Dabbieri Blog

How To Design the Perfect Home Office

With hybrid work schedules becoming the norm, home offices are no longer temporary setups but essential spaces within our homes. A well-designed home office can greatly influence your productivity, mood, and overall well-being. Whether you’re an interior design enthusiast or an expert DIYer, here’s how to create a productive and stylish workspace.

Start With the Basics

Chainstitch in Sky by Nourison

When designing your home office, start with the basics: flooring. As it’s the foundation of your space, flooring sets the tone for productivity and comfort. If you’re after a classic, cozy vibe, hardwood floors are a timeless choice, offering warmth and elegance. Just keep in mind they can get chilly in colder climates, so throw in a stylish area rug to keep your feet toasty.

For those who need something more durable but still want that chic look of wood or stone, luxury vinyl floors are a fantastic option. They’re tough enough to withstand the hustle and bustle of a busy workday, with the bonus of being scratch and moisture-resistant–so you don’t have to worry about that coffee spill from earlier this morning!

If you’re into sleek, modern aesthetics, tile flooring might be your go-to. It’s incredibly durable and adds a sophisticated touch to your office. And if cold tiles make you shiver, consider pairing them with radiant floor heating to keep your workspace warm and inviting.

Choose The Right Color Palette

Choosing the right color palette for your home office is like setting the mood for a great day at work—it’s all about finding the perfect balance between style and productivity. Start by thinking about how different colors make you feel. Need to focus? Go for calming blues or greens that create a serene, distraction-free environment. Want to boost your energy? Add pops of vibrant colors like yellow or orange to keep those creative juices flowing. And if you’re aiming for a sleek, professional look, neutral tones with bold accents can strike the perfect balance. Mix and match shades that inspire you and reflect your personality—because when you love your space, you’ll love working in it even more!

Enhance Acoustics with Soundproofing

Forte by Fabrica

Soundproofing your home office is key to creating a distraction-free environment where you can truly focus. Start by adding a plush carpet, which not only absorbs noise but also brings warmth and comfort to your workspace. Pick a carpet that complements your decor while contributing to a serene atmosphere.

For an extra layer of noise reduction, consider soundproofing wall tiles. These tiles are easy to install—many even feature stick-and-peel adhesives for quick customization. Whether you’re covering just one wall or the entire room, these tiles effectively block out external sounds, enhancing your concentration and adding a stylish touch to your office. With various design options available, they’re a perfect blend of form and function for your workspace.

Illuminate with Bespoke Lighting

Lighting can make or break your productivity. Bespoke lighting designs not only enhance the ambiance of your office but also ensure you have adequate lighting for tasks.Consider the following factors when lighting your workspace:

• Natural Light: If possible, position your home office in a room with ample natural light, as it has been linked to improved mood and productivity.
• Task Lighting: Supplement natural light with task lighting, such as desk lamps or pendant lights, to illuminate specific work areas.
• Ambient Lighting: Create a balanced ambiance with ambient lighting. Avoid harsh fluorescent lights, as they can cause discomfort and fatigue.

Experiment with lighting fixtures and arrangements, such as adjustable lamps or pendant lights until you find the combination that best suits your preferences and work style. 

Seek Out Ergonomic Furniture

Investing in an ergonomic office chair and desk is crucial for maintaining comfort during long work hours. Look for stunning office chairs that blend aesthetics with support. Ergonomic furniture is more than just a health investment; it's the foundation of a productive home office.

Maximize Space with Clever Office Storage

Eastside by Fabrica

A cluttered workspace can hinder productivity. Incorporate smart storage solutions like floating shelves, multi-functional furniture, or stylish cabinets to keep your office organized. An organized space helps maintain focus and efficiency during your workday.

To truly personalize your home office, add touches that inspire creativity and motivation. This could be artwork, indoor plants, or personal mementos that make the space uniquely yours.

Creating a productive home office doesn't have to be daunting. With the right elements, you can design a workspace that's both functional and a joy to spend time in. Remember, your home office is an extension of your personality—make it one that boosts productivity and well-being.

What does your perfect home office design look like?

Nostalgia Meets Modern Living: The Return of Closed Floor Plans

Open concept is out and closed floor plans are in! With throwback trends like old money, quiet luxury, grandmillenial, and cottagecore making a resurgence in lifestyle and home design, homeowners are following suit and moving from a modern open concept to traditional closed floor plan models. Aligning with the practicality and function of the work-from-home model, a closed floor plan allows for the delineation between workspaces and living spaces.

Let's take a deeper look into the closed floor plans and explore why they might be the right blueprint for your home.

What is a Closed Floor Plan?

First and foremost, what exactly is a closed floor plan? Many are probably familiar with the modern open floor plan which encourages a residential design that eliminates most physical barriers and walls that separate different areas of the living space. Well, closed floor plans tend to take a more traditional approach. Traditional closed floor plans include a classic layout with distinct functionality and a walled separation of rooms. In a traditional house plan, different areas of the home, such as the kitchen, dining room, family room, and bedroom are enclosed by walls.

Architectural Styles of Closed Floor Plans

Closed floor plans are often associated with more traditional architectural styles, however, that doesn't mean that a closed floor plan can't be modern. While most homes built in the mid-20th century and earlier typically featured closed floor plans, new builds, and renovated homes are continuing to use this closed concept design.

Closed floor plans are conducive to mid-century modern, Tudor revival, craftsman, contemporary traditional, and Cape Cod styles.

Benefits of Closed Floor Plans

Each room in a closed floor plan is designed for a specific purpose. Closed floor plans offer a classic and formal design that can suit certain architectural styles and preferences, providing a sense of order and privacy within the home.

Encourages Work-Life Balance

In the era of work-from-home, a closed floor plan has its benefits, especially if you have kids and pets running around. Nothing's worse than having to deal with the kids making a mess in the kitchen while you're taking work calls from the dining room table. Delineating a closed-off office space can help productivity and peace of mind—plus you can shut the door to your work life at the end of the day!

Allows for More Privacy

The closed nature of the floor plan provides a higher level of privacy in individual rooms. This can be beneficial for bedrooms, bathrooms, and other private spaces.

Better Noise Control

The presence of walls helps contain noise within specific areas, contributing to a quieter environment in individual rooms. This can be advantageous for activities that require concentration or reduced disturbance.

How to Optimize Space with Closed Floor Plans

A common misconception about open-concept layouts is that they have more space. While open floor plans can create the perception of more space since there are no physical barriers like walls, the total square footage in the home is still the same as a closed floor plan. With that being said, how do you optimize space and create a sense of openness within a closed-concept layout? Use vertical space to your advantage with tall bookshelves and armoires that draw the eye upward. The strategic placement of mirrors and lighting can create the illusion of more space. Flexible furniture arrangements, like rollaway tables and chairs, can be easily moved to adapt to different needs.

Carefully consider the wall and floor colors in your room as these will influence natural light and oftentimes darker colors can make an already small room feel cramped. Use different colors or textures to delineate spaces. Area rugs, accent walls, or variations in flooring can visually separate one part of the room from another.

Here are a few storage solutions that work well for traditional house plans:

• multi-functional furniture
• built-in storage
• smart shelving
• room dividers
• open shelving in the kitchen
• foldable or stackable furniture
• concealed furniture
• custom-built storage

How have you adapted to the closed floor concept in your modern home design?