How to Create the Best Home Office for Your Living Situation

Whether you’re battling noise or are short on space, these guides can turn your office into a distraction-free zone.
Peek inside some of our favorite designers’ home offices, and get their tips for creating a successful WFH setup of your own. 

Peek inside some of our favorite designers’ home offices, and get their tips for creating a successful WFH setup of your own. 

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Herman Miller Striad Lounge Chair
Markus Jehs and Jürgan Laub designed their Striad Lounge Chair (2016) in layers, like a ski boot, to deliver exceptional comfort. “How a design looks should not be far from what it does,” says Jehs.
HP Tango X​ with Charcoal Linen Cover
Built to match the way you live and designed to use with the HP Smart app, Tango X helps you stay a step ahead by connecting and printing from any device, anywhere.
Telecommuting can take both a physical and mental toll—especially when you’re suddenly working in tight quarters with partners, roommates, children, or other family members. Tip: Invest in high-quality, noise-cancelling headphones, and keep shared live/work spaces clutter-free.

Telecommuting can take both a physical and mental toll—especially when you’re suddenly working in tight quarters with partners, roommates, children, or other family members. Tip: Invest in high-quality, noise-cancelling headphones, and keep shared live/work spaces clutter-free.

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FLOS Tab Table Lamp
Keep better tabs on tasks with the Flos Tab Table Lamp. Designed by Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby, the Tab features a unique bent head that adjusts as needed for perfectly placed task lighting. The entire fixture is composed of die-cast aluminum, with a porcelain reflector in the head.
Herman Miller Formwork Paper Tray
Kondo divides her papers into two categories: papers to be saved and papers that need to be dealt with. For forms that need to be filled out and bills that need to be paid, a desk tray is a smart fix for stashing temporary papers that eventually will be attended to.  
Feeling cooped up and stressed out? Here are some essential tips from designers and builders of small spaces. 

Feeling cooped up and stressed out? Here are some essential tips from designers and builders of small spaces. 

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Observatory Ubi Mobile Bag Catch
Co-founded in 2001 by Ayako Takase and Cutter Hutton, Providence-based Observatory strives to create products that reflect a compassionate understanding of the needs and aspirations of end users.
Eames Aluminum Group Executive Chair
Herman Miller introduced the Eames Aluminum Group in 1958 as Charles and Ray Eames' response to the need for high-quality indoor-outdoor furniture, and soon moved inside exclusively. The sophisticated, high-back Eames® Aluminum Group Executive Chair is a commanding desk chair from any angle.
Hay Copenhague 90 Desk
In collaboration with HAY, brothers Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec designed the Copenhague 90 Desk (2013) as part of a furniture series created for the University of Copenhagen. The school’s requirements included functionality, durability, ease of cleaning, and a welcoming expression.
A few direct-to-consumer furniture rental services that have been working to reinvent the way people furnish their homes now also have the ability to temporarily help service a nation full of home offices.

A few direct-to-consumer furniture rental services that have been working to reinvent the way people furnish their homes now also have the ability to temporarily help service a nation full of home offices.

The best home office designs encourage creative thinking and spark a sense of well-being while engaging with your specific needs.

The best home office designs encourage creative thinking and spark a sense of well-being while engaging with your specific needs.

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Finn Juhl: Life, Work, World
The first-ever comprehensive monograph on one of Denmark's most influential Modernist design pioneers. Danish architect, interior-, and industrial designer Finn Juhl is best known for his furniture.
Normann Copenhagen High Work Bookcase
For work or home, books or toys, Work is the shelving unit for everything. Simon Legald has taken his inspiration from industrial storage shelving to create shelving with a clear function and a pure, minimalistic expression.
Herman Miller Sayl Chair
With a ventilated back for air circulation and tilt limiter that lets you adjust tension and range to your liking, this chair accomplishes a great deal with only the essentials.
Despite being part of your home, your office space should be secluded and soundproofed, so as to avoid constant distractions that extend your workday.

