Designer hacks for setting up shop just about anywhere

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With all of us conducting business from our counters and sofas these days, having a dedicated home office is on everyone’s wish list. Case in point: Havenly, an online interior design service, says that requests for home offices skyrocketed from 6 percent in 2019 to 26 percent today. And since February requests have gone up 160 percent.

“It all jumped the week of March 16, when the world went indoors,” says Lee Mayer, CEO of Havenly. “Even when we can go back, more people will work from home than ever before. So having a space you can be productive in will continue to be super important.”

Designer Jessica Becker, owner of design studio Burrow & Nest, agrees that the time is right to carve out your own private spot. “Many people need the relief of going home to recoup,” she says. “So now that we’re not at the office it’s important to compartmentalize work and be able to shut the door on it, so to speak, at the end of the day.”

It’s also about looking at the bright side. “No matter how tiny your space is—unless you’re used to a C-suite—home is definitely better than a desk or a cubicle,” says coastal Georgia interior designer Elaine Griffin.

Need help? Get a room makeover from a Havenly design expert for just $69.

When it comes to figuring out where to work, it pays to think outside the home-office box. “We had a client who wanted us to turn an oversized bathroom into a home office,” says Mayer. And Griffin gets creative with video calls. “I place my laptop on an ironing board to get the proper height—it’s way easier than setting up stacks of a gazillion books,” she says. Another of Griffin’s video-chat secrets? She places a white sheet on her lap to reflect the light and provide a flattering all-over glow.

Wherever you decide to get down to work, it’s important to do everything you can to raise your spirits. “When working from home, it’s hard to not feel like it’s Groundhog Day,” says Mayer. “To keep things interesting, light a different candle, play different music, or wear a different lipstick.”

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To make the juggle less of a struggle, we tapped these top design pros for their very best tips on creating a home office in the most unlikely of places. Here’s how to make it all work.

Corners and entryways

Need help? Get a room makeover from a Havenly design expert for just $69.

“When contemplating your…