Hayley Servatius on Designing Productive Home Office Spaces

Kitchen tables doubling as desks? Spare bedrooms turned into makeshift Zoom studios? Welcome to the new normal of remote work! Creating a workspace that actually inspires you (while still being functional) has become the holy grail for home-based professionals.

Design guru Hayley Servatius gets it—she knows that a well-crafted workspace does way more than look good in background calls. It completely transforms your focus, creativity, and how much you enjoy your workday.

IMAGE: UNSPLASH

Strategic Flow Creation

Have you ever walked into a home office and instantly felt ready to tackle your to-do list? And then others just feel… totally off? Hayley Servatius says it all comes down to flow—how you move through your space throughout the day.

Got a window nearby? Fantastic! Position your desk to catch that gorgeous natural light without turning your screen into a reflective nightmare. Sunlight does wonders for your mood and energy levels—who doesn’t work better when they’re not feeling like a cave-dwelling gremlin?

“Lighting can make or break a space. I love a room that feels bathed in warm light, like a fall afternoon, any time of day,” she notes. Mix it up with overhead lighting, a good task lamp, and maybe something decorative to create a space that adapts to whatever you’re tackling—from intense focus work to casual brainstorming sessions.

Think about how you actually work. Do you bounce between typing, sketching, and taking calls? Map it out! Arrange your furniture to support your real workflow, not some imaginary perfect day. Leave plenty of room to move between zones without doing an obstacle course every time you need to grab a file.

Where Beauty Meets Purpose

Most home offices fall into one of two sad categories: beautiful but uncomfortable showpieces or super practical but depressing cubicle knockoffs. Hayley Servatius is on a mission to prove you can absolutely have both.

“Your home needs to feel easy to live in, even when it’s fully styled. The balance between beauty and function is everything,” she notes. Start with the non-negotiables—a chair that doesn’t wreck your back and a desk at the right height. Then build your design around these essentials, not the other way around.

Storage doesn’t have to scream “boring office supplies inside!” Open shelving can mix your favorite decorative pieces with those work files you need to grab quickly. Meanwhile, closed cabinets keep the visual chaos contained—because nobody needs to see that mountain of papers when they’re trying to concentrate on a deadline.

And, make it yours! Hayley Servatius encourages adding touches that actually mean something to you—maybe art that makes you smile, plants that breathe life into the space, or mementos that remind you why you’re working so hard in the first place.

“Design brings a space to life by telling the story of the people who live there,” she explains. It’s these personal elements that transform a functional box into a space where you actually want to spend eight-plus hours a day.

The Power of Touch and Material

You know those spaces that feel more like a freezer… or a fancy lounge where you’d rather snooze than work? The materials in your workspace majorly impact how you feel when working. Hayley Servatius is all about creating sensory-rich environments that keep you engaged without overwhelming you.

“Mixing textures is like mixing flavors in cooking; they don’t all need to match, but they should balance,” she advises. Try combining a warm wooden desk with a leather chair and maybe a textured rug underfoot. Suddenly, your office feels like a sophisticated haven rather than a boring box.

Materials aren’t only about looks—they change how a space functions too. Natural woods bring that cozy, grounded feeling, metal adds structure and contemporary edge, while glass can make even the tiniest home office feel more open and airy. Mix and match based on what helps you work best.

And, don’t forget about your ears! Soft furnishings do double duty—they look great while absorbing sound. Adding rugs, curtains, or upholstered pieces creates a quieter environment where you can actually hear yourself think. Your teammates will be grateful when your audio stops sounding like you’re in a cave—or a construction site.

Colors That Boost Brain Power

You know that feeling when you walk into a room and instantly feel energized—or totally sleepy? That’s color psychology at work! Hayley Servatius approaches office color with the finesse of someone who knows paint can make or break your workday.

“I love to play with color, layer color, and add unexpected pops,” she shares. She doesn’t believe in flooding your office with bold colors. Instead, she builds a calming base and adds just the right pops of color to boost focus, creativity, or calm—whatever you need.

Want to focus better? Blues and greens might be your best friends—they promote concentration without being boring. Need to get those creative juices flowing? Try adding pops of softer oranges or yellows in your brainstorming areas. The trick is being intentional—maybe paint one accent wall in a stimulating color while keeping everything else soothing.

“Unexpected combos, like a deep green paired with a soft plum, can surprise you. It’s all about finding that blend that feels like your version of fall,” Hayley Servatius explains. Your color choices should reflect how YOU work best—not what’s trending on design blogs this month.

A thoughtfully designed home office isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity when your dining table has become command central. Using Hayley Servatius’ principles of smart flow, balanced design, rich textures, and strategic color creates a workspace that actively helps you thrive. The best part? You might actually look forward to Monday mornings when your office feels this good.