Are you tired of looking at the same home office desk that lacks exciting color, décor, and feels?
You are not the only one. Many professionals who work from home complain about the lack of feel and aesthetics on their desks!
An aesthetically appealing office desk greatly impacts your overall productivity, often encouraging you to turn your work time into quality time.
Here is how you can do it.
There is a simple way to make your home office desk look aesthetic. Add the touch of the correct color, accessories, and greeneries to your home desk, but do not forget to remove the clutters to make them look more comfortable and visually appealing.
If you are unsure about enhancing your home office desk, let us help you with some fresh ideas!
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Why does Home Office Desk Aesthetics Matter?
Imagine you walk towards your desk and notice its peeling paint, files stacked one over the other and a cluttered desktop with coffee cup rings all over the place.
Would you be motivated to work sitting at that desk or sigh loudly?
Your workspace should inspire you creatively and functionally. Without an appropriate working station, you will fail to do both.
Here are five crucial examples highlighting the need for an aesthetically appealing home office desk.
1. It Boosts your Productivity
Productivity is not about working longer hours or meeting the deadline; it means achieving your daily goals by doing a minimum.
Nobody can be productive throughout the 8-hour workday, so we must find ways to increase productivity.
You will be motivated to work more effectively with a functional, aesthetic workspace. With work completed on time, you can spend the rest chilling or planning something Big!
A perfect workstation is one of the ways that will get you focused on your work.
2. It Improves the Mood
According to Research, processing and appreciating aesthetic objects result in gaining pleasure.
Appreciating aesthetics relies on the activity of reward-related brain areas, resulting in positive emotions.
With a correctly set desk, lighting, colors, and decorations, your brain will automatically function to complement the setting by being attentive.
So, a brightened mood will help you achieve more daily targets.
3. It Leads to a Functional Workspace
By functional, we meant a workstation that perfectly fits long work hours.
We all agree that it can be a frustrating and tiring experience to locate items in a cluttered and dysfunctional desk.
It wastes your time finding things and leaves you dissatisfied, which will hamper your daily work.
A functional workstation will encourage you to sit comfortably, maximize storage space, and allocate a specific place for each item.
It will automatically minimize clutter, and you will find the required items in their designated places.
4. It Prevents Accidents
Spilling your coffee mug over the necessary files is the most common scenario with a poorly designed workstation.
Moreover, you must constantly bend or reach for things when the items are far away or your desk is too small.
Nothing would if these scenarios do not motivate you to enhance your home office desk.
An appropriate work desk with compartments for each item will automatically reduce accidents.
5. It Shows in your Work
Working on tacky furniture can be greatly uninspiring and demotivating!
Imagine sitting on a desk with a beautiful-looking lamp and a green houseplant sitting quietly on the other side of the desk and containers to store office utensils.
Does it not inspire you to stay longer and give your best work? It certainly does.
Like improving your living space, you should enhance your workstation to find a nourishing and comfortable environment.
16 Effective Ways to Make Your Home Office Desk Look Aesthetic
It does not matter how big or small your home office desk is. Try creating a stylish workstation without compromising functionality with whatever space you have.
Getting a perfect balance between decorative and practical home office desks is easily achievable and does not require a big budget.
Here are sixteen ways to enhance your home office desk without breaking your bank account.
1. Choose the Right Color Desk
Choosing a suitable colored desk is the first way to enhance your home office’s aesthetics.
Believe it or not, the right color can influence your creativity.
According to the science of color therapy, green and calming blue shades help to improve your efficiency and focus, while yellow makes you energetic and fresh.
For a perfect-looking and productive home office desk, choose the saturated shades of either blue or red.
Saturated blue color helps to increase alertness. It is super beneficial if you work at night. It keeps you calm throughout the day and does not mess with your circadian clock.
Go with shades of blue such as blue-green, blue-violet, Prussian blue, or cornflower.
On the other hand, the saturated red color fosters excitement and energy. It also mimics the effects of drinking black coffee.
