You can often see a person's personality through the way they design their homes and spaces. These creative workspaces demonstrate that, with a bit of imagination and thoughtful planning, you can create a home office that is both inspiring and functional.
Manila Bulletin Property Living continues to explore innovative home office setups that not only inspire but also offer practical tips for creating a space that resonates with your style. Here are three more inspiring workspaces that blend function and flair.
1. Japanese cherry blossom-themed workspace
Meet Melve Joy Andrino, a quality assurance analyst who ensures that her company's executive and administrative support services meet high-quality standards. With a love for cherry blossoms and Japanese aesthetics, she has blended these elements to create a workspace she enjoys every day. “My favorite color is soft pink. I combined these elements to create a workspace that feels both calm and aesthetically pleasing,” Andrino shares.
Her setup includes a standing desk from MXstark, with a wood tabletop covered in white glossy wallpaper to blend with the overall aesthetic. Additionally, she chose a stylish pink Secretlab chair for gaming comfort. The setup features high-resolution AOC and Samsung monitors, a custom-built GMMK Pro mechanical keyboard, a lightweight Razer wireless mouse paired with a Razer wireless headset, speakers, a Nintendo Switch, an extended cherry blossom-themed mouse pad, and a compact pink microphone – all accented with her favorite color. Lastly, unique touches such as a Lego flower built by her sister, a memorable gift robot named Eilik, and mounted Nanoleaf cherry blossom hexagons on the wall complete the look of the room.
Designing her workspace has been a journey of evolution, fueled by tech videos and inspiration from Pinterest and Instagram. Andrino emphasizes the importance of tailoring the space to fit individual needs and styles. “Start by deciding how you'll mostly use it, whether for work, gaming, or simply relaxing, and settle into a layout that supports you well. Choose a vibe that appeals to you, whether it’s sleek and minimal or cozy and colorful. Stay organized with smart storage solutions and personal items that make it feel like your own. Try things out and make tweaks along the way to keep it functional and fresh. And don't forget to keep it clean. Have fun with it because this space is all about you.”
2. Contemporary wood and white set-up design
Lorby Solano Gesilva is a registered nurse turned entrepreneur who manages Treen Manila, a small business founded in 2016, dedicated to creating beautiful and functional wooden pieces. From a family project to a thriving company, specializing in customized items like clocks, signboards, cheese boards, and Christmas ornaments, Gesilva’s passion for design and craftsmanship is evident in every product, and the company now caters to both individual customers and large corporations, providing premium gifts and event giveaways.
Her workspace exudes a warm and inviting atmosphere, seamlessly blending brown and white elements. The focal point is a stunning wooden wall map from EnjoyTheWood, a thoughtful gift from Ukraine. Below it, a wooden desk and a white drawer are both from Qoncept Furniture, which is adorned with a Varmilo mechanical keyboard and a Logitech Pebble mouse, resting on a custom mousepad from Treen Design and Print.
A shelf riser from Ace Hardware elevates the setup that includes a lot of trinkets that adds to the personality of the whole set-up. One is the Divoom Ditoo, which is a memorable piece for her as it was one of the pieces in her set-up that was given from a collaboration with the brand, while the Andrea Mini desk clock from Treen Manila keeps time stylishly.
Other pieces include a white desk lamp, cozy candles, Treen Manila's letter cutouts and letter lamp, complemented by lush plants and baskets, along with a wooden calendar that adds charm to the space. Books, an executive chair, a repurposed wine bottle serving as a tall vase with dried eucalyptus flowers, and a beige Niimbot pocket printer complete the harmonious blend of brown and white in this thoughtfully curated workspace.
Her journey to designing her workspace began with a simple folding table and gradually evolved as she received gifts from brands she collaborated with. Drawing from her experience in creating a personal space, she offers advice to aspiring workspace designers: create a space that resonates with you and brings joy and inspiration. She emphasizes that it doesn’t have to be expensive, encouraging the use of items already at home, mixing and matching, and seeking inspiration from various sources.
3. Simple yet effective minimalist workspace
Jeorge Paolo Jorge is a designer focusing on UX/UI design and also does content creation in his spare time.
His journey in crafting his ideal workspace began during the pandemic, adapting to the work from home set-up. "Starting in a makeshift corner of my parents' living room, I aimed to create a minimal and functional workspace, keeping only the essentials within reach," Jorge shared.
His workspace showcases a clean look with only the key items present, emphasizing functionality and simplicity. The desk, which is a FlexiSpot E3R standing desk, is equipped with a minimalist setup,including a sleek LG27UL850 4K monitor, Flokk HAG Capisco Puls chair, Edifier MR4 Speakers, Ugmonk Gather Collection desk shelf system, and organizers from IKEA. This current version of his setup represents years of dedication to his creation side gig, which paid off as with most items featured being sponsored by brands.
Jorge elaborates on how a workspace becomes an extension of one's personality as it grows and adapts alongside its user, emphasizing the importance of patience in building one's setup. This is advice he wants to impart to those who wish to create their own in the future. "Creating your workspace is a gradual and never-ending journey of trial and error to discover the items and arrangements that suit your preferences. There's no need to rush the process; it's about slowly collecting and incorporating products that you enjoy using, allowing your space to evolve with your changing preferences and needs."