How to design the perfect home office

OK, so you need to work from home. And by that I mean actually work, be productive, get stuff done… we’re not talking about the “WFH” wink wink scenario here… so here’s a few simple steps and considerations to help you get yourself up and running and finishing each day with a whole heap of satisfying ticks next to your list of “things to do”.

Setting up:

Location

This is key, find yourself a nook away from the hustle and bustle of the house if possible, ideally a room that allows you to close the door on the world outside, and close the door behind you at the end of the day. If you’re not lucky enough to have a dedicated study, perhaps the guest room could offer some space, or that under-utilised spot in the hallway. Check that you have power sockets available and enough space to keep all the essentials at hand, as well as good proximity to a window.

Track your budget

Make a list of everything you need in excel, or better still try using google sheets so you can access it any time, even on your phone when you’re out shopping. Estimate the cost for each item and establish a budget. You can update each product cost as you purchase to ensure you stay on track.

Desk

There are so many options out there, and your final choice will depend on the space you’re intending to use, but you should consider if you need a sit/stand option, can you build your desk in with custom joinery or do you need something less permanent? Think about how it will feel – personally I prefer resting my arms on the warmth of solid timber, a glass or polished top just feels too cold, but you will have your own preferences. Does it need built in storage or can you afford the space for drawers and / or shelves or cupboards? For optimum ergonomics allow a minimum depth of 60cm for your desktop, which gives sufficient space on top and underneath for legs, and ideally 150cm in width to accommodate writing space, laptop/monitor and an in/out tray and space for drawers under one side of the desk.

@globewest. https://www.globewest.com.au/browse/benjamin-ripple-desk
@interiorsonline https://interiorsonline.com.au/products/cruz-aero-desk-console-1
@ikea_australia https://www.ikea.com/au/en/p/linnmon-alex-table-white-white-stained-oak-effect-white-s69217506/

Look for more desk ideas here

Invest in a great chair

Even if you’re on a tight budget, be sure to invest in a good quality chair with sufficient support – your back, neck and joints will love you for it! It’s worth having wheels for ease of movement between drawers and printer if you have one nearby, and a swivel function will reduce the amount of twisting you need to do every time to get up. For those with back issues you will find that the flexibility of movement in chairs that recline and are height adjustable will make life so much easier, and subject to the level of lumbar support consider adding a cushion for comfort. I cannot tell you how many times I feel like I’ve aged 3 decades just by sitting in the wrong chair! Sadly my garden dining chairs just don’t cut it when it comes to sitting at a laptop all day… boo.

You may also need to think about adding a rug or runner to protect the floors, depending on the kind of chair you go for.

@templeandwebster Eames Premium Replica Executive Office Chair https://www.templeandwebster.com.au
@brosadesign https://www.brosa.com.au/products/vince-office-chair?SKU=BDLA04137
@ikea_australia https://www.ikea.com/au/en/p/langfjaell-office-chair-gunnared-beige-white-s99252367/

Look for more office chair ideas here

Storage & Equipment

Clutter is a killer to productivity. Keep your lesser used items out of sight in a drawer, and only have the essentials on the desktop along with an item or two to style it up. Treat yourself to some smart stationery – an in/out tray to tidy up the paperwork, good looking folders for project organisation, matching stapler and hole punch, and a stylish vessel for your swanky new pens and pencils.

Make sure your cables are kept nice and tidy too – either with velcro cable tidy straps or in casing attached to a wall. I like to keep all our devices in one of our desk drawers to keep everything out of sight, which was simply a case of cutting a hole in the back of the unit and feeding the cables through – it’s definitely worth dedicating a drawer to this if you have the option.

Obviously make sure you have everything you will need at hand – printer (with ink! and ideally spare cartridges), paper, notebook, stapler, whatever it is, you don’t want to find yourself having to go rummaging around in your child’s craft box for it! (she says with a Frozen ruler stashed in her posh pencil case!).

Light

If your home office is somewhere you are likely to spend a lot of time then it’s crucial to ensure you have plenty of natural light available. Not only does natural light boost vitamin D, but it also helps to ward off the ‘winter blues’ and promotes a better sleep cycle. This in turn makes for a more productive, healthier and happier workspace. For the night owls, ensure you have great overhead ambient lighting as well as a good level of task lighting in the form of a desk lamp. If your work space needs to allow different moods, for example if it is also used as a guest room or a kids tv room in the evenings, look into dimmable options and cool/warm bulbs that allow you to move between bright and subdued lighting levels to convert work mode into relaxation mode at the flick of a switch.

@westelmaus https://www.westelm.com.au/curvilinear-mid-century-table-lamp-w2909
@lifeinteriors https://www.lifeinteriors.com.au/lighting/table-lamps/life-interiors-flo-table-lamp
@kmartaus https://www.kmart.com.au/product/cantilever-desk-lamp/2758317

Fresh Air

Just like natural light, the availability of fresh air is also critical for maintaining a healthy working environment. Your mum was right when she said the fresh air will do you good, and while I don’t need to reel off the numerous health benefits, it’s worth noting that fresh air also gives you more energy, vitality and a sharper mind and well, it will simply make you feel happier. No one wants to be stuck inside a stuffy office all day, and at home you shouldn’t feel you have to be. Even if you cannot open a window right by your desk, make sure you have windows and doors around the house open to allow air to circulate – it will do you and the whole family good! Try and take at least one of your breaks to go outside and feel the sun on your face too – I swear I am solar powered!

