How to Design an Office Space in a Square Room

Address the window first. Natural light is a vital component in any work space. Use this feature to its best advantage by hanging window treatments that allow the natural light to filter into the room while still affording a decent amount of privacy -- built-in blinds that raise up from the bottom or lower down from the top, sliding translucent panels or a simple, modern roller shade that can be tugged halfway down to limit outside distraction all work well. Add fabric side panels to help absorb sounds in the room. To minimize distraction as you work, avoid putting your desk in front of a window.

Paint two walls of your square office a darker shade to give the room a more elongated appearance. The two walls you paint dark should be opposite one another. This will appear to bring them closer together, while making the two lighter-colored walls recede -- effectively creating the optical illusion that the room is more rectangular than it is.

Place your desk near a light-colored wall and face it out into the room. Staring at a blank wall as you work at your computer for hours at a time quickly becomes boring. Face your desk into the room and add artwork on the opposing wall to give your eyes a place to land and rest for moments at a time as you work. A large, soft tapestry or vintage quilt is ideal -- it decorates the wall while helping absorb and muffle sounds.

Mount one large mirror, or a grouping of smaller ones, across from your natural light source to reflect more light around the corners of your square space. This will make it easier to work throughout the day while utilizing less overhead light that can be hard on both your eyes and your power bill.

Place smaller-scale pieces of furniture throughout the space and keeps the number of pieces to a minimum. There's no need to push all your pieces up against the wall if you furnish the room creatively. Place one or two small, fabric-covered armchairs in a corner. Flank them using end stands with drawers that double as file storage. Add a small scatter rug on the diagonal in front of the arrangement and call it a day.

Avoid going overboard on the accessories. A small, square room only looks smaller when impeded by clutter. Place a small potted vine on each end stand and put a few family photos on your desk. Coupled with the artwork and mirrors on your walls, this gives your office a cozy, organized and cohesive appearance.