13 Home Office Decor Ideas To Make Your Space More Welcoming

If you work from home, you should make your workspace perfect for your individual needs. While sometimes that can be accomplished by investing in the latest technology, other times all it takes is functional decor that works for you. If your home office space feels drab or uninviting, you are less likely to be productive or energetic. On the other hand, a well-designed, welcoming home office with elements like greenery and natural light can boost your mental health and well-being. 

But when it's time to change up your workspace, you might wonder how to give your home office a makeover that will provide a warm and inviting vibe for both you and any guests. To achieve this, you don't need to completely change the layout of your office or purchase all-new decor. Instead, to make a home office space more welcoming, you can make slight alterations and additions that have big results. For instance, consider adding elements like wall art, cheerful knick-knacks, a rug, greenery, decorative storage, and window coverings. Crafting a more appealing energy for your office space can be essential to long-term happiness for those who work from home. Check out 13 ideas for decor items that will make your space feel more welcoming.

A large clock is both functional and artistic. With a large clock on a prominent wall, you'll know what time it is no matter where you are. You can easily leave your phone somewhere else in the room or put it on silent if you don't need to use it to look at the time. Plus, you can choose a classic clock with a timeless look or a more industrial style with metallic elements. Choose an analog clock over a digital one to symbolize the circular passing of time and the hope for a new tomorrow, according to Feng shui. 

Sometimes, your office space needs one more key piece to pull it together. Unique art hung over your desk space or on a side wall can be that unifying factor. Choose pieces that make you happy or that create a feeling of relaxation and peace. Options include framing fun prints you find online or visiting local thrift stores for hidden artistic gems. It's also easy to find museums and organizations with free art for your home, which means you can bring your favorite pieces into your workspace. You may want to avoid art with loud colors, though, as this could be distracting and affect your productivity.

If you struggle with feeling down whenever you walk into your office at home, you might need to add some cheerful accents. Knick-knacks and other decor items like candles, vases, and faux flower arrangements in happy colors like yellow and pastel tones can lift your spirits. Try to include items that you really love or that have sentimental value. You can also redecorate your space for each holiday or season to add some personalized cheer that will brighten your mood.

If your office space sits in a corner or smaller area of a larger room, it can be a struggle to make it feel like a separate space. Placing a large cozy rug underneath your office area (desk, chair, and shelving) can help tie the small space fully together without completely shutting it off from the rest of your home. A snug, cozy rug underfoot can also make you feel more welcomed into your office after you leave your bed in the morning. For a soft feel, prioritize rugs in materials like wool and cotton.

Bringing greenery into your work space can elevate your mood when you need it most. A 2022 study published by Building and Environment found that the best plants to help with people's mood were those with lush green leaves and rounded canopies. Consider adding an easy-to-manage houseplant to your office space for the benefits it will bring your mental state. A cheerful plant can make all the difference between a dreary interior or a welcoming one. Similarly, you could also add a vase filled with fresh flowers to a shelf or your desk.

Decorate your office space with a blanket ladder for another practical and lovely addition. These decorative elements let you keep a blanket close at hand in your work space in case you get chilly, but they also add height and visual interest to your room. In this way, blanket ladders add both a functional and decorative piece to your office. You can find blanket ladders that fit your space perfectly, from short and squat ones to taller options like the white RELODECOR Blanket Ladder For Living Room for $45.

If you don't have a lot of natural light in your office space, it may feel dark and gloomy. To inspire warmer feelings and put you in a better mood for early mornings or late nights at the computer, decorate with tall, bright lights. Using multiple lamps in your space will reduce uninviting shadows and increase light without the need for extra bright bulbs that will hurt your eyes. Try including both a floor lamp in the corner as well as a small lamp directly on your desk's surface to illuminate the whole space.

Creating an office where you want to spend time can be difficult if your space offers little to work with. A key way to produce better productivity and focus is to separate your office away from the larger room, and a divider is perfect for this. Room dividers come in all shapes and sizes, and you can easily move them around a space instead of having to commit to placing them in one area. You could even include a divider like the FDW 4-Panel Room Divider Folding Privacy Screen for $70, which has shelves to include other decorative items.

Whether you have the best view outside your window or you stare out at a brick wall, an attractive window covering is important to include in the space. If your windows get too much direct light in the morning, blinds can make your desk area more welcoming and refreshing instead of uncomfortably bright. On the other hand, lovely velvet or cotton curtains in a nice color can frame your gorgeous view outside. You could also use both options if you want to be able to adjust your natural light amount throughout the day.

It's crucial to add plenty of storage options to your space to make it functional. However, that doesn't mean the storage solutions can't also work as decorative pieces. Tuck away important items and documents inside decorative magazine holders like the LifeSto Green Magazine Holders. You could also use baskets and bins in any material and color you desire. Storing important documents away will also make the area more welcoming for family, friends, and pets. You won't worry that someone will accidentally mess up your organization if everything has a place.

An easy way to make your home office more comfortable and welcoming for you and your guests is to provide multiple seating options. Along with a desk chair, find a snug armchair or couch to place to the side of your desk space. If you're struggling to focus and want to change up your routine, you can work in your cozy chair or on your sofa instead of elsewhere in the house where you might lose focus. To avoid overburdening a space, only include around two or three seating options depending on the size of the room.

It's okay to have a little fun while at work. Make your office space a place to escape with cool retro accessories and items, like a record player for work time tunes. You could also add a retro-inspired radio, like the YOWGUIF Radio in Classic Retro Wood on Amazon that costs $36. Other retro ideas include adding a desktop clock or a personalized nameplate. Choose to include decorative items that will make you smile and that inspire you every time you sit down to work.

Finally, for a decorative accent that's also functional, look to memo boards. These can tie together a space while holding onto thoughts and reminders. If you pick the right memo board, you can also have a stylish statement piece that will make your office space appear more welcoming. There are many options, including cork boards, wire rack types, and pegboards. While you can easily buy a board to hang on your wall, you could also keep photos and notes organized with a DIY ribbon bulletin board, too.