EXPERT INSIGHT
improve productivity
Interior designer Olga Ashby offers decorating advice to help increase performance
1When I’m designing a home office, I try to create a cosy and safe sanctuary, so that you can be as creative as possible. Colour can inject energy into a room and help you feel motivated and inspired. I prefer an earthy, matt palette of dark beiges, light greens and forest greens – it soothes the eye and helps you spend more time in the space. I love Mark Alexander’s textured wallcoverings, too (specifically, Grasscloth and Shifu), which are made with natural fibres in a beautifully irregular weave.
2You can also build up the cosiness factor with other tactile furnishings. Rugs have so much more character than carpets (I love the combination of silk and wool), while wool/cashmere-mix curtains drape very well and look just as beautiful from the back. If you want full blackout, I would have blinds, too, while privacy blinds are the best option for dealing with glare.
3I like a desk that has drawers, so you can have a completely clear office at the end of the day. Julian Chichester’s are very elegant, and a beautiful way to bring in texture. It’s lovely to have something of your private life on your desk to ground you and remind you why you do this – for example, summer holiday photographs in Addison Ross’ enamel frames. Lighting needs to be functional but can still be beautiful – I love Kelly Wearstler’s sculptural desk lamps, which are made from brass and stone.
4Nothing spoils the look more than plastics or wiring. Try not to use any plastic in your office - that really doesn’t put you in a good mood – and hide your tech well. If possible, make sure you build in lots of sockets, to avoid extension cords and multiple wires trailing all over the place. I always try to integrate sockets – even into drawers so you can charge your devices away from view – and I store the printer away on a pull-out shelf.
5Your office needs to be self-sufficient – as soon as you’re travelling to the fridge, that’s not work. So if space allows, I install a minibar or a bar cart, and a little velvet sofa or chair with a side table for drinks and magazines, for when you need a little chill time. But no throws – as soon as you’re under one, you’re done.