Zen Home Office Design Ideas

With so many people now working from home, the focus on creating a zen-like home office is more important than ever. If you're going to spend 40 hours a week or more in your home office, you want it to be a place that you enjoy being in. From the right office furniture to the perfect decor, your home office can be a calming, relaxing place to work on your to-do list and send those all-important emails. 

To create that zen-like atmosphere, consider adding the following design elements:

• Comfortable Chair
• Touch of Nature
• Calming Colors
• Proper Lighting
• Block Out Noise
• Organize Your Space
• Designate a Self-Care Area
• Add in Inspirational Images

If you feel like you've hit a wall in your workday and are stressed to the max, read on to learn more about creating a more peaceful & calming work from home space.

Your office chair shouldn’t be overlooked. It’s the foundation for a great day at work. It’s where you spend the majority of your workday and can have a huge impact on your overall health. Medium.com further notes that ergonomic chairs can improve posture, reduce back pain and neck pain, relieve pressure on your hips, improve blood flow, and even contribute to more productive workdays. 

To pick the best ergonomic chair, keep comfort in the forefront of your mind. More than anything, you should feel comfortable throughout the day, even after long hours of Zoom meetings and phone calls. Make sure you choose a chair that’s adjustable, both in lumbar support and in height. These two key factors will allow you to customize your chair to perfectly fit your body and your office area. 

According to the Brooklyn Botanical Garden with more of the world spending time at home, people searched for new hobbies, and many turned to gardening and tending to houseplants. Even more importantly, people started realizing how much they loved having a little foliage in their home office spaces. 

Plants add a touch of life to any type of dull space, so it’s no wonder that it’s one of the most common recommendations. When choosing the right houseplants, take into account your experience with plant care and the amount of light your home office gets throughout the day. 

For low-light spaces, try a Spider Plant, Peace Lily, or one of the many ferns available at your local garden center. If your office receives medium to high light, you can easily keep a succulent, Monstera Deliciosa, or one of the Philodendron species. 

How you decorate your home office is just as important as its functionality. The colors you choose will have a huge impact on your productivity and mood during the hours you spend at your desk. VeryWellMind explains the impact of some of the common color choices available:

• Black: Boldness
• White: Peacefulness
• Red: Strong
• Blue: Productivity, calmness
• Green: Safety
• Yellow: Brightness, energy, attention
• Purple: Imagination
• Brown: Security, strength
• Orange: Energy, enthusiasm, attention, happiness
• Pink: Calm

If you are looking to invoke a calmer, more zen-like energy in your home office, look at colors that match that specific vibe.

The Harvard Business Review explained in a 2017 study that natural light actually helps to minimize headaches, reduces eyestrain, and increases your workflow as well. It’s no wonder natural light is at the top of the list of things to include in a zen-like home office. 

If you can, choose a room in your house that has at least one window looking outside. While you can add window treatments, remember to draw the shades or open the curtains to let the natural light flood in. If you’re short on space, add full-spectrum lighting that mimics natural light. And don’t forget to take a break to go outside! Your mind and body will appreciate the fresh air and sunshine. 

One of the most difficult things about working from home is all the noise and distractions from kids, pets, neighbors, and possibly your work-from-home partner. The more you block out the noise, the less distracted and frustrated you’ll feel. 

To start, you need to pick the right location for your home office. Use either your basement or attic as a makeshift office. If you have backyard space, consider setting up a free-standing office by converting a shed or building a tiny house-style office, complete to your specifications. However, a guest room serves the same purpose. Adding rugs and textiles can help dampen the outside noise. 

Additionally, pay attention to your office doors and windows. You can hang sound-suppressing curtains or use an "under-the-door noise blocker" for added privacy, says virtualvocations.com.

It’s easy to let your desk get a little messy from time to time, but to get the most out of your home office, you should spend some time getting it in order. Clear off the clutter and only keep what you truly need. Rather than a cup of 20 pens on your desk, keep one or two and store the rest in a drawer. Instead of a stack of scratch paper, keep a plain notebook available instead. 

Another way to keep your desk area clear is to keep it as wireless as possible. Luckily, everything from computers to printers to phones is wireless now, meaning you can minimize the amount of cord clutter around your desk with just a little planning. Charging your devices at night and using creative storage tools can keep cords out of sight and your desk tidy.

Taking some time throughout the day to decompress and take care of your mind and body will not only be good for your health, but it will also turn your work from home space into a more relaxing area to be in. Real Simple recommends using a corner of your home office as a dedicated self-care space.

Gather your favorite candles and some comfy pillows or throws. Have a comfortable seating option that isn’t your work chair, too. Then, when you take your breaks, you can have a cozy place to relax and focus on your health and wellness. You could also keep a meditation mat or yoga mat tucked away for a quick stretch to stay in top physical condition as well. 

What inspires you? Whether it’s pictures of places you want to travel, the car you’re saving up for, or your family, adding a little inspiration to your home office will take your productivity to the next level. 

Try creating an inspiration board with a corkboard and some push pins. Print out your favorite inspirational quote. And don’t forget to hang some personal pictures to remind you why you put in the long hours.

Creating a zen home office space is the first step to a successful work-from-home experience. Spend some time planning out your home office, adding in a few calming colors, some attractive plants, and designating a self-care area.  Above all, remember to relax, take a deep breath, and focus on conquering one task at a time.