Trending on Remodelista: 10 Design Ideas to Steal for Workspaces

Back to school, back to work, but not necessarily back to basics. Elevate your office routine with five design ideas the Remodelista editors discovered this week in their favorite workspaces:

Workspace Niche

Above: A window desk in an apartment in Denmark via Lowe Home.

This week Julie was inspired by “ingenious workspaces are slotted into closets, corners, even under the stairs.” See her favorites in The Niche Workspace: 15 Favorites from the Remodelista Archives.

Old-School Pencil Sharpener

Above: The perfect pencil sharpener? Margot spotted the Elmer’s Boston Ranger Manual Pencil Sharpener in her guest room at the Ace Hotel in Shoreditch, London; we sourced it for $37.22 from Amazon.

See more in The New Back-to-School List: 8 Upgrades on Classroom Classics.

Minimalist Calm

Above: Designer Penelope August decorated the office minimally, with a row of cream-colored apothecary (or shaving) mugs along the topmost floating shelf. Photograph by Devon Banks from Layers of History—and Color—in an Artist Couple’s 1828 Manhattan Townhouse.

See a plan for creating a serene look in your workspace in Steal This Look: A Minimalist Home Office in Manhattan, Gilded Edition.

Modern Desk Chair

Above: The Muuto Fiber Side Chair With A Swivel Base comes in six colors (shown in Dusty Green); $369 at Danish Design Store.

“Sometimes you want a desk chair without wheels—particularly if you have carpet or vulnerable flooring,” writes Alexa. She rounds up her favorites in this week’s 10 Easy Pieces post.

Layered Lighting

Above: The bright home office of designer Michaela Scherrer; for more, see DIY: How to Mix the Perfect White Paint with LA Designer Michaela Scherrer. Photograph by Matthew Williams for Remodelista.

“Lighting a home office is akin to dressing for a climate with changeable weather: It’s all about layering,” writes Christine. Translation: use a mix of ambient lights, task lights, and dimmer switches. See more in Remodeling 101: How to Light Your Home Office.