MAKING IT WORK
WHETHER YOU’RE WORKING FROM HOME, STUDYING OR NEED AN AREA FOR LIFE ADMIN, YOUR HOME OFFICE CAN BE A STYLISH SPACE.
Whether you work from home, need a place to store important documents or a spot for the kids to study, an organised home office is a must.
WITH ALMOST A THIRD of Australians now working exclusively or mainly at home, the home office, or a workspace in some form, is becoming increasingly common. While we don’t all require a dedicated room, the need for ‘a place for everything’ — be that a spot to sort the mail and do the bills, a craft table for smaller kids, or a homework area for teens — is seeing designers and architects get more creative with what the modern home office looks like. These flexible zones are becoming the new hub of the home, cleverly incorporated into existing spaces or specifically designed into new ones. Get form and function just right and these small areas will pack a big punch.
LOCATION, LOCATION
Before you mentally pin pretty pictures on your moodboard, think about your needs. What’s the ultimate function of your workspace? Do you require a spot to sort school paraphernalia? Need a quiet zone for study? Or is this your primary place of work? The answers to these questions will help you determine the location of your workspace. Zarina Fernandez, of The Workspace Stylist, says a dedicated space away from the hub of your home is best if you are running a business, have older children or require a large, quiet area. “But we see a lot of these spaces go unused, replaced by the dining table,” says Zarina. “For families with young children, a workspace in the kitchen or living area is much better.” While a high-traffic area might be less conducive for studying, the benefits are access and visibility, as it’s more likely to be kept tidy if on display. Sydney-based architect Rachel Hudson says “a home office should be embraced rather than hidden, but acoustics should be considered if the office is used for more than admin.”
ORDER IN THE HOUSE
In any home office, storage is a must. Find the right storage solutions and not only will you clear the clutter, you’ll clear the mind. To guide your choices and make the organisation process easier, first identify what you need to store. Do you need a full filing system or will well-labelled boxes suffice? If you have a lot of folders and reference books, you may need freestanding bookshelves or built-in joinery rather than floating shelves that suit decorative or lighter items. Stylist and professional organiser Sarah Shanahan says there are many options that look good and work well in any office, whether it’s a designated space or an integrated one. “Think about labelled containers, boxes and baskets — using the same small storage en masse will lend a stylish, more organised look,” says Sarah. An office zone that’s integrated with another room should be consistent in style. “You don’t want it screaming ‘office’,” she says. “It should flow seamlessly but encourage users to sit and do their work.” To do this, embrace the materials used elsewhere, for example a kitchen study nook in the same cabinetry and benchtop material, or an existing piece of furniture doing double duty as study storage in a living area or bedroom. Most study areas will benefit from shelving — either built-in, freestanding or floating — or a mix of all three. Los Angeles-based interior designer Amber Lewis, of Amber Interiors, says, “I love an organised shelfie and floor baskets. If you have cabinets, use them! Get pretty containers and start filing the items you don’t want on your shelves.”
NEW-LOOK NOOKS
“Offices are being incorporated into every room of the house,” says stylist Sarah Shanahan, who recently worked an office nook into a pantry makeover. Similar colours and storage were used throughout, including a felt board that matched the cabinetry colour. “We proved you can incorporate a perfectly calm office into a busy room,” she says. Similarly, many modern kitchens now have benchtops that extend to a desk area at one end (which can be broken up by a nib wall that juts out) and built-in study nooks concealed within cabinetry. In the living room, joinery units provide opportunity >
“Using the same small storage en masse will lend a stylish, more organised look.”
to play with space. “In a recent project, we created a study nook at the end of a six-metre Oregon bench, which also incorporated a gas fireplace and TV unit,” says Rachel. “There’s no doubt that flexible work arrangements are becoming more commonplace and, if given the opportunity to design a home office from first principles, it should be given a high priority.”
PERSONALITY PLUS
Taking time to think about the details in your office will do wonders for your productivity and inspiration. “A home, and a workspace, should always be filled with items you love and that represent your personality,” says Zarina. Stylish wall hooks, pinboards and matching storage boxes will make the mundane tasks more pleasurable to manage. Decorative items, such as plants, flowers, candles, artworks and photos, will also help your office feel in harmony with the rest of your home. According to Amber, the key to maintaining the flow is “to incorporate pieces not expected in an office, such as throws and pillows. I prefer these spaces to be functional but feel ‘homey’ — it fuels creativity and efficiency.”