Inspiration

These 2 office ideas will make you want to work from home

Article by Your Home and Garden

Feeling inspired to achieve big? We show you how to prepare for peak productivity with these two work-space ideas

For the minimalist

With more and more people working from home these days, the study has become an increasingly important space in the home. Whether you run a business from home or simply use the space for paying bills and filing documents, there are some key factors to consider when planning a home office that works hard for you.

Desk

When it comes to selecting a desk, your options are determined by the space available. If you have a dedicated room for your office and have space for other storage furniture, a simple trestle desk or a desk with no drawers is a stylish option. Work out what you need close to hand – a computer, a task light, etc – as this will give you an idea of the desktop area you need. If your study or office area is compact, selecting a desk with lots of drawers will keep your surface clean and clutter-free, leaving more room to get to work. Finally, once you’ve weighed up these factors, it’s time to choose a style; whether antique, industrial, Scandi or retro, there is a desk out there to suit you.

Chair

Choose a desk chair that is comfortable, the right height for you and suitably ergonomic for the type of work you will be doing. As for style, a work area integrated into an open-plan space may look best with a generic chair that suits the overall decor scheme of your home. A traditional office chair will look more at home in a separate study.

Get the look

+ Dover chair, $639, from Nood.
+ Basket, $8, from The Warehouse.
+ Towel rack, $22, from The Warehouse.
+ Hampton linen curtain set, $199.99 large, from EziBuy.
+ This page Typhon desk, $599, from Nood.
+ Kara white vase, $54.90, from Country Road.
+ Lily’orne & Co candle, $34.90, from Sydney & Pop.
+ Hourglass, $6, from Kmart.
+ Poem water bottle, $119, Poem water glass, $79.90 for two, both from Citta.
+ Grey felt pinboard, $249, from Pinpals.
+ White file box, $14.99, small storage box, $19.99, flat storage boxes, $19.99 each, large storage box, $29.99, all from Nood.
+ Candle, as above. Neo crocheted rubber bowl, AU$140, from theminimalist.com.au.
+ Portable speaker, $39, perforated pencil pot, $3, black wire baskets, $6 each, all from Kmart.
+ White stapler, $12.90, from Kikki.K.
+ 2018 minimal diary, $59, from Father Rabbit.
+ Wall and floor painted in Resene ‘Alabaster’.

For the colour pop

Lighting

It’s important to have proper lighting in any home office to minimise eye strain. A simple task lamp that can be directed onto your reading zone is an essential item. However, we’re seeing lots of low-hanging pendant lights popping up in office spaces, too. A combination is always a good idea if your budget allows.

Add your personality

As well as being functional, your home office should express who you are. If you work from home you’ll want to create a space that is inviting, inspiring and conducive to spending several hours in. Get creative and try a paint feature or bold colour. It you have lots of wall space consider adding some artwork or photos you love, and don’t forget a fun calendar to keep you on track. A plant or two won’t go amiss and will also help to break up the utilitarian look, as will a vase of flowers or luscious leaves.

Storage

A good working office needs to be organised and everything should have its place. A bookshelf or cube system is always useful or there are lots of good-looking sideboards and credenzas around if you want something larger. If you need a printer, think about where to put its accessories such as paper, cartridges and manuals. If you don’t want all your office supplies on show, get some storage boxes and label them for easy access.

Upright file boxes are ideal for magazines and reference books, baskets are good for filing important papers, and jars and canisters are great for storing small items such as paper clips. A filing cabinet is another storage option, but if you are aiming to avoid the typical office look, stay away! Finally, don’t neglect your walls – pinboards, shelves and pegboards are all excellent storage solutions and a leaning rack will add an extra dash of visual appeal to the space.

Get the look

+ Studio Ceramics swan, $56 small, from Industria.
+ Bird artwork, $8, Stylo striped notebook, $4, Stylo rose gold scissors, $10, all from The Warehouse.
+ Joco 12oz coffee cup, $33, from Crave Home.
+ Pink velvet journal and dipped journal, $4 each, pink tumbler, $3, copper pins, $5 a packet, rose-gold clip, $3 for two, all from Kmart.
+ Walls painted in Resene ‘Pink Terrace’ and Resene ‘Memphis Belle’.
+ Scandal ladder bookshelf, $29, from Kmart.
+ Clay peony diffuser, $12, Clay peony candle (second shelf), $10, faux sheepskin rug, $39, white storage boxes (upright), $3 each, all from The Warehouse.
+ Copper basket, $39.90, tangerine votive, $14.50, Girl Code by Cara Alwill Leyba, $32, Girlboss by Sophia Amoruso, $35, all from Crave Home.
+ Pink storage boxes, from $19.90, Gratitude journal, $44.90, all from Kikki.K.
+ Pink canister, $5, from Kmart.
+ Gaussian two-tier pink vessel, $99.90, from Citta.
+ Giant eraser, $2, from The Warehouse.
+ Wooden stapler, $5, from Kmart.
+ Greenery framed artwork, $349, from Nood.
+ All other items stylist’s own.

Words by: Vanessa Nouwens. Photography by: Wendy Fenwick.