It's Time To Stop Neglecting Your Home Office (2024)

Home offices are often an afterthought when designing a house. They're the spaces where our good intentions reside — like one day creating aspace where we'll sip our morning coffee and conquer the world.Instead,they become filled with mismatchedpieces and, let's face it, junk,that would never inspire someone to buckle down and getwork done.

So we turned toKirk Nixfor help. Here, Nix,aluxury designer responsible for the interiors ofthe villas at Caesar's Palace as well asthe homes of several celebrities, laysout the seven steps to creating a home office that is bothluxurious and functional.

1. It's all aboutthe desk.Crafting a home office that feels more expensive than it really is may seem like a difficult task, but after nailing down the perfect desk, everything else is about the details. Nix is a fan of utilizing"the biggest desk you can find room for," in order to accommodate future clutter."You'll be amazed at how quickly it will fill up."

2. Comfort is key. Nix says that the most important thing to keep in mind when designing a home office is personal comfort. "Make it a space you enjoy. Surround yourself with things that make you happy,grateful almost,so you are encouraged to perform."

3. Accessorize intelligently. When it comes to creating a luxuriousoffice space, it's essential to include the items that are often overlooked. Instead of throwing together a hodgepodge of office supplies, Nix prefers a proper desk set. "A blotter makes it look official."

4. Customize the lighting. Don't just rely on the room'sexisting overhead lights. Instead, add in functional and stylish lamps to create a luxe atmosphere. Nix recommends adding in two different kinds of lighting. "First, a task light for close up work,then lamps ora pendantfor ambient light. Balance is what we're after."

5. Add something soft underfoot. Being able to kick off your shoes and enjoy the feel of a plush carpetor fuzzy rug makes spending time in the office so much more enjoyable. "I seldom work at home with my shoes on,so something underfoot is so very appreciated," Nix says.

6. Bring in some music. Nothing elevates a space quite like the presence of music, and per Nix's suggestions, a home office is no exception. "It makes for agreat distraction when you need it," he says.

7. Keep clutter at bay. Almost more so than in any other room, organization rules the roost when it comes to home offices. If papers and files are left out, the space almost immediately feels overwhelming, so tucking away that extra clutter at the end of the day does wonders for the room's aesthetic."Make sure there's a place for everythingand the illusion of organization will indeed prevail," Nix says.

Most importantly though, Nix suggests keeping in mind that designing a luxurious home office takes time and effort."Just like anything else in this life,nothing comes easily, butput some thought into your work space and you will reap the benefits," he says.