Despite being part of your home, your office space should be secluded and soundproofed, so as to avoid constant distractions that extend your workday.

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Karimoku New Standard Homerun Paperweight
This paperweight takes the form of a scaled-up inkpad stamp and matches the character of the Homerun chair series. The paperweight comes in four colours so you can easily mark the different paper piles on your desk. Photo Courtesy of Leibal
BDI Sequel Lift Desk
The BDI Sequel Lift Desk combines the ergonomics and health benefits of a sitting/standing desk with high quality BDI design. Motorized and programmable, this desk is effortlessly raised and lowered as needed to any comfortable height.
Herman Miller Eames Storage Unit
The innovative Storage Unit (1950) was designed to be configured to fit a specific space or need.
Working is much more pleasant when you have natural light to brighten up your space. If you aren’t lucky enough to have a window, then invest in some stylish lighting. 

Working is much more pleasant when you have natural light to brighten up your space. If you aren’t lucky enough to have a window, then invest in some stylish lighting. 

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Observatory Ubi Mobile Bag Catch
Co-founded in 2001 by Ayako Takase and Cutter Hutton, Providence-based Observatory strives to create products that reflect a compassionate understanding of the needs and aspirations of end users.
To combat a sterile office, introduce warm, personalized accents into your workstation, focusing on textiles to create visual interest and depth.

To combat a sterile office, introduce warm, personalized accents into your workstation, focusing on textiles to create visual interest and depth.

Make a distinction between places of repose and of work in the home. Whether it’s a seat at the kitchen table, a desk in a nook, or an entire office, seek out a space that is dedicated to work so that your mind will connect that area with a place of productivity.  

Make a distinction between places of repose and of work in the home. Whether it’s a seat at the kitchen table, a desk in a nook, or an entire office, seek out a space that is dedicated to work so that your mind will connect that area with a place of productivity.  

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Menu JWDA Concrete Table Lamp
The Menu Lighting JWDA Concrete Table Lamp exhibits a softer side to the roughness of industrial materials, smoothing pure concrete in to a cylindrical base that supports a rounded glass diffuser. The white glass is delicately cradled within the base, and glows warmly once lit.
Kartell Componibili Storage Unit
The Componibili Storage Unit (1969) takes its name from componibile, Italian for “modular,” consisting of individual storage modules equipped with a sliding front door and tongue-and-groove design to offer attractive, stackable storage.
Plants are known to help increase our oxygen intake, and researchers have found that they can increase office productivity, as well as reduce stress and the number of sick days taken.

Plants are known to help increase our oxygen intake, and researchers have found that they can increase office productivity, as well as reduce stress and the number of sick days taken.

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Bose SoundLink Around-Ear Wireless Headphones II
Freedom. Convenience. The big advantages of wireless headphones. But Bose gives you a better wireless experience all around. Deep, immersive sound at any volume. Clearer calls at both ends of the communication.
Eileen Gray: Her Life and Work
A fascinating rediscovery of the life and work of Eileen Gray, one of the twentieth century’s most important designers.  In this illustrated biography, we learn the origins of designer Eileen Gray and the details of her groundbreaking career.
Hartô Hyppolite Desk
Hartô's Hyppolite is a mid-century inspired but still modern secretary desk designed by Florence Watine. An attractive combination of oak veneered top and metal legs, Hyppolite's sleek design doesn't take much space in the room but still gives you plenty of space for work.
Build your own lightweight, versatile desk out of copper pipes using our step-by-step video and guide.

Build your own lightweight, versatile desk out of copper pipes using our step-by-step video and guide.

From autonomous cars to rolling office pods, the future of work is likely to be increasingly mobile—think BYOD on steroids.

From autonomous cars to rolling office pods, the future of work is likely to be increasingly mobile—think BYOD on steroids.

Prefab ADUs are the perfect solution for those in need of a separate home office.

Prefab ADUs are the perfect solution for those in need of a separate home office.

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