Minimal Design for Maximum Impact

Anyone who has ever worked from home understands the frustrations and pitfalls of trying to be productive in the same space where you sleep. Lounging in pajamas while working may seem ideal, but without a dedicated space to work in, actually getting work done can be challenging. Whether you work from home on occasion or full time, it’s important to have a dedicated space where you can work without distraction. A well designed space should not only look and feel great, but should be functional. Here are a few ways you can create a minimalist home office with big impact.

Plan Your Space

To create a functional home office, spatial planning is key, especially in a small room. To get started, make a list of everything you need. Most people need a desk, comfortable desk chair, and some kind of storage. Take time to think about your specific needs. If you don’t need filing cabinets or bookshelves, leave them off the list. Once you have your list, begin to imagine the layout of your space. If it isn’t immediately obvious where the desk should be, try moving a small chair around the room and sitting in it. This should help you decide where you enjoy sitting, whether it be facing a wall, window or looking out toward the door. This is your space, so choose a layout that is comfortable for your needs. Once you’ve decided where the desk should be, place other furniture pieces around it in a way that makes sense for the way you work and doesn’t inhibit movement through the space.

In this home office, placing the desk in the center of the room facing the doorway with a side view of the window was the obvious choice for maximum design impact and client comfort. This layout would not have worked in this small room if the client had needed more open space or extra storage, but it works well for the minimalist design aesthetic.

Choose Pieces with Purpose

In an office with minimal furnishings, it’s vital that each piece you select serves a purpose. If possible, choose pieces that can multitask as well as you do! Look for a storage cabinet that can also house your printer, or a desk with built-in storage for filing. To maintain the minimalist feel, keep furnishings to a minimum and only choose pieces that you really need.

In this office, our client didn’t need a lot because she didn’t have a printer or files to store. With only a laptop to consider, we chose just a few pieces to fill the room appropriately. Although she may not use the storage console, it helps to visually ground the room and provide a surface for a lamp and a few accessories, which help bring more life to the room. The oversized wall clock that sits on the wall above the console is not just an art piece, but actually works to tell the time!

Go for the ‘Wow’ Factor

In a home office with minimal design, every piece of furniture has a chance to shine. Minimalism doesn’t have to be boring! Select interesting pieces that stand out on their own. To achieve a modern look in this home office, we chose wood elements with sleek lines and smooth finishes. We added some drama with a patterned rug and plush, velvet chairs. The mirrored metal wall clock makes a huge statement without overpowering the other elements in the room. It also reflects the beautiful, natural light that streams in from the windows on the opposite wall.

As you search for pieces, consider textures, patterns, silhouettes, and finishes. Just make sure that when everything comes together, the result is well balanced and creates the ‘wow’ factor that makes you happy.

Set the Mood with Color

In this office space, we chose to use a monochromatic color palette along the perimeter of the room and bring the pop of color in with vibrant blue velvet chairs and subtle blue accents. This is a simple, yet effective way to set a modern mood in your minimalist office. To mimic this look, outfit the perimeter of your space with white wall accents and furniture and choose a light grey for the walls (office shown in Sherwin Williams’ Zircon). Create a focal point in the room with a wood desk and colorful chairs. Ground the desk with a monochromatic patterned rug to add interest. Note: if you like to work barefoot, choose a rug that feels nice under your feet!

If you want a different modern mood in your home office, remember that color is a powerful tool to achieve the feeling you want. If you want to feel relaxed and calm in your space, try a soft white, light blue/grey on the walls and more neutral, lightly colored furnishings. If you want to feel energized while you work, try a bold yellow desk or rug and pair it with neutral walls and accessories. If you want to create more of an enveloping, contemplative environment, try painting the walls a dark, moody green, blue, or even black and appointing the room with lightly colored, highly textured furnishings.

Consider Your Lighting Needs

Most of us stare at a screen all day, and therefore may not think too much about room lighting throughout the day. If your office has a lot of natural light, you may not need more than a desk lamp to accommodate your needs. However, if your room is not naturally lit throughout the day, consider how you use the space and what kind of light you require as you work. As you consider lighting selections, keep in mind the modern, minimalist look you want to achieve.

This office space is flooded with natural light, so a small, simple lamp was all it needed. If you need a lighting solution on a desk that floats in the middle of the room as this one does, consider a battery powered lamp to avoid having to hide clunky chords. Note: make sure your light bulbs are all the same color temperature. We suggest bulbs in the 2700-3000K range for a soft white light that mimics natural daylight.

Make It Personal

In any office, most people like to personalize their space. One of the advantages of having a home office is that you have the opportunity to make it as personal as you want! In this office, we created a monochromatic gallery wall with the client’s pictures. It creates a very personal touch that also makes a big design statement. The custom frame ledge shelves were made to extend across the entire back wall in order to allow for maximum space to place pictures. This design also allows the client to rearrange their pictures with ease. The black and white photos and coordinating frames create cohesion and unity, acting as one large visual showstopper that’s filled with memories.

Feel free to fill your home office with pictures of your family, friends, travel adventures, and pets. Any picture can work in your office to create the modern minimalist feel you want when you implement a monochromatic theme.

It’s easy to create a home office space that works for you in both form and function. Just take your time when you sit down to plan your space. Choose pieces with purpose that work for you. Go for the ‘wow’ factor with each piece you select so that every accessory and piece of furniture in your room adds to the overall effect. Use color to set the mood of your home office, whichever mood you decide, and use it with restraint to create a modern minimalist vibe. Enhance the mood with appropriate lighting that meets your needs as you work throughout the day. Finally, make your space personal so it becomes a place where you truly enjoy working. You’ll be amazed by the effect it has on your mood and productivity!

Interior Design: Brenda Thompson | Photography: Macey Heim

Brenda Thompson is the owner and the face behind HouseLift Design. One of Brenda's main goals is to create functional spaces with her client's desired style in mind.@houseliftdesign