INSIDER INSIGHT
THOSE IN THE KNOW SHARE THEIR THOUGHTS ON WORKSPACE DESIGN
DRAW ON PERSONALITY Just because it’s a workspace, don’t take a utilitarian approach to the design, recommends interior decorator and fabric designer Flora Soames. ‘Given that we’re all spending more time in our home office, it needs to be comfortable and visually pleasing – you don’t have to make a choice between practical and aesthetic.’ Consider the character of the person who will be using the space, and the job that they do, when deciding on a scheme – then build the room from there. ‘A clean white space will never work for me; I need to be surrounded by lots of things to think creatively.’
LAYER UP WITH MATERIALS A home office must be designed as a space to induce thought. Rather than opting for a blank canvas on the walls, add to the creative inspiration by way of artwork or patterned wallpaper. ‘This year we’re embracing combining a wide variety of materials to create an uber luxe and inspirational workspace,’ says Martin Waller, founder of design brand Andrew Martin. ‘From tactile faux shagreen and deeppile velvet to sleek chrome and hammered iron, there’s an abundance of textures to choose from.’
ADD SOME ART ‘When introducing art to an office, think about the kind of medium, scale and style you’d like while walking around the space – never decide off-plan,’ recommends Camilla Clarke, creative director at Albion Nord. ‘This way you’ll feel the natural spots for art to be. This may be next to a window or vista through the house. Remember, art doesn’t always need to be hung on the centre of the wall; it can rest on top of desks or be layered next to sculptures or on bookshelves and joinery.’
PRIORITISE STORAGE There’s little point in conjuring a beautiful working space only to find, a year or two later, there’s nowhere to store things. Mundane as it might sound, consider the matter of filing right from the start, says interior designer Kate Earle, co-founder of Todhunter Earle. ‘Everyone files in a different way, but whichever way, it requires lots of space.’ She favours built-in joinery over furniture: ‘It can accommodate all the cabling and sockets for IT equipment and maximise the available space.’
FOCUS ON FURNITURE Nothing hinders creative thinking more than being uncomfortable in a home office, says interior designer Joanna Wood. Ergonomic can also be elegant. ‘Buy a decent chair – your back will thank you – but something that looks like a cast-off from the bank manager’s office won’t do.’ Options to tone down workaday items include re-covering chairs in another fabric or refinishing shiny chrome in a patinated bronze.
NICHOLAS ENGERT, interior designer and
lighting consultant “ADD BLINDS TO THE WINDOW IN ORDER TO PREVENT HARSH SHADOWS AND TO CREATE EVEN, AMBIENT LIGHTING”