. The space should inspire productivity, allow you to focus distraction free, and have all your office essentials within reach.
If you can’t dedicate an entire room to your home office, here are some other ways to carve out an office niche or work nook in your home including adding a desk or workstation to a bedroom, spare bedroom or even in the living room. We’re seeing a resurgence in the addition of room screens, with bold fabrics or calm colours to separate a room and add visual interest making it first on our home office trends list for 2022.
2. Home office essentials
Your office or workspace should be bright and light, with ample task lighting. You can even use a mirror to reflect light from a window to help bring light into your space. Another home office essential is a proper office chair and desk or work surface. Be sure to set yourself up ergonomically as well. Check out some online tutorials for how to ensure your posture and desk setup is optimal for long-term health and wellness.
Organize your personal essentials (pens, notebooks, files) into systems so you can easily find, sort, and use them. If you don’t need something within reach, perhaps think about other places to store those rarely used items so it doesn’t clutter your space.
Ensure your Zoom backgrounds are clean, clutter free and reflect your personality. Perhaps think about adding a bold piece of artwork, a mural, or gallery wall to not only add joy to your workspace but serve as a professional background for calls and meetings. Trending for 2022 are desk accessory sets and organizers, work from home door signs, wood filing cabinets, wireless headsets and plants (real or artificial).
3. Decorating your home office space
The great advantage to being at home versus an office space is the opportunity to make it entirely your own, adding in your own personality and making the space productive for your personality. Your home office space or work nook needs great lighting, seating and surfaces.
Why not make each of those stand out? Why be boring? Pick paint colours that speak to you, or perhaps look to tried and true colours like blues, yellows, and greens to calm you, inspire you, and get your creative juices flowing. Don’t be afraid to use printed wallpaper and decals to create layers and unexpected combinations.
2022 home office decorating trends include warm wood tones, curvy furniture, cozy textures, patterns, and layers. Also, be sure to include the Pantone colour of the year, Very Peri.
What are your home office essentials? Looking for more inspiration? Check out our other articles or visit us in-store for a wide selection of home office furniture, décor, and more.