11 of the most common home office design mistakes to avoid

Only a couple of years ago, a home office wasn't seen as much of a necessity as it is now. Fast forward to today, home offices have become a staple, whether it's for full-time office work or for a dedicated admin spot. So if you are planning your own, you might want to know the home office design mistakes to avoid, before you get started. 

Homes have evolved hugely in recent years, becoming multi-functional spaces for living and working, which means rethinking the layout and design of rooms so that they are practical for every eventuality. While there are plenty of home office ideas out there to inspire a creatively fulfilling space, it's also important to know which mistakes to avoid, so that the decorating process is as streamlined as possible. 

Home office design mistakes to avoid

You might not think you even need a dedicated space to work from home, but combining the time spent doing life admin, the kids doing their homework and researching the latest  household bill comparison deals, suddenly a spot to do it all looks good. So look at the spaces you have in your home currently, how you use them and where you can afford to make changes.

Whether you want to reimagine a space with in your home, or create a new WFH space altogether, follow our top tips to avoid the common home office design mistakes many fall victim of.

1. Neglecting space for a headboard

A pinboard or memo board will act as an interesting home office wall decor idea that breaks up big, plain areas of colour on your wall. It also gives you a dedicated spot to keep postcards, colour swatches and anything else that inspires and excites you. 

Keeping important notes like a family calendar right in your eyeline is useful for everyone to keep track of daily memos. You can even buy a fabric-covered board or DIY your own to add even more pattern to a space. 

2. Avoiding pattern

It can be easy to assume that the design of a workspace has to be as serious as the work going on in it, but actually adding some personality through home office wallpaper ideas will help to encourage productivity and creativity. 

'A striking wallpaper provides the perfect backdrop to a statement desk set up.  By making sure that no detail is overlooked, from the tech through to the ornaments and lighting,  this is a workspace designed to be seen, says Jamie Watkins, co-founder of Divine Savages. 'Whether it's a work nook or an entire room, we believe the home office is the perfect place for wallpaper, to show off character & personality.'

3. Not adding task lighting

One of the most impactful aspects of interior design is lighting - it can entirely change the mood of a room as well as how practical it is to use. One of the biggest home office lighting mistakes is not varying the light sources or bulb colour enough, making it too stark to work when natural light disappears. 

'If you’re working from home, a good desk light can lift the spirits and increase focus. Whether you have a dedicated study or a converted nook, lighting is key to creating a mood of productivity', says Charlie Bowles, director of Original BTC Director. 'Look for streamlined designs with angleable shades, to cast light where it’s most needed. A bone china shade will create a soft welcoming environment you’re eager to spend time in, while a metal shade concentrates light on paperwork.'

4. Not isolating the workspace

'Opt for a room divider or desk with built-in walls to carve out a designated area for work,' says Rachael Fell, Furniture Buying Manager at Habitat.  'Isolating the workspace in this way evokes an element of seclusion which encourages focus and concentration. These clear physical boundaries also help mentally separate office and living areas, meaning it’s easier to leave work behind at the end of the day.'

Even tidying away your laptop or any paperwork into a box at the end of the day, will mentally allow you to switch off, especially in a small home office. Trying to eat dinner while being surrounded by spreadsheets doesn't make for the healthiest way to eat...

5. Getting the natural light levels wrong

Providing light control, noise reduction, and insulation, as well as privacy from neighbours or passers-by, choosing the correct window dressings for your working space, will invite ultimate productivity.

'Installing shutters in your home office can have a range of aesthetic as well as practical benefits,' says Chrissie Harper, Customer Experience Manager at California Shutters. 'One of the most functional benefits is the ability to block out harsh and distracting sunlight with adjustable louvres for a space that encourages productivity. In addition to the benefit of light control, shutters are also the ideal solution for privacy and insulating rooms where comfort is a must.'

Roller blinds can also work well to control your light levels and can be installed easily and quickly, to solve glare from the sun on your screen.

6. No sense of the outside

There’s nothing like a fresh vase of flowers on your desk, to bring a sense of the outside in and set you up for the day. Whether bought from a florist, the supermarket or just foraged from the garden, fresh flowers and houseplants will promote wellness and encourage mindfulness, which has become essential for any home office.

Prints and posters that follow a botanical theme will also help to bring the outdoors in, so opt for art work that feature flora and fauna.

7. Choosing the wrong desk chair

Getting your desk chair all wrong is one of the top home office design mistakes and will hugely impact how your day-to-day feels. While 'proper' desk chairs might not always look as stylish as that scalloped, velvet tub chair you've been eyeing up, they offer the right support for your back, which is worth its weight in gold!

Lucinda Newbound, Senior Ergonomics Advisor at Back in Action advises, 'When it comes to picking the perfect desk chair, think about how much time you are spending sitting and how you prefer to sit. Think of your office chair like a life partner and ask yourself would you prefer a swivel chair, something with arms and a headrest or are you up and down from your chair taking calls? The reason for this is you’ll probably spend more time with your chair than almost anyone or anything else in your life!'

8. Ignoring storage needs

When planning your workspace, don't forget to include some all-important home office storage ideas. If your job involves a lot of 'stuff', give it a dedicated cupboard with a trolley you can wheel desk-side when it needs it, but tuck away again at the end of the day. Boxes, files and jars are all handy vessels for keeping paperwork and stationery under control and should help to encourage the rest of the household to be just as tidy!

Box files are great at disguising boring bills and can be covered in pretty wrapping or wallpaper offcuts if they are being kept out on display.

9. Not making the most of awkward spaces

Attics and loft spaces across the country, found themselves being converted to offices back in 2020, and it's easy to see why. Tucked out of the way at the top of the house, you can close the door at the end of a working day, and not have to witness anything work-related until you are next back at your desk. It also means you don't eat into any of your living space downstairs, or any of the bedrooms too.

But there is no denying their awkwardly shaped home office layouts often throw up design mistakes in the making. Opting for bespoke storage or cupboards to use the space to it's highest potential, is definitely an investment that will pay off.

Senior Designer at Neville Johnson, Simon Tcherniak, says: 'The big advantage of bespoke furniture is of course that it can fill the space and cope with any idiosyncrasies. It is amazing how much storage you gain by going high up the wall, and if you make it no deeper than it needs to be your room will still feel spacious. Your designer can measure exactly what needs to be housed or displayed and make sure that it will all fit, look good and be accessible.'

10. Thinking you need an entire room for your home office

Contrary to our idea above, you don't always need an entire room for your office space, especially if you will only be using it occasionally. Rather than transform a whole room and lose precious storage or living space, look to spaces around your home that can be converted into a WFH spot. Under stair space is an ideal space as it won't eat into the footprint of your room.

Here, a tall kitchen unit and a matching base unit, slot in to create a 'built in' home office, with a length of plywood cut to fit as a desktop. Just add gorgeous cabinet handles for a smart finish and a floating shelf to display trinkets and art work.

11. Not realising a spare rooms' potential

Guest bedrooms are a luxury to have in themselves, but unless you have friends and family to stay for long periods of time, at a regular basis, they are often not utilised to their full potential. While getting rid of the bed and turning the whole space into a home office is an option, it might seem a bit drastic, so opt for a sofa bed to keep options open. Alternatively, squeeze a desk into an alcove space and make the room dual purpose.

A narrow, floating desk won't protrude into the room. and when guests do come to stay, prop a mirror on it to make it their dressing table.