Whether you’re envisioning an office with a door or a corner nook with a desk, designing a home office today is about understanding its main purpose for your household, deciding on the ideal location, and tailoring it to your specific needs.

“A home office should support how you live and work, so a good starting point is understanding your day-to-day habits,” Normandy Designer Becca Ruggiero says. “If you work from home every day you may need space for multiple monitors, or maybe your needs could be met with a niche where you can pay bills and work on your calendar.”

To that point, the location plays an important role, according to Becca. One of the biggest shifts she’s seeing is where these workspaces are located. “The kitchen desk is becoming less common. It tends to turn into a dumping zone because the kitchen is where all the chaos happens,” Becca notes. “Designing your home office is about finding the best place where you can focus and stay organized.”

Many homeowners are now carving out office space in bedrooms. “A primary suite can be more of a refuge,” she says. “It’s a place where you can wake up, have your coffee, check emails, and ease into your day. We’re seeing a lot of requests for coffee and beverage areas in the bedroom, so you can prep for and wind down from your day in one space.”

People are also converting underused areas such as living and dining rooms into workspaces. “For one of my projects, we converted a first-floor living room and bedroom into an office and mudroom because the kids had moved out, and the couple wanted to use that space in a different way,” Becca says.

Built-in storage is becoming increasingly popular, especially when tailored to specific needs like printers and physical file storage. Hidden charging stations in drawers are also a big request and benefit for office organization, to keep devices charged without the clutter. Lighting plays a huge role, as well. “It works out nicely if an office area features a window for natural light, but we’re also layering in sconces or can lights to make sure the space works at any time of day,” Becca says.

But function doesn’t mean sacrificing style. “This is one of those areas where you can really make it your own,” Becca says. “We’ve done spaces that tie into the rest of the home with matching materials, but we’ve also done bold, color-drenched offices that feel moody and focused.”

Ultimately, the best home office is one that feels intentional. As Becca puts it, “When you design around how you actually live, the space just works better.”

If you’re considering what the overall look of your next home remodeling project will be, set up a time to talk with Becca about how your vision might come together with all the selections you have in mind. You can also find inspiration in our photo gallery, or see the latest tips and trends on Instagram, Facebook or Pinterest.