Out of office

Smart ways to incorporate a place to work at home

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USEFUL NOOK

With plenty of neat storage, clever use of furniture and a unified colour scheme, this awkward understairs area has been transformed into a practical workspace. Vintage-style storage boxes and ornaments on the shelves add character and prevent the area from looking too work-focused.

GET THE LOOK

Under the stairs can be dark so choose a fresh colour for the walls, such as Pure White, £42 for 2.5L, Mylands. Moveable storage is ideal in a multi-functional space. Keep paperwork in the Ebbe Gehl Mira filing cabinet, £399, John Lewis.

Try Dibor for vintage-style office storage – the Journaux wall-mounted store, £38, will keep your desk area clutter-free.

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KITCHEN WORKING

A lower desk area at the end of a run of units is a great use of space in an open-plan kitchen.

GET THE LOOK

Hub Kitchens will custom-design units to fit your room, from £40,000. The Turin faux leather and chrome desk chair, £179, John Lewis, contrasts with the white.

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FLOWER FILLED

A bold floral blind in yellow and teal makes a fabulous feature on the large window.

GET THE LOOK

Try a Roman blind in Origin Citrine from the House Beautiful Origins collection at Hillarys. The Cornell desk in pale ash is £279 from Made.

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NATURAL INSPIRATION

Workspaces can be beautiful as well as practical, with greenery and stylish accessories.

GET THE LOOK

Add natural pattern to the walls with Curio woodgrain wallpaper, £70 a roll, Cole & Son. Continue the theme with raw oak shelving, from £55, Cox & Cox.

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HIDE AWAY

This desk can be shut away when not needed; ideal when a home office doubles as a bedroom.

GET THE LOOK

For beds that pull out of the wall and become desks see StudyBed, from £1,740. Hemnes bureau, £300, Ikea, includes two cupboards and a pull-down desk.