I’m so excited you’re here for the first post in the Feel-Good Office Makeover Blog Series! Whether your workspace needs a total refresh or just a little extra personality, you’re in the right place. As entrepreneurs, we spend a ton of time in our offices—so why not make them feel inspiring, functional, and totally you?

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Designing your home office starts long before you open an Amazon tab or visit a furniture showroom. The first and most essential step is to define how you want your space to feel. What’s the vibe you’re going for? Energizing and vibrant? Calm and minimal? Cozy and creative? In this post, we’ll walk through exactly how to establish your vision before you ever make a purchase.

Why Starting With the Vibe Matters

Your environment plays a huge role in how you feel, how well you focus, and how long you want to stay at your desk. By beginning with design intention—not just practicality—you create a space that supports your work and your well-being. A thoughtfully designed space will always outperform a pieced-together one.

Step 1: Define How You Want to Feel in the Space

Before you look at any colors, furniture, or Pinterest boards, take a moment to sit with this question: How do I want to feel when I walk into my home office? Write down 3–5 feelings or experiences you want to have. Examples:

Focused
Inspired
Grounded
Light and open
Calm and in control
Creative and energized

These words will become your design compass. Every choice from here on should support them.

Step 2: Start Gathering Visual Inspiration

Next, head to Pinterest, Instagram, or even interior design magazines. Create a digital board and begin saving images of home offices or workspaces that reflect your chosen words. Don’t worry if they aren’t perfect or practical yet—this is about vibe, not specifics.

Pro tip: Save more than just office photos. Bedrooms, cafes, and retail interiors can all reflect colors, moods, and textures that inspire you. Look for consistency in:

Color palettes
Types of materials (wood, metal, linen, etc.)
Lighting (natural light, warm lamps, etc.)
Overall energy (moody, bright, soft, structured)

Step 3: Understand Basic Color Psychology

Color has a huge impact on how we feel. Here’s a quick cheat sheet:

Blue: focus, calm, stability
Green: balance, creativity, nature
Yellow: energy, optimism, light
White: clarity, openness, simplicity
Black: strength, grounding, boldness
Pink: warmth, creativity, compassion

Use your inspiration board to identify dominant colors. What emotions do those colors evoke? Do they align with your vibe words?

Step 4: Analyze Your Current Space

Now it’s time to take a critical look at the space you’re working with. What’s working? What’s not? Ask yourself:

What areas feel cluttered or chaotic?
Is there anything in this space I love and want to keep?
Where is the natural light?
Are there distractions I can eliminate?
What limitations (space, outlets, walls, etc.) do I need to work around?

Take measurements, note outlets and lighting, and photograph your space to refer to as you start sourcing new pieces.

Step 5: Identify Functional Goals

Your home office should feel good—but it also needs to work well. List your specific needs. Examples:

Zoom background that feels professional
Desk space for dual monitors or sketching
Filing storage or hidden clutter control
Comfortable chair for long work sessions
Closed-door sound privacy

Your office might also double as a guest room, craft space, or kids’ homework station. Be honest about how you use the room day-to-day.

Step 6: Create a Mini Mood Board

Now it’s time to synthesize everything: feelings, visuals, colors, function. Use Canva, Pinterest, or even a physical board to create a collage that brings your vision together. Include:

1–2 hero images (dream office inspiration)
A color palette
Material samples (wood tone, fabric, etc.)
Keywords or phrases that define your space

Keep this mood board visible as you begin shopping. It will serve as your anchor so you don’t get overwhelmed or sidetracked.

Step 7: Prepare to Purchase Intentionally

Once your vision is clear, it’s tempting to buy everything at once—but pause. A well-designed space comes together in layers. Start with foundational pieces (desk, chair, lighting), then slowly build in decor, storage, and tech.

Ask yourself before each purchase:

Does this support my mood board and vibe words?
Will it work functionally in my space?
Is this something I love, or just a placeholder?

Bonus: Start a Vision Binder or Digital Folder

Keep a folder on your desktop or in a notebook with links to items you’re considering, quotes, sketches, or paint swatches. This keeps your vision alive even if you’re decorating over time.

What’s Next in the Series?

Now that you’ve set your intention and design direction, we’re moving on to furniture. In Post 2, we’ll dive into choosing a desk, chair, and supporting pieces that align with your vision and give you the support you need to actually work well.

Missed something? Here’s what’s coming:

Post 3: How to add affordable personality and decor
Post 4: Organizational solutions that keep you tidy
Post 5: Cord and tech management for a clean, functional finish

Designing your home office doesn’t start with a shopping cart. It starts with a feeling—and this post just helped you find yours.

Design First: Setting The Vibe for Your Work-From-Home Office