Office Decorating

It’s not just how you work, but also where you work that’s important. Here at Apartment Therapy, we understand the influence that your physical environment can have on your state of mind, and that’s particularly true for the place where you work—whether that work is writing, or catching up on business, or just composing a few emails.

I often end up on the sofa in a nest of throw pillows and blankets when I work from home. While comfortable, this arrangement doesn’t really provide focus to the tasks at hand. It’s why experts recommend carving out a nook where you can have an established space to buckle down and work. You don’t need much to get started, just a desk, a lamp and a chair. I built a few home office setups using secondhand and vintage finds from Marketplace.

Seoul, South Korea is now home to a green oasis in the middle of the city. The Asian metropolis has become the latest to hop on the urban planning trend of turning overpasses into parks, and the results are vibrant and visually stunning. The project titled Seoullo 7017 represents a huge contribution towards the city’s efforts to make its streets greener and more pedestrian-friendly.

Beyond satiating curiosity, getting to see how different people tackle the layout of homes with the same floor plan is also illuminating. Do the same people have the same design challenges? Do they use space in the same way? Does architecture have a strong affect on the furniture and accessories selected? Tirsh and Minky share a lovely North Oakland loft with their dog Arnie. As the owners of Hunter & Lew, a design studio, having a home that fosters creativity is clearly important to them.

There are a few privileges to being an editor in the design world, one of which is getting to see the future (a.k.a. what’s going to be in stores well before anyone else is privy to that information). This comes in handy when trend forecasting happens to be your sport of choice.

After 20 years of working there, Alvar Aalto’s architecture practice outgrew the modest studio space in his home near Helsinki, and in 1956 he re-located it to a building just down the road. The new spot, designed by Aalto himself, was an architect’s architecture firm, with soaring spaces, wide expanses of glass, and abundant light. In short: it was the perfect space to work.

There’s a homelessness crisis in Los Angeles, with an estimated 50,000 people sleeping on the streets every night—a figure that’s jumped 35% in the last year alone. Architecture students at the University of Southern California have worked with city officials and nonprofits to come up with Homes for Hope, a single-occupancy pod that can be built quickly and cheaply, and can help provide safe spaces for homeless people while more permanent solutions are in the works.

Loyalists to the Apartment Therapy Marketplace know that tons of great new stuff is added every day. But since we live in a busy world, you might not get the chance to check for new listings as much as you’d like. That’s where I come in. I spend a good amount of time digging through the latest uploads each day, and am more than happy to spread the love when it comes to great deals.

The Swedes certainly know how to do small spaces. Case in point: this small but stylish apartment, whose living room cupboard conceals a clever surprise. This little apartment has two cupboards in the living room, one of which opens up to reveal the world’s coziest little bedroom. It’s private, tucked away, and, I would imagine, very warm and snug on a Nordic winter night.

Inside an old box factory in Baltimore, in a loft apartment with minimalist decor and structured industrial features, lies a studio bursting with color, erratic splatters of paint, and a kaleidoscope of paper scraps. This is artist Nicole Mueller‘s think space, a celebration of paradox. After an inspiring house tour with Nicole and Dave, I wanted to learn more about Nicole’s artwork and her relationship with the apartment as a living space, a working space, and a revolving gallery.

Nothing beats the real deal, but when your wallet hasn’t quite caught up to your great taste, there are ways to get the look without going ridiculously over budget. Lookalikes abound, but not everyone is in the “ok with it” camp. For those who are, we offer up the following scenario: The second you win the lotto, you’ll be on board to pony up for the originals, but until that day comes, we might find you lounging on these knock-offs of classic beauties.

Lindsay Jackman is the Southern small-town gal behind The White Buffalo Styling Co., a lifestyle and design blog dedicated to helping everyone “create a life with style and purpose.” Take a peek inside Lindsay’s joyfully eclectic office that represents all things her. Name: Lindsay Jackman of The White Buffalo Styling Co.

Desk. The word can incite passion, great ideas and inspiration or evoke a slight nausea at the thought of logging one more hour in that dreaded, dimly lit space. While some may be the former, I myself am the latter, working amidst an uninspiring collection of junk mail, laundry, discarded receipts and so many Post-It notes that I can’t recall which ones I’ve completed and which I haven’t. It got me thinking: Shouldn’t your desk be the yin to your productive yang?

