3 tips for creating a stylish home office
10.2022
A home office or work corner has become a common feature for many people. We’ve put together 3 tips to create a stylish, practical space
How to create an inspiring and stylish home office
The rapid increase in working from home over the past three years has made life much more comfortable for many, and has also transformed the way we live in and view our home, to the point that some sort of office or study has become a must.
When the pandemic struck and we started adapting to remote working, many of us found ourselves with our laptops on the kitchen bench or dining room table, but the latest trends show that a dedicated space is becoming a standard expectation.
As we seek to separate work and home, even while they both occupy the same address, what should we take into consideration when creating a study or office corner?
Choose the right location for a home office
It may seem a basic point, but it isn’t always easy to identify the best location in your home for a study, because it involves rethinking the ways we use the various spaces.
Obviously, if your home is large enough, you may be able to allocate an entire room, for example by converting a guest room or loft into a study. If you don’t have this luxury, however, you will need to somehow create a corner elsewhere and in this case, we would recommend looking at either the living or dining room. The key thing is to try and avoid bringing work stress into the room you go to in order to relax, ie the bedroom.
Key things to take into consideration, once you have decided upon the right corner or space, are practical issues such as enough power outlets for your computer, screen, maybe a printer and desk lamp. Ideally position your work surface near a window where you will have more natural light. Last, but not least, you will need to select the right type of work surface, whether that is a freestanding desk or some sort of wall-mounted shelf. Whichever you choose, it should be at least 60 cm deep and of course, you will want to make sure firstly that it does not clash with the rest of the room’s décor style and secondly, that it takes up so much room that it inhibits free movement.
Once you’ve decided upon the right location, it’s time to think about to decorate your home office.
Choosing a work surface, chair and desk organiser for your home office
Work top or desk? In most cases it won’t be difficult to decide, because it will usually come down to how much space you have. If you’re tight on room, you will probably need to opt for a wall-mounted shelf or insert some sort of shelf in an existing piece of furniture, while if space is not a problem, the ideal solution is to go for a freestanding desk or table.
Whichever solution you choose, you will need some sort of drawers or a cabinet, not only to store files in some sort of order, but also to keep your “work life” out of sight once work hours are over. You want to aim for a clutter-free effect so that you also camouflage, if we want to put it another way, any work tell-tale signs. To help do this, you can place a couple of designer accessories such as a Lui&Lei pen holder or Balancing photo frame.
The last essential element is, of course, a comfortable seat. Given you are going to be sitting for extended periods of time, you will need to consider the ergonomics of any seat you choose, but at the same time, you don’t have to compromise on aesthetics. A compromise between style and practicality is to opt for a comfortable chair in a colour that blends with the surrounding décor.
Give thought to your background for video calls
Video calls are an increasingly common part of our working lifestyle and while most digital platforms offer a series of backgrounds, why not inject some personal branding by making the most of the space that will appear behind our shoulders?
A bookcase can add gravitas, and give the impression that you are an expert in your sector, through the choice of books displayed, or demonstrating culture in general. The bigger the better, as you will have more space to artfully arrange your books or carefully selected accessories, so something like the Colonnata bookcase is ideal.
An alternative is to choose a wall covering that adds depth and expresses your impeccable taste and style. This could be in the form of luxury wallpaper or a natural stone texture, which is an excellent solution because it is subdued enough not to distract.
If you want something slightly less impactful, the best solution is to carefully place a handful of small accessories or an abstract piece of wall art. The pieces in our Intarsi collection, for example, add a contemporary touch to your background, without dominating too much.
The above three tips for creating a home work space are designed to foster creativity and productivity without jarring on the style of your décor. If you would like personalised advice on how to create a home study or work corner, please get in touch and we will be happy to organise a complimentary consultation.
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