We’re finding that our home office spaces just aren’t working, now that Zoom and other online meeting apps are part of our everyday lives. What about you? Are you sitting in your work space, contemplating how to make it function – and look better? We see you! (Ok, we don’t really see you – that would be creepy – but we understand. We’re feeling it, too.)

The home office has become such a focus that online room raters and social media accounts have been created to point out, publicly, what works and what doesn’t. Is your space feeling dark and a bit neglected? Does it bring you joy? Does it show you in your best light, both literally and figuratively?

Your Zoom environment should reflect your creativity and showcase the personality that makes you an irreplaceable part of your team. Now’s definitely the time to make those needed changes.

To help you get started, we’ve compiled a few tips to help you create the at-home workspace you crave.

Light, Color & Movement

Let’s start with the three key elements of a great Zoom backdrop – color, light and a more abstract concept, movement. Translated? It means those flat white walls may be putting your teammates to sleep!

As the legendary fashion editor Diana Vreeland famously said, The eye has to travel.” Brighten up your space with that in mind. Add art, paint or wallpaper to the walls behind you. Think of these items like jewelry or scarves that add interest to your fashion choices. Your work from home outfits may be focused on comfort these days. Let your work space be your fashion statement.

Peel and stick wallpaper is a great option for changing a room quickly., It’s easy to install and leaves no mess or residue when taken down. This option is great, even for apartment dwellers. In some cases, it may be a better option than paint.

We love how our friend Gillian carved out a work space under the stairs of her new-build townhouse. Most of the walls are still ‘builder’s white’, but this little niche has all the drama. A glass-top desk, SmithHönig’s Bryony Storm wallpaper in Noir, and flattering light, since it faces a large window.

Getting the light right, is the key to looking your personal best on Zoom calls. Large windows are great for letting in flattering natural light. You may want to supplement with lamps or even a photographer’s ring light to fill in shadows and smooth surfaces.

Interior designer Kellie Smith (one of SmithHönig’s co-founders) created this slightly rustic home office in another newly built home. The space features all the necessities, as well as window treatments made from SmithHönig’s Skyler fabric. Here, you can see the concept of “movement” at play in the drapes, as swaths of abstract color drift across the fabric.

The drapes add softness and keep the space from feeling too stark or cold. Not seen is the glass door with wooden blinds, allowing the homeowner to choose privacy or a more open concept – a great option when working with children in the home.

Personality

Next up is design blogger Sara Raak’s home office. Sara is widely known for her love of color and her home office is no exception. She’s filled the space with things she loves, including artwork, decorative accents in tall etageres, and two SmithHönig Shibori poufs in Indigo.

We love Sara’s unique desk chair, too. You can expect to find pink, blue, coral, turquoise and white throughout her home, mixed with gold and brass accents, colorful art, family heirlooms and always fresh finds.

A great way to add personality to your own home office space is by displaying collected treasures and art on walls, shelves or tables. Here, Stephanie from Casa Watkins Living has layered various pieces atop a file cabinet, including a colorful portrait, a teapot, a plant and one of SmithHönig’s acrylic art blocks called Juju, in Rust.

Here’s the metal version of Juju in the same color way, doubled up atop SmithHönig’s Moroccan Knot peel and stick wallpaper, in an otherwise minimalistic home office.

We love the idea of working by the window. This office is tucked into the corner of a living room, proving once again that you don’t have to have a dedicated room for your working space.

Use books, plants and artifacts, either functional or purely decorative to fill in your bookshelves, as Cat from Pocketful of Posies did in this botantically-inspired display, featuring our brass nesting bowls.

And of course, no room is complete without a tassel. Here’s how Kathy of Up to Date Interiors used a SmithHönig Brass-Topped Tassel on the door of her home office/guest room combo.

Use these design tips to make your home office come to life. See how to turn a dark corner or unexpected room into a Zoom-friendly space.

Ready to start refreshing? Click through for more WFH office inspiration.