New does not always trump old. In fact, at Flea Style in Dallas, Texas, it never does. Come take a peek inside owner Brittany Cobb’s warm and inviting office full of well-loved treasures. Name: Brittany Cobb of Flea Style Location: Dallas, Texas Out with the new and in with the old! The transposed popular saying is the core of Brittany Cobb’s Flea Style. Brittany’s childhood was in many ways spent as a business tutorial and foreshadowing of what was to come.

We have officially crossed the threshold into the dog days of summer (which actually has nothing to do with canines, but rather the dog star Sirius…who knew?). To commemorate the stretch of heat (and lethargy) associated with this period, we scoured Etsy and rounded up 9 super cool, modern pet houses—from cat friendly cardboard to designer edifices—for your furry friends to ride out the season.

Not everybody has an entire room (or even an entire wall) to set aside as a workspace. But living in a small space doesn’t mean you can’t carve out a spot to do a little work or let your creative juices flow. For inspiration, look no further than these examples of inspiring workspaces that fit quite nicely into not very much space at all. Above: A sunny small workspace in a San Francisco home from Cup of Jo.

People have been sharing that photo of Justin and Britney all over my Facebook wall again (was that really 15 freakin’ years ago?), so that can only mean one thing: the Canadian tuxedo is back, baby! Or maybe not. Maybe the all-denim look is something that’s only cool in my dreams. You know what else has been floating around in my dreams lately? These denim rooms. Once you see them, you cannot un-see. Proceed at your own peril.

Are you looking to carve out a small little spot in a corner of your living room or dining room (or maybe even bedroom) for a work or hobby space? Just a little bit of room that’s all for you to flex your creative muscles? You might find inspiration for what should be in that corner from this beautifully appointed home office set-up.

Now that the kids are back in school and life is slowly getting back into a regular routine, it’s time to think about getting your own work and routine back in order. For some (like me!) the excitement of getting new school supplies never really fades and this time of year is a great time to rethink, reorganize, refresh your home office or perhaps create one from scratch.

Do you dream of a dedicated space to work from home, write that novel, pay the bills or the dozens of other ways that people with gorgeous home offices feel inspired to do thanks to their amazing work-centric space? ANYONE can find room for a home office in their home (even people in tiny studios). All you really need are these eight elements arranged in a way that fits your space’s size and your lifestyle. Why put any time or effort into carving out a home office in the first place?

When you’re clicking around the internet with inspiration in mind, you sometimes come across those great photos that make you gasp. But why? Can you pinpoint exactly what you like about a beautiful picture so you can recreate that element in your own space? It’s probably one of these things. Even if you don’t love large lemon art, you might be drawn to how bright and happy the above photo feels. Or maybe a moody, dramatic photo really gets you going.

Today’s assignment is a quick one. Five minutes of reading and you’re done, but the color concepts you’ll learn will start you thinking in the right direction when it comes to color for your room. It’s time to gain some confidence for your upcoming design choices – you can do this AND you’ll do it well – but it’s important to feel prepared.

Name: Bitium offices, designed by Kate Strickland of West Haddon Hall Location: Main Street in Santa Monica, California Size: 3,500 Ssquare feet, 2 floors Years worked in: 1 year When Kate Strickland completed this office design project, she asked me to photograph it for her portfolio. However, I immediately felt its incredible design deserved to be showcased in a workspace tour.

Name: Ben Kaufman, Founder of Quirky Location: West Chelsea, New York, New York Size: 45,000 square feet Years worked in: 2 years; Rented Quirky’s offices occupy the top floor of a great old industrial building in west Chelsea — a former self-storage site that once housed the famed 1980’s nightclub The Tunnel.

Have you ever come across a cool thrift store furniture find — perhaps a filing cabinet, desk or credenza — that had your style, but also had a lock with keys long since gone? Or have you lost your keys to a piece of furniture in your home? It’s not impossible to restore locking function to vintage and antique furniture finds; here are a few tips on where to start from a locksmith.

Name: Natural Curiosities, an art house/art studio Location: Echo Park, Los Angeles, California Size: 5,200 square feet Years lived in: 2 1/2 years at Jensen Recreation Center’s Bowling Alley Space. How do you imagine your dream office? Lots of light? A historic old building? Lots of hidden nooks and crannies filled with things to discover? Working with a bunch of talented and creative people? Check, check, check and check! Welcome to the wonderful workspace of Natural Curiosities.

