Homing in on the Home Office

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How to Stage Your Home Office for Function and Form



Although kitchens and baths are said to be the rooms that sell a house, the home office has become a necessity for buyers who work from home. Often positioned on either side of the front door, offices may be a buyer’s first impression of your house.  For that reason, it is important not to neglect this functional, often-needed room in the house.

The purpose of an office is to work, whether that is doing work for your profession, or doing your own personal paperwork and bills. Either way, piles of papers, boxes of files, and stacks of folders are all part of the job. But in order for buyers to imagine themselves working in that space, they need to be able to see that there is actual space. To make sure you buyers love the office, follow these tips in these before and after photos.




Use Calm Colors to Inspire Productivity and Creativity

Neutral, calm colors, such as white, beige, or soft gray, create a tranquil atmosphere conducive to producing professional papers, 
writing novels, or creating works of art. 












Declutter, Depersonalize, and Detail the Space

Remove boxes of files and any clutter on the desk so the floor is empty and the majority of the desk space is clear. Add a leather desk pad, attractive holder for pens and pencils, and other decorative objects, such as a globe or clock to create an organized, functional space.


Add Task, Ambient and Natural Lighting


Task lighting, such as a desk lamp, floor lamp or hanging overhead light, can illuminate a specific work space without dominating the entire room. In contrast, ambient lighting, such as recessed lights, can provide a more evenly distributed glow that brightens the entire room. Natural light is the best source of ambient light, so be sure to open blinds and drapes to take advantage of natural sunlight when showing the house during daylight hours.


Purposely Place and Position Furniture

Along with the more obvious pieces of office furniture, such as the desk and chair, other pieces of furniture can be added to give the space a comfortable, multifunctional purpose. Adding a loveseat or lounge chair and a TV gives the room an additional purpose as an extra family room or study.

Finally, check out Pinterest for other home office advice.

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