HARD-WORKING STUDY SPACES
Make the most of working from home
1 Keep it simple
if a portion of your living room really is the only space you can spare, don’t despair! a simple desk and a height-adjustable chair is all you really need to work in comfort. source a desk with a simple silhouette – the more flooring you can see, the less it will impact on your living room. a stylish floor lamp is much less officious than a desk lamp. ‘plants are proven to help creativity and productivity, so make sure you add a selection of greenery near your office space for a calming effect,’ says evanthia Nikoglou, workspace sales leader at ikea.
2 Hide it away
a drop-down desk for occasional office space allows the room to function in a number of guises. here, interior designer emma sims hilditch has included a workspace within the family’s TV room. ‘There wasn’t room for a separate freestanding desk and a large comfy sofa, but we made the most of the wall storage to accommodate the
TV, shelves and desk.’
3 Staircase solutions
‘The area under your staircase is a golden opportunity for creating a compact home office, complete with desk space, compartments for storage and shelving,’ says simon Tcherniak, senior furniture designer at Neville Johnson. positioning the desk at the head of the stairs, or in a corner as here, will help prevent claustrophobia.’
4 Dress to impress
‘Your desk and the area around it should be treated the same as any other space in your home, and not left to play a purely functional role,’ says Kate Vincent, marketing manager at Graham and Green. ‘inject the same personality and style as you would in your sitting room or bedroom, adding plants and choosing lighting solutions that are both practical and stylish. Dress your desk to reflect your style and your space will look just as good when you’re not hard at work.’