Most homes now come with space you can use for your own office space — whether a dedicated den on the main floor of your single-family home, or a converted spare bedroom, or even just extra counter space off the kitchen in your condo. Premise Designs has been in business since 2005, and Richardson and Arthurs have designed a lot of home offices, health clinics, residences and everything else in between. 

“The first thing is to recognize your organizational style,” Arthurs says. “There are two kinds of people — those who like to pile and those who like to file. You have to identify that first.”

If you’re a piler, you need storage boxes to take those messy, disorganized piles away. Instead of a collection of things lying about, drawers, storage boxes and other organizational containers help keep things in order. 

The second step they suggest is to identify every use the office space is going to have. 

“Is it just for you? Is it for taxes? For the family? For homework?” Arthurs asks. “Write out your uses of the office, so you’ll have a plan going in. If you’re a filer, all you need is a file cabinet. If you’re a piler, you probably need space to spread out.”

If your home office is also the kids’ homework space, you’re going to have to plan for that, too.  “If your kids are using it, you need to be able to monitor what they’re doing,” Arthurs says. “It has to be open.”

Integrate your family’s needs into your workspace with the clever use of cubbies, which Arthurs says is vital to good organization. “You could have little cubbies for each of the family members. The cubbies are the key. Mine hold everything, from kids’ school notices to slow cooker recipes.”

But, to keep your sanity and the crayons from overtaking your workspace, make your home office is inspiring to you. Make it your space and keep the kids’ stuff in one corner to keep it from being a distraction. 

“For an inspiring work space, have things that appeal to you, whether that’s pattern, colour, or objects, so it’s not just a sterile environment,” Richardson says. Your home office should have an ambience that inspires you to work. Whether that be photos of your children, or of your latest travel getaway, the decoration comes down to you. What puts you in a “work” state of mind? 

In some situations, the home office design and decor should also flow with the design of the living space as well. No magenta walls if the rest of your condo is cornflower blue or pale butter yellow. 

“If your home office is open, it does have to flow with the rest of the home. If it is a closed space, it can be whatever you want,” Richardson says.

Keep in mind where your home office is. If you like to spread out on your kitchen table or you do your best work in the living room, you’ll need something to close it off when company comes over. Try a Chinese screen. 

“Remember, storage and organization are essential,” Arthurs says. “Even in a little space, you have to keep bulletin boards and key storage in mind.” 

She points to a corner in her kitchen that serves as a second workspace. Arthurs’ iPad is propped up on a small desk in the corner. There’s a bulletin board in the back, covered in yellow Post-its and other snippets. There is a spot for pens and binders for kids school stuff. There’s a spot for everything, even her keys. 

“It works for me as my upstairs office,” she says. “Everything I need to run my family, run my business, is right there.”

Every home-based business has different needs for office furniture, technology, equipment and supplies. 

A key must-have is a desk. Choose one that fits your space, with drawers that have adequate room for your needs.  Condos often don’t have an excess of space, so you might try an alternative, like an armoir with a desk surface and shelves, or Richards’ Secretary Truck at Restoration Hardware. 

And, whether you DIY or hire designers to help you create your perfect, clutter-free and inspiring office space, keep in mind: you’re the boss.