We freelance writers spend a lot of time writing in our home offices, or whatever corner of our home we’ve dedicated for our business.
Wherever you write in your home needs to be conducive to getting your writing done. Let’s look at the basics of making that space both comfy and inspiring.
Furniture in Your Home Office/Writing Space
Arrange your furniture so you can easily get into your office and move around in it. Leave significant open space in the middle so you don’t feel cramped when sitting at your desk. Keep bookcases or anything else from blocking natural light streaming through windows.
Choose furniture that is comfortable and functional, that you like, and that goes well with your wall and floor colors.
I wrote extensively about the freelance writer’s desk a while back, so see that post for details. Also see my popular post about writing posture and alignment at the computer.
The Walls of Your Home Office/Writing Space
You may not want to hassle with painting the walls of your office or writing space, or you may rent and not have that option. If you can paint and you want to paint, choose a color that you feel will make you happy and most productive. In general, go with light colors over dark.
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Select carefully what you put on your walls. You want photos, paintings, and hangings that inspire you, that remind you of your goals, why you love life, and why you want to get your writing done as quickly and as well as possible. It can be a mix: photos of friends and family and beautiful places you love, paintings that soothe your mind, inspirational quotes to spark your desire to achieve.
Use Your Intuition with Home Office/Writing Space
Above all, use your intuition to determine what’s best. Consider the advice here and from people who you think have a good sense for such things, but in the end follow your gut.
Suggestions for Creating Your Ideal Home Office/Writing Space
1. What quick changes can you make right now in your office or writing space…
that will make it more comfortable and also increase your productivity?
2. What 5 things would you like to have on your walls that aren’t there now?
How easily could you get these and put them up? Which one will you do first?
3. Think of an office or writing space of a friend or colleague that you really like.
What are its special qualities? How can you change your space to be more like that?
4. Who can you ask for good advice…
on making your writing space a more productive and happier place for you?
Your Take
Do you like your writing space? Do you have a dedicated office? What changes would you like to make? What advice or thoughts do you have on this subject?
I love my writing space. We converted our living room we rarely used into my office. My desk looks out the front with flowers (when they’re blooming) and beautiful trees. We live on a cul-de-sac with practically non-existent traffic.
I have a book of daily positive quotations I always find inspiring that sits on my desk. Today’s is titled, Letting happiness in, and is a quote from John Barrymore, “Happiness often sneaks in through a door you didn’t know you left open.” 🙂
Cathy, my desk is in front of a large window that looks out over my neighbor’s large back yard. This yard is overgrown and wild with huge trees and shrubs. I like it much better than I would a manicured yard.
And thanks for the quote idea. I haven’t done that, but I’ve seen similar books and calendars in other offices.
Some people don’t have the space for an office or writing room. If we didn’t rent out our basement apartment we’d have more space and less income. We live upstairs in 1100 sq ft 3 bedrooms, one bath. The rooms are tiny. We do have an office but my husband has pretty much taken it over – no room in our bedroom closet for his clothes! – and I don’t want to write in there. Sometimes I write in the bedroom where I have a nice apple tree outside the window. If no one else is home I’ll write from the living room couch. In the summer I might move it outside to our sundeck. I find I’m most productive if I’m in the living room and wearing my shoes. If I take my shoes off its like an invitation to put my feet up and do something else! I was going to say there’s nothing really in the living room that inspires me but I do have 4 charcoal drawings of dearly departed pets on the wall behind the couch and my grand piano takes up half the living room, so some of my favorite things are very close to me if I write in there.
Cheryl, it sounds like you make the best of the situation. I don’t always write in my home office. Sometimes I write at the dining room table and sometimes I write outside on the patio.
Interesting what you say about wearing shoes. I find that I’m more motivated when I’m dressed to be out in public, even though I’m at home.
