Home offices are a hot topic. People used to working in cubicles and under fluorescent lights are suddenly working at home — from the couch, a desk tucked into a corner, or, if they’re lucky, a dedicated office. But we’re work-from-home pros so we thought it might be fun to give you a peek into the places where we work. 

Theresa’s “Office”

My home office has been through many iterations. In fact, I once became so obsessed with trying to perfect my office I wrote several blog posts about it. At first, it was the catch-all room as I moved into my new house and worked on getting the more public rooms squared away. The office was my staging area, where I piled up the moving boxes and doled them out to other rooms as I made progress on the move. 

But even after the boxes were gone, I found myself working from the couch. The office just wasn’t inviting. There was an old, uncomfortable desk that didn’t handle being dismantled and moved very well, and a melange of random furniture. So, I set about redecorating… and then redecorating again… and again.    

And then I moved to Vermont, where my partner and I found a place that allowed us both to have an office. I really liked that space — it was bright and inviting and a nice place to start off your morning.  

Now, we’re back in Connecticut, and though the view from our tiny cottage on the water can’t be beaten, my office has been reduced to a desk in the living room and a few shelves on a bookcase. But that doesn’t mean I don’t still obsess over it from time to time. 

In fact, it’s even more important now to make sure it’s organized because it’s constantly visible. I can’t just close the door and forget about the pile of papers on the desk. I downsized my desk a bit, so it didn’t take up so much space but found one with open shelving so there was still room for a printer and a place for the Wi-Fi router and mail holder. 

If I have one piece of advice for setting up a home office that you actually want to work in, it’s to pick your desk and your chair wisely. You’ll spend more time here than anywhere else and it matters. For me, I need plenty of leg space under my desk because I tend to sit cross-legged in my chair. It’s the small things that matter, and make you more comfortable during the long workdays so make sure you pick your furniture wisely. 

Storage is also key for me. I don’t particularly like drawers, they tend to become messy (unless you go full Home Edit on them) so I opt for open shelving with boxes and storage containers that keep things contained and easy to get to. 

Everyone’s priorities are different. Just make sure you fully consider them before going all-in on designing your workspace. 

Rebecca’s “Office”

If I have the option – and we aren’t in the throes of a global pandemic – my preferred workspace is some obscure nook in a vast, relatively quiet library. But since this dark academia aesthetic can be somewhat hard to come by, I have been forced to adapt corners of my tiny living space to fit the WFH vibe I want. 

I call my current home the Moveable Apartment because our furniture is frequently rearranged for different purposes. I love living in this small space, but there’s a persistent issue of determining a dedicated workspace. I originally tried setting up an office in the bedroom but working in the same place I slept was not the tea. I co-opted this corner of the dining table for a while, but then we moved the table to the kitchen area.

The couch remains a tempting option. But what I eventually settled on was a good, old-fashioned desk. And I do mean old-fashioned. To satisfy my academic inclination, I incorporated an antique school-desk into my living room decor. It’s great for storing all my notebooks and podcasting equipment, while remaining pretty compact and unobtrusive. For a little extra spice, I added a brass banker-style lamp, some literary prints, and, of course, plants. 

For me, houseplants are a need not a want. When I lived in an 80 sq ft dormitory in Edinburgh, I staved off small-space insanity by surrounding myself with plants, cut flowers, literally anything green I could get my hands on. I carried this habit over to my subsequent apartment life and have since accumulated a sizable collection of plants. I work adjacent to the plants and find them exceedingly agreeable coworkers. And, it turns out, I’m not crazy for doing this! Natasha Harris, creator of the natural, sustainable beauty line Nabii Organics, recently validated my plant-obsession in a very on-point Instagram post:

Green space is so important for protecting against mood disorders, depression, neurotic behavior, and stress-related issues. One study found that green space offers psychological restoration, meaning that adding nature and natural resources to your environment can change your negative state to a positive one. Green space is also dose dependent, meaning the longer your exposure the more beneficial to your mental health. (@nabii_organics)

Besides a collection of mental-health allies nearby, I think all good WFH stations have candles, hot tea, a lumbar-support cushion if you don’t have an office chair, cozy slippers, and at least one reliable pen. Also, music. You’d be amazed how quickly a good playlist can transform a random corner of your house into your very own gothic library.