NICOLE PANKOPP, a former engineer turned DIY-renovation blogger in Denver, sweated designing her home office. “It’s a very functional space, and you don’t want to mess that up,” she said. Beyond practicalities, notes Charleston, S.C., designer Jacob Laws, aesthetics count. “If you find your work environment unpleasant, you’re not going to do your best work,” he said. “There’s an actual science to it.” Here, professionals and a couple of semi-pros detail strategies for mapping out a well-working home office.

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Persons: NICOLE PANKOPP, “, ”, Jacob Laws, you’re Locations: Denver, Charleston, S.C