It does not have to be a rich red. You can go with shades such as cherry, mahogany, ruby, or scarlet.
| Product | Color |
|---|---|
| Avena Campaign Desk | Blue |
| NOBLEWELL Computer Desk | Red |
| Gaming Desk 60" with Monitor Shelf | Pink |
2. Choose Edgeless Work Desk
The research by Oshin Vartanian concluded that a work desk looks more aesthetically appealing without rectilinear edges or 90-degree angles.
Moreover, you can save yourself from accidentally bumping into the desk’s sharp edge.
The same research concluded that seeing curves might activate your anterior cingulate cortex to find something pleasing.
Your “anterior cingulate cortex” part of the brain finds an edgeless desk more pleasing upon seeing it.
| Product | Specifications |
|---|---|
| YEZHU Height Adjustable Electric Standing Desk | Height adjustable High torque motor Solid all metal frame |
| HITHDESC Height Adjustable Electric Standing Desk | Electric Height Adjustable Lift System Solid Construction & Ergonomics Curved Front |
3. Mind Your Desk Position
You can get the best out of your workstation when you place it in the correct position and place.
Here are a few tips for organizing your desk position.
- Place your desk close to a natural light source to illuminate your workstation. You can either face the window or sit perpendicular to it if facing it seems distracting.
- Avoid sitting with a window on your back, as the sunlight can easily create screen glare.
- Avoid sitting with your back to the ambient lighting, as it can also create screen glare problems.
- If you often video-chat with your associates, sitting facing the doorway is better to avoid backdrop noise.
- Sit facing away from the television or something distracting to keep yourself concentrated while working.
Related Article: Should my Home Office Desk Face the Wall?
4. Light up your Desk
Naturally, lighten up your desk using the sunlight and light-colored walls or install a desk task or floor lamp.
Installing a deck or floor lamp is a better option because you will have a permanent light source for your desk.
However, opt for a low-glare, adjustable desk lamp to avoid glares and harsh lighting conditions. LED light is better than fluorescent for saving energy.
Choose desk lighting with warm yellow or warm orange beams at 450 lumens (40 watts) that perfectly mimic natural sunlight to help create a nice ambiance.
When using the task light, ensure it sits away from the screen to avoid screen glares. Buy adjustable task lamps to adjust the lamp head whenever needed.
Avoid placing it directly behind you when using a floor lamp to prevent screen glare.
Here are some recommendations.
| Product | Specification |
|---|---|
| Brightech Leaf LED Floor Lamp | 12.5 watt, dimmable, 20,000 hours lifespan, 3,000K warm white |
| LED Desk Lamp with Touch Control | 360-degree gooseneck design, 6500K white color, 15 LED diffused lighting beads |
5. Add Some Natural Lighting
Sunlight is the best and the cheapest choice for illuminating the home desk.
The full-spectrum lighting offered by the sunlight makes your eyes comfortable unless the direct light prevents you from seeing the screen. There are many ways you can harness natural lighting.
Make the Best Use of Windows
Move your desk parallel to the window, or use drapes and shades to soften the natural illumination. Use shades to offset the harsh natural sunlight without eliminating the lighting.
Use Light Shelves
Install the light shelf is an essential part of your home to guide sunlight on your desk.
A light shelf is a horizontal ceiling extension made from a reflective material that guides up to 4 times of illumination.
Use Solar Tubes
A solar tube is quite unconventional, but it can be an excellent source for redirecting sunlight.
A roof-mounted lens (solar tube) connects to the internal ceiling lined with highly reflective glass, guiding natural light through the diffuser to any space.
It can replace up to 60-watt incandescent bulbs.
6. Create your own Personalized Space
Add personality to your desk by redoing everything or a few elements that match your taste or preference.
Personalizing your space helps you connect to your workstation.
Here are a few ways to personalize your desk.
- Repaint your desk and the adjoining wall with your favorite color.
- Add photo frames of family, pets, and favorite author or quote.
- Add artwork on the adjoining wall if you are artsy.
- Do not forget to add green houseplants that are great air-purifiers, such as; Pothos, Ficus Benjamina, Bromeliads, Philodendron, and Peace Lily.
- Choose a custom keyboard and mouse of your favorite color.
- Decorate your desk with showpieces, a wallboard, a small book drawer, etc.
