The Z Gallerie Stefan desk.

Years ago when working naked was something you kept private, there weren’t many home office desks available. The only options were cheap, badly designed computer workstations and desks that fell apart after one or two moves. Now that working naked is more celebrated than shunned, furniture manufacturers—even from the commercial side—have created functional, stylish and even affordable home office furniture.

Some of my favorite places to shop for reasonably-priced home office furniture are Crate & Barrel, Pottery Barn, West Elm, Z Gallerie and commercial furniture dealers—they sell to individuals too. Sometimes you can find home office furniture by well known and respected manufacturers at Costco and Sam’s Club.

Before you buy anything, check for quality. You may think you’re getting a bargain but don’t be surprised if you have to replace that same item after a few months. I’m still surprised when I walk into an office supply superstore and see a chipped or dented desk. If it doesn’t hold up in a store, is it really going to last in my home office?

With more decent furniture choices out there, your home office doesn’t have to reflect the corporate office you just left (or feared being trapped inside for at least eight hours a day). Instead, your home office can and should be a reflection of your interests, taste and design sense.

What I don’t miss about a corporate office is having a standard-issue office that looks the same as everyone else’s office. My desk accessories were smoke gray, my desk with a return was tan and nondescript and my guest chairs looked like something from my dentist’s office. Working from home has changed all that. My home office has a mocha-color, L-shape desk; a comfy settee with colorful pillows; a reading chair; and an end table with a lamp in an interesting shape and color. When you work from home, it doesn’t matter how you furnish your office. The only person who needs to enjoy it is you.

Your home office should reflect your style and taste.

• Bring your family into your office. Some companies don’t allow personal items anywhere in an office. When you work from home, adding artwork and personal photos can warm up and improve the overall look of where you work. The perfect resource for artwork is right under your nose—just ask your children. Your budding Picasso or Annie Leibovitz can provide inspirational art and photos for every wall of your office.

• Take a different view. What do you see when you look out your home office window? Depending on where you’ve set up your home office—a basement view and high-rise view are limiting—you can change the feel of your office and even your mood, from the outside in. I’m going to change the landscaping in my backyard because the dead plants and bushes barely hanging onto life aren’t very inspirational.

• Take out old furniture that you moved into your home office because it didn’t fit the décor of your house. I’ve seen some incredibly ugly chairs make their way into a home office when they should have been donated or in some cases burned. In one of her columns, Erma Bombeck wrote about her decluttering project at home. She said that when the Salvation Army truck pulled up and the guy saw her stuff, he told her that they were needy, not desperate! Don’t move extra furniture into your home office unless it serves a purpose other than taking up room.

• Let your office reflect your interests. If you’re an avid gardener, hang photos of your work in your office. If you’re a sports nut, hang memorabilia from your favorite team on your walls. Your office should be a reflection of you and your tastes.