We’re heading into the final phase of my “9-to-5 Style” office week of content, but, of course, ending on a high note—we’re going to be talking about cozy work space décor tips to try! In case you missed the other elements of this week of “back to school”-inspired stories for us grown-ups, click here for a roundup of mod office supplies to shop for, and here for my latest newsletter, which talked through tricks for making your office not look like an office (even if you work in a corporate cubicle). Now, let’s jump straight into those cozy work space design ideas that I came up with to help make your office one that you want to sink right into along with your to-do list.

First of all, make sure you’ve got lots of extra plush upholstered surfaces in your office. Your desk chair should obviously be as comfortable as you can afford (I love using upholstered dining chairs as desk chairs, like this), but don’t overlook the idea of having other types of seating in your office if you can squeeze them in. I had enough room for a long upholstered bench in my office (similar found here), but if you don’t, a small floor cushion or pouf will do the trick. Anything that you can prop your feet on or plop down onto when you want an option other than your desk chair for cozy work brainstorming sessions.

What if you don’t actually have room for a separate home office? If you don’t have an extra nook or bedroom that you can use for your work space, try carving square footage out of an existing living room or bedroom for your office. I set up a home office in our guest room that sort of blended into the room because I intentionally chose a desk and desk chair that matched the beige tones of the wallpaper in that space (pictured above). Color has a huge impact on how we perceive the zones in our home, and I love how cozy this arrangement ended up looking and feeling since it integrated so naturally into the existing color palette of our guest room.

Another way to make your office feel extra cozy and comfortable to use is to opt for an L-shaped desk, like the one we used to have in our old house. That wrap-around layout will seem to envelope you so nicely while you’re working, and it makes multi-tasking easier, too, since you can just twist around to the side to access lots more work area on the perpendicular desk extension. I also loved the multiple layers of lighting that I used in that old office of mine—one higher hanging lamp, like this, and a table lamp on the desktop itself. Surrounding myself with different types and heights of light gave my work space a cozier tone that I appreciated during long hours of computer work.

Do you have your own ideas for making an office look and feel cozy? As a quick aside, a dark wall paint color really can do wonders for transforming your work space into something that you naturally gravitate toward. Comment below and tell me your own strategies for adding a sense of coziness to your home office, and keep an eye on my Instagram for the wrap up of my “9-to-5 Style” series later today and tomorrow.

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