Just because you’re working naked, it doesn’t mean your office has to be bare. The right rug, furniture and even art can affect the look and function of your office. Start with the basics:

• Find furniture that fits. Before I moved into my new home office, I measured the dimensions of the room and figured out how big my desk should be. (My former home office had built-ins). I found a medium-sized desk and return with tongue-in-groove detailing. (It’s better to have a desk with drawer fronts that aren’t glued or nailed onto the drawer). The L-shape desk fits in my office and I still have room for a chair and two bookcases.
  

  Knowing how to hang art is an art in itself

• Use rugs to absorb sound. The hand-scraped, hardwood floors in my home office get an “A” for beauty and an “F” for soundproofing ability. Before I placed a rug in my office, people kept asking me if I was calling from a cave. So after my desk was in place, I measured how much space I had for a rug and found one with colors that were consistent with the rest of my home. I prefer wool rugs over synthetic (Olefin) because they have a richer look and feel better. Two of my favorite places to find wool rugs are Marshall’s and Tuesday Morning. You can go to home furnishing stores and find a better selection and higher prices, but the price and quality of the Marshall’s and Tuesday Morning rugs fit most home office budgets.

• Add window treatments. Aside from providing color and pattern in a home office, window treatments can add additional soundproofing. An added bonus is if you’re naked while working naked, your neighbors will appreciate your window treatments too.

• Plan before you hang artwork. Hanging artwork can be tricky. Designer Melinda Miles suggests placing the center of the artwork or grouping at eye level. (Take into account whether people will be standing or sitting in that area. Is it a hallway? or a family room?) And remember, artwork should relate to the surrounding furniture in weight, scale, and line.