- Add a desk organizer like a tray or drawer unit that resonates with your style. You can keep work utensils, sculptures, plants, and other items on the desk
7. Add Some Greenery to your Desk
Adding some greenery to your desk will enhance its aesthetics and positively influence your mood.
A study by Nursery and Garden reported that adding houseplants helped reduce anxiety by 37%, anger by 44%, fatigue by 38%, and depression by 58%.
Moreover, some houseplants are great for filtering indoor air of Formaldehyde and other toxins.
Here are a few suggestions for your desk plants.
| Plants | Benefits |
|---|---|
| Bromeliad | They are great at removing toxic chemicals and pollutants from the air. |
| Cast Iron Plant | They are slow-growing plants that are perfect for decoration on work desks. |
| Dracaena | Bes air-purifying houseplant that helps to increase concentration |
| Pink Syngonium | Almost every Syngonium species is suitable for homes. They help cleanse air and add decor. |
| Snake Plant | They effectively cleanse benzene and trichloroethylene from the air and great low-light plants. |
| Peace Lily | A low-maintenance house plant that promotes home decor and restful sleep. |
8. Choose Desk Material Wisely
The suitable desk material will make it last for years to come. It means you need not buy another table for years.
When choosing the desk material, look for something that can hold your equipment and tools’ weight and match your stylish preference.
Wood desks are great for style and feel, while metal desks are environment-friendly and durable. Other popular choices include glass or laminate materials that are durable and stylish.
Here are a few popular choices for desk material.
| Material | Features |
|---|---|
| Solid wood | Traditional desk materials that are durable and strong. They go well with almost any decor. |
| Bamboo | They are lightweight and portable. Bamboo is about 40% sturdier than oak or solid wood. |
| Power coating MDF | MDF or Medium-density Fiberboard is made from wood scraps glued with resin. They are durable and come in many styles and colors. |
| Glass | They are stylish and make your workstation look bigger. |
| Metal | They are durable and easy to clean and come in different sizes, design, and colors. |
Choosing a wood desk adds natural appeal to your room. Go for natural woods like oakwood, birch, maple, and walnut that are best for home office desks and are very durable.
| Product | Specification |
|---|---|
| Bestar Table With Square Metal Legs, Northern Maple | 24"x48" maple wood office desk |
| Techni Mobili Modern Office Desk | Modern wood and metal office desk, 51.25" L x 23.25" D x 29.75" H |
9. Organize your Desk
Desk organization prevents clutter and makes your workstation look more uniform and aesthetic.
Many people complain that the clutter on their desks causes visual distractions. It also prevents them from concentrating on work, causing delayed progress.
The research carried out by the University of Chicago revealed that disorganizations lead to lower self-confidence.
Here are a few ways to organize your desks are as follows;
- Save space and reduce clutter. Store everything you need in a drawer, so the tabletop remains free of unnecessary items.
- Put the most-used items near your dominant hand so you do not need to reach out for anything.
- Group similar items (Pen, pencil, ruler) together.
- Ditch sticky notes if you do not work around the deadline. The piling of sticky notes can make your desk look cluttered.
- Use filing systems such as desk drawers, racks, or wall-mounted racks to store items away from the desktop.
Related Article: How to Organize Home Office Filing System?
10. Aesthetic Desk Wall and Art
Adding art on the wall makes your workstation look interesting. Especially when facing the wall, hanging a picture will add flavor to the plain surface and help beat boredom.
Ensure that these arts are not distracting you from work.
Here are a few tips.
- Combine different frame styles with photos and artwork to create a unique collage.
- Add your life’s moments such as birthdays, marriage, the birth of kids, etc.
- Add photos of landscapes that will be pleasing to look at after hours of concentrating on the screen.
- For a more classy look, go for artwork from your local artists or someone renowned.
You can find a few more tips on Shutterfly’s 31 Office Wall Art.
11. Add Desk Accessories
Desk accessories often bring style and decor to a relatively plain office desk. Moreover, you can choose accessories that are also helpful in your work.
