Inspiration

How to create an office you’ll want to work from home in

Article by Your Home and Garden

From desks to decor, here’s how to create an office space that will inspire peak productivity

Our time spent in the office has been cut back over the past few years. Instead of daily commutes, we’re creating workspaces in our homes. Be it a kitchen nook, corner of the bedroom or the garden shed, we’ve had to make it work. The bright side is that working from home brings the chance to design an office environment that suits you. Whether your desk is used once in a while or full-time, a comfortable, efficient home office can do the job.

Golden rules of working at home

Set your routine

Stick with set hours. Start work at the same time each day, with scheduled breaks for morning and afternoon tea. Switch off at the end of the day, avoiding attending Zoom meetings or replying to emails in the evenings and weekends. Installing boundaries can stop overwork and stress from affecting your personal life.

Freshen up for the working day

Avoid the temptation of staying in your pajamas while you work. Set a high standard, and that will have a ripple effect on your performance.

Get some air

During your breaks, step outside and get some fresh air – don’t just stay at your desk and surf the web. Go for a walk or visit a neighbour in your lunch break.

Communicate

Though you don’t have the convenience of asking work-related questions of the colleague sitting next to you, you’ll still need answers if you’re unsure of anything, so don’t let physical distance stop you from keeping work communication open.

Five must-haves for a stylish, functional home office that works for you

1 Choose the ideal location

If you don’t have a dedicated room for your office, get crafty and create a workspace in another area. Is there an unused space under the stairs that could accommodate a desk? A builder could install a bench, or you could buy a standalone one, both of which would be handy for home admin too.

Set up your workspace away from busy parts of the home. Don’t opt for the couch near the TV – not only will it look unprofessional mid-Zoom call, but it’s also not conducive to a productive day’s work. Ideally, include a door that blocks noise and stops people from disturbing you.

Give yourself space, even if it means getting rid of an oversized, bulky desk chair for a more streamlined option.

Will you be sharing your workspace with anyone else? Be mindful of who needs to be on Zoom calls and when – schedule your partner’s meetings with your breaks to avoid disruptions.

Workspace writing desk, $149, from The Warehouse

Stationers trestle desk, $899, from Freedom

2 Set yourself up in comfort

A suitable chair, computer and desk all at the right height are essential – you don’t want to be straining.

Whether you prefer a standing or sitting desk, pop-up styles for working from home have entered the market, designed to be easily folded away when not in use.

Ensure your desk chair is ergonomic for comfort and ease, and add an armchair if space allows, giving added options when reading documents. Furniture that offers double duty is ideal, combining seating with hidden storage and desks with nooks and drawers.

If your children are schooling at home or doing homework alongside you, zone a work area with paint or coloured tape on the walls, and ensure their desk is clear of clutter, keeping distractions at bay. Painting their desk in a colour of their choice will bring in a whimsical feel.

A comfortable chair that allows them to sit upright with their feet on the floor is essential, as is making it easy for them to tidy up – dedicate a personalised named basket for easy access to their schoolbooks and other stationery. A pinboard will help keep their drawings and notices off the desk. The more they’re included in the design of their space, the better.

Jetson velvet desk chair, $329, from Early Settler

Desk chair, $79, from Kmart

3 Light it up

Position your workspace near sufficient lighting, combining a main pendant that fills the room with task lamps to zone in on specific areas – wall-mounting fittings will save space. Try to locate your desk near a window – a view across the garden is ideal – for ventilation and natural light. Bring in sheer curtains to prevent harsh light – you don’t want to be squinting in bright sunlight.

Replica Grasshopper desk lamp, $219, from Nood

Mercator task lamp, $39.98, from Mitre 10

4 savvy storage

Create a place for everything. Professional essentials can easily accumulate, and cupboards and drawers can shut away these items when they’re not in use. Ensure plugs and sockets are close by if things need to be plugged in. Open, modular shelving also has a place – grab some stylish filing boxes and baskets and display them alongside eye-catching collectables. A shelving unit can help you keep your desk clear after work hours so the space looks restful.

5 stay orderly

Good organisation is key to keeping your workspace pleasant. There are some beautiful wall calendars out there, so if you’re the type who likes to see deadlines spelled out in front of you visually, hang one on your office wall with deadlines you’ll stick to. The beauty of a home office these days is that you can find desk accessories that tie in with your chosen palette – think glass, rose gold, brass, ceramics and textured wood.

Image Gallery A5 notebook, $24.99, from Smith & Caughey’s

Papier HQ leopard stapler, $41.50, from Allium

Bamboo desktop drawers, $20, from Kmart

Uniti file sorter, $4, from The Warehouse

Techie essentials

Samsung S8 Ultra tablet, $2299, from Samsung

HP Intel Pentium silver laptop, $1398, from Harvey Norman

Acer Aspire 3 Intel Core i5 laptop, $1399, from Harvey Norman

How to create a workspace you’ll want to spend all day in

With the practical elements in place, it’s time to make your workspace shine. Hamptons, Danish or Shaker? Whatever style defines you, tie in decor and accessories to create a space you’ll happily work in, nine to five.

Palette

Choose a colour scheme for your workspace that blends with your home’s interiors, allowing a common theme. You might adopt bold simplicity by keeping your space tonal, starting with a neutral base and adding accents in blush or pale terracotta and a textural blend of natural materials. Though you should always use colours that you love, remember that green is invigorating, blue is calming, pink uplifting, and we can’t forget feel-good yellow – each is ideal for a workspace, even if just in your desk decor.
Paint Colour can transform a space, so why not paint your work area in a hue that makes your heart sing? In a larger room, zone off your desk by colour-blocking around it. Add artwork and potted plants in different sizes and shapes for a lush feel – hanging plants will take up less space. Get creative
by wallpapering one wall or dividing walls horizontally into two colours. A darker wall colour will make it feel nocturnal and cosy, and can be accented by layers of coloured cushions. You’ll no doubt have days where you don’t feel enthusiastic about working, so making it a joyful place can be motivating.

Texture

Feed the senses and pair colour with texture to create contrast and character. For a pale palette, opt for textured linens in your curtains or even just a cushion for your desk seat. Your plant pot could feature a textured finish, as could your pendant lightshade, while your desk lamp might stand out with a raw brass finish. Whether it’s linen, boucle or rattan, there are ways to add tactile warmth and interest.

Shapes

Play around with accessories in varying shapes to bring personality to your desk space, be they curved or asymmetric edges. Rounded edges will give a welcoming effect, while furniture with minimalist legs will give a sense of lightness to a space. The golden rule here is to keep it consistent – if you mix shapes up, ensure the look is manageable for the eye.

The final touches

Deliver a dose of style via a rug for a single swathe of colour. Lighten the mood further with statement accessories – think fun geometric shapes and coloured glass vessels. Inject a fresh feel with beautiful fabrics in your seat cushions, curtains or a footstool. A workspace is just as worthy of comfort as the lounge or the bedroom.

Words by: Catherine Steel