How to make your home office feel cozier – expert tips to make your WFH spot feel warm and welcoming

We're at the home stretch of 2024, with just a few more weeks left until we get a break for the holidays.

But if your working from home space is feeling frosty rather than festive, we're setting out to help you make it feel warm and welcoming with some cozy home office ideas. An inviting home office can make all the difference to those long hours spent at your desk, making it feel less like a chore and more like your own personal retreat.

At least that's the aim, anyway. With just a few expertly-guided small adjustments you can elevate your home office to be a much cozier space for the colder months and beyond. Here's how.

7 Cozy Home Office Ideas

Whether you’re working with an entire dedicated workroom or a small home office nook in the corner of your guest bedroom, these easy-to-implement cozy home office ideas can be adapted to fit any layout or style preference. Use these ideas to create a home office that feels as good as it look, because when your workspace is inviting, the workday becomes a whole lot brighter.

1. Ensure you've got a really comfy desk chair

A comfortable desk chair is the cornerstone of any home office. Given the hours spent seated, investing in good seating is a must for both your comfort and health.

When selecting a desk chair, materials matter just as much as functionality. Upholstered chairs in soft fabrics or leather can add a layer of warmth, while boucle or velvet will certainly add a cozy feel. Try playing around with trims too, like this skirted chair seen above from TROVE by Studio Duggan.

'Upholster your desk chair in a fabric you love, don’t just consider something utilitarian but do think about rub (wearability) tests,' advises Benji Lewis of Benji Lewis Design. 'Choose a color scheme that you find calm and reassuring, and, if you’re pattern averse, then layer in comforting textural interest like linen, velvet, wool, and leather for a cozy feel.'

2. Create layers of cocooning texture

'Creating a cozy home office starts with layering textures and thoughtful design details,' suggests interior designer Marie Flanigan, who designed the embracing space above.

'Consider adding interest with a subtle wallcovering, like grasscloth or a patterned paper, to bring warmth and personality to the space,' she advises. 'Incorporate a plush rug or soft curtains to enhance the sense of comfort and quiet. Opt for a mix of functional and beautiful pieces, such as a well-crafted desk paired with a comfortable chair and ambient lighting,' Marie adds.

3. Have throw blankets and pillows to hand

'I love the idea of using plenty of texture to make a home office feel cozy,' Kathy Kuo agrees.

'A really plush, textured throw rug, a swivel chair with boucle upholstery, and throw blankets close at hand are all ways to add a feeling of luxurious warmth to an office space without veering into the kind of coziness that might make you feel sleepy.'

The beauty of throws and pillows is that they’re as functional as they are decorative. They can keep you warm during long, late work sessions, provide extra lumbar support, or simply act as a visual cue for coziness.

4. Envoke the feeling of an old English study

'I love also the idea of creating a cozy home office in the model of an old-timey English study,' Kathy Kuo continues.

A vintage-inspired, English-style study is all about creating a warm, layered environment that feels lived-in, collected over time, and personal. Think leather armchairs, dark wood tones, and shelves filled with books and meaningful objects.

'Create a sense of sophisticated warmth by mixing cozy knits like hand-knotted wool rugs and cashmere throw blankets with sleek textures like leather and mahogany wood,' she suggests. 'And finally, you can never go wrong with a stately wooden bookcase full of new and antique books.'

5. Add in personal touches

When you surround yourself with items that inspire or comfort you it feels so much more than a workplace. 'Plenty of family photos and personal keepsakes that spark inspiration are also great ways to make an office feel more personal and inviting,' says Kathy.

Start with meaningful decor pieces, such as family photos in stylish frames, trinks that reflect your hobbies, travel souvenirs, or artwork that just simply makes you smile. This is your personal space, so show off any mementos from your childhood achievements or fill a shelf with plants if that's more your thing.

Interior designer Young Huh who designed the home office above says, 'We created warm wood cabinets with burnished copper countertops for this space. But what really makes this home office feel like home are all the personal mementos in the shelves.'

6. Keep the lighting soft (but not too dim)

Soft, well-balanced lighting can make your space feel warm and inviting. Lighting in a home office should strike a balance between practicality and ambiant so start by layering different types of lighting.

'Task lighting is crucial in your home office but that doesn’t mean a flood of stark overhead spots, you’re not looking a lighting an airport terminal,' says Benji. 'Therefore, try to include desk lights that cast a practical wash of downward illumination onto your work surface. I find that two of these at each end of my desk is ideal so that I’m not working in shadow,' he suggests.

'Make sure you have ample lighting that feels bright and warm rather than cool and austere,' adds Kathy.

7. Create a break out area for relaxing

Of course, you're not tied to your laptop all day so a small but cozy seating area provides a space for thinking and winding down.

'Integrating a comfortable sit-down space in an office, like a daybed or sofa, offers a space to work but also read, relax or sneak in a nap,' advises interior designer Wendy Labrum of Wendy Labrum Interiors who designed the restful office nook above, painted in this year's trending burgundy paint.

'We like to envelop a space in a rich paint or plaster color or stained wood paneling to invite warmth and coziness,' she adds. 'We often find it's easier to work in a space where you also want to hang out!'

'If you have space include a small but comfortable upholstered tub armchair in your home office, add a little table, and a floor lamp behind it so you can read spreadsheets while sitting comfortably with a mug of coffee and see things clearly,' Benji agrees.

By blending together these cozy home office ideas you can create a beautiful home office that you actually want to spend time is a necessity for boosting productivity and well-being.