Many of my clients own good quality dark wood office furniture.
Their office furniture tends to look very masculine and heavy, which does not always complement their home's aesthetic.
Most clients wish to keep their home office furniture, but give it a lighter and brighter feel.
Here are a few ways that you can style your dark wood home office furniture to better complement your home.
(Disclaimer - This website contains affiliate links, meaning I get a small commission for purchases made through the links that offsets the fees associated with publishing this blog, however you will not pay any additional cost)
Rug
Decorating your home office with a light, bright, and/or colorful area rug is a good way to develop an overall color scheme and design style that blends with the rest of your home.
Make sure to consider your desk chair when purchasing a rug. You do not want your chair to be half on and half off a rug, so select a rug that is large enough that it does not cause a problem.
You might want to add a clear desk chair mat #ad so your rolling desk chair can more easily roll.
Artwork
Select artwork that repeats the colors and style of your rug.
Typically, the wall behind your desk will be your focal point wall, so make sure that wall is decorated well.
Feel free to display any awards, certificates, or diplomas on a side wall (not the focal point wall).
Avoid using small art pieces that can make your wall look cluttered.
Framed art usually looks more high quality than unframed canvases.
Light Fixture
If at all possible, consider getting a dramatic light fixture for your home office.
Your light fixture should complement the overall design style in your room.
You will most likely be spending a lot of time in your office, so make sure it looks better than basic.
Also consider your lighting needs because you might need a desk lamp or other light fixture to supplement your overhead light.
Dimmer switches are always suggested so you can adjust the light level according to your task.
Extra Storage and Seating
Consider any extra furniture you might need in your home office.
You might need extra storage or extra seating.
An upholstered storage bench/ottoman adds both storage and seating to a home office.
Hide Ugly Equipment and Cords
Try to disguise your office equipment as best you can, especially the cords.
You can use a laptop on your desk, but only plug it in at night when it needs to be charged.
Also consider hiding your printer in a location where it is not very visible, especially if it is behind you and visible in web meetings #ad.
Wall Color
You can paint your home office walls a color appropriate for your design style, or you might choose to wallpaper instead.
To brighten your home office, select a light color.
To make your home office happier, select a fun color that is not a neutral.
Accessories
Decorate your home office with accessories that coordinate with your selected color scheme and design style.
The best home office accessories are the ones that are both functional and beautiful, so consider items that can be used for storage or another purpose.
You can also add colorful books that you enjoy reading.
Living Item
Add a living item to your office to make it feel less sterile.
You can add a plant, some flowers, or invite your pet to join you at work (maybe you need a dog bed #ad that complements your home office).
If you have trouble keeping plants alive, consider decorating with a very high quality faux plant.
At minimum, open your windows so you can see nature outside.
Consider planting a very pretty plant outside your window so you have a nice view.
Items Shown
Click on the link below to see the items in this home office rendering (affiliate links).
More Help?
If you would like more help decorating your home office to be both efficient and beautiful, please contact us - we would love to help!