My sister and I had a doll stroller we shared. We took that thing everywhere — there are countless photos of us pushing it in the house, in the front garden, out the back. Even as many favorite dolls came and went, together we loved our stroller for years. Do you have a doll-loving little-y in your house? Perhaps this would be a great option for a treasured gift? 10 fantastic wood strollers and prams after the jump! 1.

Names: Bri Emery of Design Love Fest, Brian Morrow + Jonathan Lynch of Sharkpig, Steve Pappin of Son Of A Shark Pig, Max Wanger of Max Wanger Photo, Michael Antonia of The Flashdance & Yeah! Rentals and Emma Robertson of EmmaDimeLocation: Atwater Village — Los Angeles, CAWorkspace Type: Loft StudioYears worked in: 1 year When you gather up seven awesome creatives to share an office space, you will surely have a colorful, eclectic, fun atmosphere.

Name: The Design OfficeLocation: Downtown Providence, Rhode IslandSize: 750 square feetYears occupied: 4.5 — rentedWhile working from home offers many benefits like a short commute and being able to spend all day in pajamas, it can also get a bit lonely.

Name: Maegan TintariLocation: Los Angeles, CASize: 12′ x 13′Years lived in: 1 ½ Maegan’s home office started off like many rooms designated for work use: it was thrown together. Back in January 2010, the style+design blogger and her husband moved into a new house, designating a spare room for double duty as both a home office and dressing room.

It’s not always easy to create a multi-monitor setup with 3 or more screens, but Mitch Haile’s updated attic home office sees your three monitors and raises you two more. Not many people use 5 monitors all at once, but the overall look and feel of his home office accommodates for the wraparound display with some thoughtful planning (if not a little obsessive).

Oh, to have a guest room! Instead, many of us have an office, a studio, a nursery or another dedicated space in our homes (if we’re lucky enough to have the extra square footage, that is). Unless you’re blessed with huge rooms, chances are a full-size bed or even a standard sleeper sofa wouldn’t fit in an already defined space like an office. That’s where the daybed comes in!

Name: Darian DarlingLocation: Queens, New YorkSize: 800 square feetYears lived in: 2½ — rented Taking a break from her busy and glamourous entourage duties on Lady Gaga’s Monster Ball tour, lifestyle blogger, makeup artist and nightlife hostess, Darian Darling, graciously gave us a peek into her glittering abode. A direct reflection of her glitzy and engaging personality, Darian’s unique and inspirational home is full of eye-candy in every corner.

Name: Mike of Unplggd & Other Communications and Sadie the cat.Location: Rittenhouse Square — Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaSize: 360 square feetYears lived in: 1.75 years Studio apartments are common in a city like Philadelphia. The thing that sets them apart are the fantastic bare bones of the spaces that studio dwellers are given to work with. Original architectural details are a gem, but when you’ve got a knack for design like Mike does — they hold their weight in gold.

Name: Andrew FlynnLocation: Chandler, ArizonaType: Home office When we saw Andrew Flynn’s amazing home office, we knew that we had to do a tech tour of his place. The great DIY features really set this home office apart from all of the rest. A faux-wall to hide cables and wires, a Mission Control center console to hide and store peripherals, and three floating monitors are what makes this home office quite ingenious.

Name: Chris NguyenLocation: Houston, TexasSize: 500 square feetYears lived in: 2 months There’s big and then there’s Houston BIG. In a city known for embodying the idea of gigantic Texan proportions, Chris Nguyen’s extremely modest sized 500 square foot apartment is an anomaly.

Name: Adam SelwoodLocation: Melbourne, Australia Now here’s inspiration to clean out that basement or attic and make better use of the space. Adam was kind enough to share his work-in-progress renovation, a DIY conversions of a basement once stuffed to the brim with typical “stuff” into a sleek and multi-use home office for both him and his wife.

click for more picsCrafty IntentionsShe painted the space from a harsh purple to Jamaican Sea from Behr, then installed Ikea Lack shelves to hold all her crafty goods including, rhinestones, sequins, little fabric trim, beads, metal and wood accessories, etc. pom poms, tools and glitter.The bottom shelf includes stair-like levels Megan got at Lowes. These allow her to store more small jars in the space.