In today’s world, where remote work is more common than ever, having a dedicated and functional home office has become essential. A well-designed workspace can mean the difference between feeling overwhelmed when you sit down to work and thriving in a productive environment.
From Pass-Through to Productive Sanctuary
Before getting started with our Preppy Eclectic interior design project in Tennessee, we were already working with this client to update her girls’ bathroom and playroom. As those rooms came together, our project seamlessly flowed from one room to the next when she asked us to take on her home office.
As someone who works almost exclusively from home, our client had a growing need for a private, professional workspace that could accommodate her demanding work schedule.
She needed more than just a desk and chair to get her work done—she needed a private, functional space where she could focus, conduct Zoom meetings, and lock the door when necessary.
Dogwood Proper worked closely with her to address these challenges and create a space that combined form and function. In this blog, I’ll explain how we transformed a room that wasn’t functioning to its fullest potential into a sanctuary where she could efficiently manage her work, all from the comfort of home.
Here’s a peek at the “Before”
Yikes, a Peloton, a standing desk, and a pass-through doorway (now patched closed) created more chaos than calm in her workspace.
1. Start with Functionality & Assess What You Need
Before designing your space with aesthetics in mind, it’s essential to evaluate what’s not working and identify what you need to improve functionality.
For example, we often ask our clients:
Is your current setup too cluttered, cramped, or something else?
Are you missing essential features like privacy, storage, or good lighting?
Do you feel distracted by noise or lack of boundaries between work and home life?
Is your furniture comfortable and conducive to long work hours?
Starting with functionality ensures your workspace supports your productivity at work and life at home. Once the essentials are in place, you can layer in design elements that reflect your personality and make the space enjoyable to use.
2. Balance Form & Functionality: Hide the Chaos in Style
This client’s standing desk was a key feature of her home office, but like many home office setups, it came with cords, gadgets, and even a walking treadmill—not exactly key players in a stylish design.
To make this utilitarian feature beautiful, we designed a custom desk surround that concealed the desk’s functional elements and elevated the entire room’s aesthetic. (Not bad for a standing desk!) With smart design, even the most functional pieces can blend seamlessly into a polished space.
This principle applies to any home office, including those without a standing desk. For example, filing cabinets or printers are often necessary for your work, but they're not the most visually appealing elements of your decor.
A custom cabinet with sleek doors can keep unsightly items tucked away while maintaining easy access. Similarly, cord management systems or decorative boxes can help hide the mess of cables and office supplies that can clutter a desk. The goal is to identify the "chaos" specific to your workspace and incorporate thoughtful design solutions that keep it both functional and beautiful.
3. It's Not a Corporate Cubicle: Adding Elegant and Functional Details
One of the joys of working from home is having the freedom to design a workspace that actually inspires you. No overhead fluorescent lights, no sterile linoleum tiles, and no greige fabric divider walls required! You can incorporate beauty and function in equal measure to create a space you’ll actually enjoy spending time in.
For this client, bringing in gold accents like we'd done in other parts of her home became a standout feature, showcasing how practical elements can deliver a big design impact just by doing their job.
From the hardware to the lighting to the brass mesh panels on the built-ins, these thoughtful details added a layer of sophistication and glamour to the space while proving that even the most practical elements can deliver serious style points. The mesh panels, for instance, elegantly hide her office materials—following the tip above to hide chaos with style.
4. Break the "Rules": Layer in Personality and Beauty
One of our favorite design elements in this project was the wallpaper on the “fifth wall”—the ceiling. Thinking outside the box is what we love to do, and adding wallpaper to the ceiling is the perfect example of how a little creativity can turn a forgotten surface into a showstopper.
For our client, this subtle yet impactful feature helped transform the room into a serene retreat. Yes, this is a home office, but layering in elements whose sole purpose was beauty created a calming atmosphere—and who doesn't want to feel calm while working?! The wallpaper, featuring a delicate cloud motif with a pearlized finish, serves as a reminder that even functional rooms deserve beauty and personality.
Breaking the rules can mean anything from skipping standard desk lamps and opting for statement lighting (Why not have a chandelier in your office?) to incorporating a bold area rug that brings a bit of fun to your floor. In a home office, it's the unexpected details that make it truly yours—and a space that gets you excited to go to work.
5. Create a Destination, Not Just a Space
Originally, this room was a pass-through connecting the main bedroom to another part of the home—and making it difficult for our client to seclude herself and avoid interruptions We intentionally closed it off to create a dedicated office. French doors with glass inserts allowed light to flow while providing privacy—a crucial element for Zoom meetings and focused work—but also feature locking doorknobs that can keep visitors (aka her curious kids) from walking in any time they please.
By turning this pass-through into a destination, the client gained a true work-from-home sanctuary. This separation also helped foster a better work-life balance, which can be challenging when your office is steps away from your living space.
The Bottom Line
Designing a home office is about crafting a space that seamlessly supports both your work and your life. For this client, we took a pass-through space and turned it into a destination—a place where she can close the door, focus on her work, and feel both productive and inspired. With thoughtful touches like serene wallpaper, clever storage solutions, and elegant design elements, we didn’t just create an office; we created a sanctuary.
Your home should be set up to support the life you want—including the work you do—and the right design can make all the difference. If there’s a room in your home that isn’t pulling its weight, let’s explore how to transform it into something functional, beautiful, and uniquely yours. Sometimes, the perfect solution is already within reach.
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