John, love the photographs! I have a pretty ideal writing office: a ’66 Airstream trailer, that’s parked out behind the garage, and which looks out onto open fields in several directions. (I live in a semi-rural area.) I see lots of birds, coyotes, deer and the occasional bobcat roaming about—though not all at the same time.
The Airstream is a cozy place, with good broadband, a decent desk, a big LCD screen that hooks to my laptop, and a great bed for the afternoon nap. I feel lucky to have it.
Tom, I really like the Airstream as a cool writing space. Speaking of cool, I think you live in or near Santa Cruz county on the California coast, correct? That means you have moderate temperatures year round, even in summer.
I grew up in Redding, California, where summer highs are usually north of 100 degrees. A trailer would be a tough place to be on a late July afternoon. But perhaps you have AC.
John, yes, Santa Cruz temperatures are pretty mild, and I’m only a couple of miles from the ocean, so that’s another moderator. On the unusual days where it’s over 80, I just open all the windows (there are windows all around the trailer) and the usual breeze helps. Though when it’s still outside, I get a fan. However, on those truly rare days here when it’s above 90, my solution is to sweat.
Santa Cruz has some of the best weather around in my opinion. If only the ocean were Hawaii-warm.
Hi John,
I love this post of yours because for many years I have explored the effect of my environment on my productivity, focus, creativity and expression. At the moment, in my life, I am fortunate to have a beautiful study devoted to my work. It has all my books lining the walls, art supplies in the closet, inspiring photos and art work on the walls, a door to close :), and a cozy window seat with a tranquil view…..I notice that I’ve been very prolific in my writing in this quiet and beautiful space- like the creative and whole-brain children in a healthy, nurturing and beautiful Waldorf school classroom.
Thanks for your post and your reminder of how important our home-office space is! Warmth, Rachel
ps I shared your post on my facebook site that has over 25k folks interested in the topic of meaningful dwelling, at http://www.facebook.com/mandalahomes
Thank you for the kind words Rachel. I looked at the homes on your website: they are beautiful, comfortable, and relaxing. I lived in a similar prefap octagonal home on the north shore of Kauai in 1997. The house was on 5 very private acres with mango, papaya, banana, and citrus trees. The kit came from Thailand, I think.
And thanks for sharing this post on Facebook. You have quite the impressive following there!
Hi John,
You’re welcome. It’s enjoyable to confab with like-minded souls about lifework and I’ve gotten a lot from your posts over the months I’ve been reading them, thank you.
How wonderful that you lived in an octagonal home on 5 beautiful acres in Hawaii…. that’s a description of a piece of heaven! My husband and I own our homebuilding company and ship kits all over the world and we’ve sent some to Hawaii- after 2000, though, so after your time.
I look forward to more of your posts and to sharing with our lovely tribe when it relates to Home.
Warmth, Rachel
I spent three fantastic years on Kauai. Such a magical place!
I really like the kit concept for creating homes. Sounds easier and more economical.
When I lived on Kauai there was discussion of allowing people to build homes from bamboo, but there was resistance because the bamboo homes didn’t meet building codes.
My office is hard to beat… overlooking a canyon with all sorts of birds and even hawks… fresh air, cats. I’d like to rig a treadmill desk and see how that works. I’m almost ready to start moving furniture.
Sounds perfect Anne.
Your mention of a treadmill desk reminded me that I’ve been working standing up at two different coffee shops here in Ashland. Both have bar seating that are the perfect height. So far I like it.
Hi John…I’ve tried a bit of experimentation with my working space…I’ve painted walls with soothing light blue and contrasting orange…Decorated it with framed pictures of family and close friends….Some motivation in the form of small collectibles with inspirational quotes..That’s my space.
Hi John,
My problem is that I sometimes forget looking at my inspirational pictures on my walls!!! I need to simplify things a bit, and then always start by looking at the selected few.
Loved yours, by the way:)
Pinar, I only have a few items on my walls, the ones that mean the most to me and help me remember why I write.