How to Make a Home Office on a Budget

Looking for some tips on how to make the perfect home office on the cheap? With more professionals and artisans freelancing and striking out on their own, the home work space is coming back in a big way. And if you’ve caught the KonMari bug that’s been going around since Netflix launched the Marie Kondo mini series last month, you’ve probably got some newly discovered real estate ready to be revamped into the perfect home office.

Unless you’ve got a big room and an even bigger project budget, you’re probably looking for some simple, cheap home office ideas. Start by assessing how much space you have and make a list of the essential items you’ll need. We’ve provided a few bullets points below to help you get started. When it comes to time and budget, keep in mind that you don’t have to polish the entire space up front. A great way to make an affordable home office is to spread out the purchases over a period of time, instead of spending a lot up front.

Design for Style AND Functionality

When designing your new, in-home workspace, make sure to put functionality just a touch above style to ensure you actually use the space for work. It can be tempting to choose pieces you love in the hopes that the look will bring you in every day, but if you can’t sit or stand comfortably and work well in the space, you’re probably going to end up back on the couch or at the kitchen table.

To help make it easier for you, here are a few key pieces to include in your home office:

• A comfortable, supportive chair or standing mat
• Spacious work surface
• Access to electrical outlets
• Powerstrip/ surge protector
• Adequate lighting
• Window coverings to reduce screen glare
• Heating and/or cooling system for year-round comfort
• Sound and visual buffers to prevent distractions

Now that you know what to put in your home work area, it’s time to talk decor! These are our top five simple and affordable home office decor ideas.

Minimalist Office Decor

Here’s an idea that’s fun to work with: minimalist ≠ white. You can have a beautiful, minimal workspace and incorporate as much color as you want! We love a good patterned wall or bright accent color in a simple workspace, because it affords the practicality and function of the minimalist approach, while still letting you flex your creative design muscle. So while palm fronds, pineapples, and parakeets might not be the exact look for you, don’t be afraid to have some fun with your workspace.

Photo from minimalisthomedecor.info.

Modern Industrial Workspace

You don’t need the sprawling square footage of a former factory or warehouse to achieve the perfect industrial chic home office. The cornerstones of modern industrial decor are a complementary blend of natural materials, like aged wood and brick, mixed with rustic metals, so second-hand and salvaged goods can be a great way to find cheap pieces for your new home office.

Photo from HomeDesigning.com. Design by Anjey Mospanyuk.

White Walls. Green Plants.

When it comes to home decor, never underestimate the power of crisp white walls and a pop of fresh greenery. Not only does white reflect light and make the space bright, having minimal decor means less clutter and less dusting. If you have the luxury of a window nearby, or want to spring for a UV light, incorporate a few plants to give it a welcoming feel and bring the outside in. Not only will they help keep the air around your workspace fresh, they can help the work area blend into the room in a beautiful way.

Photo from Pinterest via TJ Vann.

Rose Gold Everything

Rose gold is totally having a moment, and it’s easy to understand why! The warm metallic tone screams luxury and blends well with a variety of color palettes. Mix your rose gold office supplies with midnight blues for a dramatic contrast or set against bright white for an ultra clean and modern space. Either way, you’ll have a stylish home-office that’s worth its weight in gold.

Photo from Primark.com, via Rachel Spedding.

The Itty Bitty Office

If you can’t spread out, go up! By taking advantage of vertical space, this ultra compact home office provides a surprising amount of storage, given its tremendously tiny footprint.

Photo from Crate Blog, by Crate and Barrel.

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