4 ways to create a dreamy + productive home office

Piles of paper, stacks of unopened mail, that label printer you don’t use but can’t bear to throw away. It stares at you, mocking you. Daring you, “Get work done!”

Starting a business out of your home (or even at an office) takes an incredible amount of both focus and creativity. Doing all that hard work in a beautiful work space makes it all just a bit easier, and creating an inspiring and practical office doesn’t have to be expensive. Laura Acevedo, the founder of the crazy-popular baby bandana bib line Matimati and mother of two, shares how she created a work space that works.

1. Keep it simple.

There’s no need to take out a second mortgage to outfit your work space with the latest and greatest. Clean lines and simple furnishings go a long way.

Laura Acevedo: I like to keep it simple with a nice white desk, a really comfortable chair and my Mac. Getting rid of all the clutter and having a nice clean area designated for work really helps me get in work mode and be productive.

2. Place your desk near a window.

Patiently waiting for the downpour of rain the weatherman predicted, and wishing this was my little workspace (it’s @scotthorne’s, which we styled a few weeks ago for the blog). He DIY’d that whole desk situation to make a very efficient home office nook. Smart, right?
A photo posted by Emily Henderson (@em_henderson) on Oct 27, 2016 at 12:59pm PDT

Natural light is a mood booster. Not only does it affect how well we can see, but it also has a significant impact on our behavior, output and even hormonal balance.

Laura Acevedo: I love natural light, and having my desk right next to a window gives me that. It gives my work area a nice touch, and having a view other than my computer screen helps me to concentrate and get ideas flowing.

3. Get rid of anything you don’t need.

Clutter is the killer of creativity. An open mind requires an open space, so shuffle those papers into properly filed folders and watch the ideas (and motivation) roll in!

Laura Acevedo: It is so easy to let papers, to-do lists and even mail get piled up on or near your desk. Keep your work area clean. Take some time to go through all that mail, and just throw away anything that you don’t need. I really think clean equals beautiful!

4. Add some color.

#tbt #saulzaikhouse #thehousethatsaulbuilt #jhinteriordesign #homeoffice
A post shared by Jessica Helgerson (@jhinteriordesign) on Jul 21, 2016 at 10:04am PDT

Neutral is nice. It’s calming and cohesive and definitely a good idea as a starter palette. But add a pop of color and your space can go from blah to BAM!

Laura Acevedo: If you’re like me and like everything neutral-colored (white walls, white desk, gray floors, etc.), add a nice touch of color to your work space. Maybe hang a nice picture on the wall, add a bright accessory to your work area, or you can even have an accent wall.

Companies are often built to provide a solution to a problem—and Matimati is no exception. Born from a mother’s frustration at having to change her drooly son’s clothes multiple times a day, Matimati creates absorbent and fashionable baby bandana bibs.

It’s always a good time with friends around. 📷: @cassrjo #Friends #BabyFashion #Stylish #Adorable #Smile
A photo posted by Matimati Baby (@matimatibaby) on Sep 27, 2016 at 1:10pm PDT

More Motherly insights from Matimati’s founder, Laura.

How do you make your mornings run smoothly?

With me being five months pregnant, this would not be possible at all without the help of my really awesome husband. Mornings have been really tough for me during this pregnancy, and my hubby has been so loving, understanding and just so very helpful all the time. He wakes up early to make sure our 14-year-old is ready for school, he gets our 2-year-old ready for preschool twice a week and he fixes me breakfast every morning. He is always so attentive to my needs and to how I’m feeling. He not only makes my mornings run smoothly, but I would say my whole day.

The life hack or tip that has changed my life…

I would have to say putting God first has changed my life. It completely changed my perspective on life, marriage, family and business. Knowing every day that there is someone that loves me no matter what and believes in me even with all my faults and errors has pushed me beyond my limits in every way.

What superpower have you discovered as a mom?

Patience and love. Before having kids I always thought of myself as a pretty patient person, but being a mom has transformed me into a really super patient woman, or that is what I would like to think. When I think I am about to run out of patience, I just remember how much love I have for that little person, and it is just incredible how much you can love your children, and the best part of it is that it’s not a static love but a love that keeps growing and growing every single day.

This quote inspires me. . .

It is a little long, but it’s from the song “Oceans” by Hillsong:

You call me out upon the waters

The great unknown where feet may fail
And there I find You in the mystery
In oceans deep
My faith will stand

And I will call upon Your name
And keep my eyes above the waves When oceans rise
My soul will rest in Your embrace For I am Yours and You are mine

To me, Motherly means…

Loving my kids like no other person in this world will, leading them by example knowing that they are always watching me.

Haley Campbell is the founder of Beluga Baby and creator of the ultimate bamboo baby carrier. She is a regular contributor to Motherly and is an avid advocate for entrepreneurs, and for the new generation of mothers making the world their own.