Here are some best recommendations.
| Product | Specification |
|---|---|
| Nulaxy Laptop Stand | Aluminum laptop stand, 10-16" width, 7" height |
| TOZO W1 Wireless Charger | Aluminum built, supports all kinds of smartphones |
| JBL FLIP 5, Portable Bluetooth Speaker | Waterproof speaker, 12 hours of playtime |
| Wood pencil holder | Wooden pen organizer for desk with 15 compartments |
| Digital Desk Clock | Digital alarm clock, with wooden electronic LED time display |
| Wooden Desk Shelf | Adjustable desktop bookshelf desk organizer and Shelf rack counter |
12. Switch from Flat to Curved Monitor
We extensively used curved CRT monitors for work, then came flat screens. Today, the best monitors are those with curvature.
Indeed, modern monitors that are curved inside allow your eyes to take in everything at once. It also prevents eye strain by minimizing your field of depth.
Here are a few more reasons to choose curved monitors. They eliminate distortion, cover a wide field of view, and offer a more visually immersive experience.
Here are a few curved monitor recommendations for you.
| Product | Feature |
|---|---|
| Sceptre Curved 27" LED Monitor | It comes with a 27" widescreen and blue light filter perfect for a long hour of work and gaming. |
| Z-Edge 27-inch Curved Gaming Monitor | This 27" curved monitor is perfect for gaming and work. It is a LED backlight monitor that comes with eve-care technology for long hours of work. |
13. Stack Healthy Snacks Jars
Spending longer hours sitting at a desk can become relatively dull. Hence, munching on healthy snacks will help you re-energize and revitalize.
Depending on your preference, store your favorite nuts, dried fruits, beef jerky, and seeds in a small jar and place them on your work desk.
From time to time, you can relish these delicious items.
Moreover, the small decorative jars filled with nuts make your desk look alive.
14. Add a bookshelf for Your Favorite Books
Working endlessly on the computer can be tough on your eyes and health. Thus, keeping a bookshelf within your arm’s reach will help you take a break and read more.
The bookshelf doesn’t need to be huge. A shelf that fits at least 3-4 books should be enough.
You can also find a decorative bookshelf for your home office desk.
Here are a few recommendations.
| Product | Feature |
|---|---|
| Hossejoy Adjustable Desktop Storage | It is a desktop bookshelf cum storage perfect for keeping books and items such as a decorative houseplant or alarm clock. |
| YGYQZ Small Bookshelf for Desktop | It is mini storage for an office desk that easily fits a couple of books and other decorative items |
15. Add a Cool, Ergonomic Chair
Comfortable office chairs are a vital part of any modern-day workplace because people have started spending long hours sitting in front of their computers.
Adding a cool yet ergonomic chair to your desk will help to enhance its appeal and provide a comfortable space to stay.
However, finding the right chair is important to ensure the correct body posture and productivity. 86% of employees complain that their office chairs make them uncomfortable.
Here are a few recommendations for you.
| Product | Specification |
|---|---|
| Flash Furniture Mid-Back Gray Executive Swivel | 26.5” Wx27” Dx36-40 H”, and padded with 5” foam |
| Flash Furniture High Back Executive Swivel | Built-in lumbar support, foldable black design, and headrest |
| Flash Furniture GO-2136-GG | 29.5"W x 29" D x 39.25"H, padded arm, leather upholstery, and coated framed finish |
| Flash Furniture Black Mesh Reception Chair | 24.75"W x 24.5" D x 39.25"H, Cantilever sled base, ventilated mesh design, and gentle rocking feature |
16. Clean your Desk Often
The office desk and items easily attract dust. Over time, these dust particles lead to allergens that cause eye and nasal problems.
It is an important takeaway: Cleaning your desk and keeping it organized keeps your workstation hygienic, free of clutter, and prevents accidents.
Keeping your desk clean daily will also help prevent a pile-up of unnecessary items on your workstation.
After eating on your desk, you should clean it to prevent fungus buildup on food residue left on the desk.
Final Takeaway
An aesthetically appealing and organized home office desk will keep you productive, engaged, and focused.
Working from home can be dull when working on the same old workstation with nothing interesting.
Keeping your home office desk aesthetically pleasing may encourage you to spend more time at your desk.
Related Article: How Can I make My Home Office Desk Look Minimalist?
