Inside Style
The key elements of a perfect home workspace are the desk, the chair and pleasing surroundings. Interior designer Andrew Griffiths shares how to achieve a space you’ll love
Our resident interior designer Andrew Griffiths gives you his insider knowledge of the practical things you need to think about on your project. Plus he opens up his little black book of go-to places to find the perfect pieces for your project.
The events of the past year have changed many aspects of the way we live, and while we may long for some things to return to some form of normality, others look set to stay with us. Working from home has long been the norm for some, but it’s now become a way of life for many more for the first time. If your home has a study, you’re well prepared. But in an age when our houses have been getting smaller, and most properties weren’t designed with home working in mind, it can be a struggle to get to grips with our living space being our place of work too. To be really effective, a workspace has to tick a lot of boxes – it should be clean, uncluttered and comfortable enough to spend plenty of time in, but also inspiring and (ideally) a pleasing part of your home’s overall look and feel. So it’s important to nail the basics. But where to start? If you want to create a home office but your budget (or space) won’t stretch to a complete refit, here are my suggestions on where to focus your efforts, and how to design a space that brings joy.
SURROUNDINGS TO SUIT
Ideally, we’d all work next to a window to benefit from the natural light, fresh air, and – if we’re lucky – an inspiring view. Of course, that’s not always possible, but all is not lost. Colour is a powerful thing, and choosing the right palette for your place of work can help create an environment that’s right for you. Are you energised and inspired by bold shade? Or do you seek a calm, restful space? Think about how you want it to feel and then crack open the paint for a cost-effective transformation. In this workspace (right), the Dulux Play palette, £29.16/2.5L, combines bold statement colours with delicate hues to create a sense of energy and vibrancy.
THE RIGHT DESK
It might sound obvious, but think carefully about what you actually need. Is it just a spot to rest a laptop and your coffee, or do you need a more generous space to spread out documents or place a keyboard, mouse and monitor? Seek out the surface that gives you what you require and go from there.
A BIT OF DISTANCE
If you aren’t able to close a door to your workspace at the end of the day, look for a way to visually distance it when not in use. This helps retain the harmony of your home and allows you to switch off. A room divider can be tucked behind a door when not needed, and then become a feature when you’re ready to close the laptop. An open-shelving unit is also a good option, helping zone an area without blocking all of the light.
A GOOD CHAIR
Comfort is important as you’ll probably be spending a lot of time at your desk, but that needn’t mean sacrificing style. If you have a separate home office with room to manoeuvre, seek out a more elegant take on a desk chair, such as the Finley swivel chair, £349 from West Elm, or the Camilla Swivel desk chair (pictured), £598, Anthropologie