Temperature

This may be an obvious point, but be sure to get the temperature right a the start of the day or it will most definitely interfere with your ability to stay focussed.

Acoustics

Often overlooked but a key aspect of the design of any space. An echoey room never feels inviting or comfortable, and if your work requires you to be on the phone a lot you will find it to be an enormous distraction, especially if there are two of you working. The key to avoiding this is to include soft furnishings and finishes to absorb sound. A spare bedroom will likely be readily equipped, but if not, consider including a small sofa, armchair or window seat if space permits – this also offers some variety of seating while talking to colleagues or reading documents. Carpet, rugs, curtains or blinds and artworks on canvas will also help to absorb sound while creating a cosy and inviting space to work in. Houseplants are another great option which also offer the benefit of cleansing the air.

“Yikes!” I hear you say, “does that mean I have to style it too?!”

If you want to avoid spending your days in a utilitarian and frankly un-inspiring work space, try a few of these tips to get you started…

Styling it:

Research

Check out Pinterest for home office / study inspiration to figure out what you like – perhaps you’re in to bold colours for a touch of glamour and creative inspiration, or maybe you like to keep it subtle and simple to inspire focus and tranquility. Whatever your style, create a board of images you like and you will soon start to see a pattern appear.

Look for some design inspiration here

@westelmaus https://www.westelm.com.au/curvilinear-mid-century-table-lamp-w2909
@lifeinteriors https://www.lifeinteriors.com.au/lighting/table-lamps/life-interiors-flo-table-lamp
@kmartaus https://www.kmart.com.au/product/cantilever-desk-lamp/2758317

Fresh Air

Temperature

This may be an obvious point, but be sure to get the temperature right a the start of the day or it will most definitely interfere with your ability to stay focussed.

Acoustics

“Yikes!” I hear you say, “does that mean I have to style it too?!”

If you want to avoid spending your days in a utilitarian and frankly un-inspiring work space, try a few of these tips to get you started…

Styling it:

Research

Look for some design inspiration here

Colour

Before you start buying anything, consider your colour palette. Look up similar colour-ways on Pinterest to see if it works for you, or look to a favourite piece of artwork that you intend to display and take direction from the colours within it. Green is often used in interior design for its sense of nature, renewal and tranquility, while blues are considered to be cool and calming. Warm and fiery or autumnal colours are generally energising, passionate and positive… think about what colours make you happy and choose a palette to suit. If you type in “green colour palette” to Pinterest you will find lots of ideas for complementary shades.

Plants

Houseplants are wonderful creatures that cleanse the air, absorb noise, bring the outside in and generally contribute to your sense of well being. There are plenty of low maintenance options out there such as Mother in Law’s tongue for a tall structural look, Devil’s Ivy for traily loveliness, and Happy Plants for scale. Try creating a vignette with plants of contrasting leaf shapes and using different sized vessels with a consistent design theme. If you feel like you might bring about an early demise to even these fuss free beauties, invest in some great quality faux plants and style them up with a great selection of pots and planters. There are some incredibly realistic options out there, including fresh touch flowers with petals that feel almost like the real thing. A vase of fresh flowers from the garden, or simply a couple of Monstera leaves will do the trick, but be sure to use a large enough vase for bigger leaves.

Check out some more ideas for Indoor Plants

Art & Shelfies

I cannot stress enough just how important it is to create a space that you enjoy spending time in. Adorn your workspace walls and / or shelves with things that motivate and inspire you, things that quite simply make you happy. Inspirational quotes and aspirational images will help to remind you why you are working so hard – to pay for that incredible holiday, to give your child the best possible education, to achieve those life goals you scribbled down at New Year. It could be a large artwork that lifts you every time you see it, a small personal memento collected on a previous trip or simply a feel good photo of friends or family. Try to create a little vignette on one corner of your desk, perhaps raised on a stack of smart books or a pretty box to lift it away from the essential work space. alternatively try using favourite books, plants, images and quotes to make your very own shelfie… a little collection of well balanced and coordinated images, objects and plants will transform your space. You may want to rotate your choices to keep things fresh, especially if space is at a premium, but without a doubt, find a spot.

Don’t forget to add a couple of functional pretty things to your space. A good quality scented candle made from pure essential oils will help to avoid any stuffy office air, and dedicate a good looking water bottle and coaster to your workspace – filling it before every working day should be part of your morning routine in order to stay hydrated and focussed.

Look for more art inspiration

Ploughing through the work…

OK so you don’t need me to keep preaching to you on this one, but here’s my top 5 tips for getting through the to-do list:

Set yourself bite sized chunks of work, planned out in your daily calendar… I use Trello for my project lists and Planyway for time management.
Schedule regular breaks and leave the room – go make a coffee, take in some fresh air, but move away from your desk.
Hook up with friends or colleagues over a conferencing app and have each person commit to achieving one thing during a one hour working session – it’s amazing how much you will get done when you are accountable for the minutes you are spending on each task.
Avoid distractions – obviously – keep only work essential and inspirational items on the desk.
Personally I find listening to upbeat music really helps me to drown out anything else around me so I can really focus on the task at hand.

And that’s it! Happy setting up, styling it up, and getting up every day feeling good about your home work space!

But if it’s all too much to get your head around – give me a call, I’d be happy to help.

Book a Design Consultation