• HOME OFFICE IDEAS
AS HOME OFFICES BECOME EVER MORE POPULAR, DESIGN THE PERFECT SPACE TO THINK, WORK AND CREATE
Clever ways to stay happy in your work
BREATH OF FRESH AIR
One of the best ways to integrate a work space into your home is with the addition of a garden room, where you can literally step away from household chores and noise. Refit an existing outbuilding or opt for a purposebuilt room that will be watertight and have access to electricity. Before you settle on a location, make sure that the Wi-fi extends from the main house, or that you are able to add an extra router.
SHELF LIFE
Library spaces are perfect for integrating home offices into. If you have a floor-to-ceiling built-in shelving unit, then make it work harder by carving out a desk space into the middle of the bookshelves. In terms of space, the desk will need to be roughly twice the depth of the shelves to be of practical use. Adding spotlights into the top of the unit will stop the surrounding unit from feeling too enclosed.
NOW YOU SEE IT
When working from within other rooms of the house, it’s important to consider how you can leave work at the end of the day. Sliding doors are a handy way to disguise unsightly elements. You won’t be able to hang artwork on the doors as that will prevent them from moving into their pockets, so instead think about the finish – choose a highly grained walnut or teak effect for an understated look. Make sure that your desk chair is one that sits nicely in the room, too, as you won’t be able to tuck this away if the doors are flush to the desk area.
TUCKED AWAY
While it is the dream of many to have a whole room dedicated to a home office, the past 18 months have proved you can work successfully from just about anywhere. If you’re lacking an extra room, consider where else you could add an office set-up, without compromising on space. One popular choice is the otherwise dead space underneath the stairs. Opt for a built-in option, or else use a tall kitchen unit and matching base, with a length of worktop creating the desk. Adding shelving and a wallmounted light saves precious desktop space.
PATTERN POWER
Many country homes are blessed with quirky architectural features and attic rooms with low, slanted ceilings are one of the most common. If this is where you’re setting up your work spot, make a point of highlighting the eaves detail, either by wallpapering in pattern or painting a bold colour. Stick to warm undertones so the effect is softer and easier on the eye when looking away from your laptop. It also tricks the eye into thinking the ceiling is higher than it is, preventing you from feeling too hemmed in.
DUAL PURPOSE
When creating a home working space within an open-plan area, you want to create a room which works equally well across work and play. Finding the right colour scheme is key to setting the look. Neutral shades create a calming, non-distracting look. Make sure to include texture to provide interest and personality – think natural woods, ceramics and fabrics. Another design element to look at is your storage. Overestimate how much you need and make it a focal point of the room, such as with glass-fronted cabinets, open shelving or pretty armoires.
LIGHT SHOW
When choosing where to work,do consider the lighting. Windows, side returns and roof lanterns all provide swathes of natural light, perfect for reducing eye strain and keeping energy levels up. However, do add a window treatment. ‘A roller blind will prevent harsh shadows and create even, ambient lighting,’ says interior designer and lighting consultant Nicholas Engert. ‘This is particularly important if sunlight makes working uncomfortable at certain times of the day, especially in winter when the sun is low in the sky.’
SOFT SPOT
If you’re creating an area for pursuing creative passions like sewing or sketching, then step away from traditional office schemes and indulge in a pretty and welcoming palette instead. Powder pink is a quiet shade, perfect for creating a clean, low-key look in a home office. A fabric-covered pinboard will add pattern to break up big, plain areas of colour. To stop the look from becoming too twee, black metal accents add the perfect amount of industrial toughness.