Study
Take five Concealed in the drawers of the day bed, paperwork can’t disturb the calm of this home office. A design like this is also perfect to introduce colour and pattern to a work space, as you can add cushions to it. To repeat the tactic without building in, consider a filing ottoman upholstered in a smart fabric for your work space.
Have a reminder of your goals Take the time to ask yourself what your big goals and dreams are. Figuring them out will be the hardest part, but once you have them down, why not give yourself little reminders to motivate you through the tougher days? Add in some inspirational wall art, be it a painting, a poster or even a saying, to remind you of your goals.
Incorporate different textures into your office décor You want your office to be a stimulating place to be, and adding texture is a great way to stimulate your sense of touch. Consider different fabrics on chairs, curtains, cushions and blankets (on a winter’s afternoon, throwing a soft blanket around your arms while working will make the experience much more bearable). Adding natural and slightly rough materials, such as wood, is a great way to bring in texture, too.
Show your individuality with a feature wall Wallpapers and murals offer a multitude of options for creating a bespoke wall with a message. The wall of musical notation in this room provides a unique insight into the sort of work that goes on here. Many companies offer a bespoke mural design service, so you just need to decide which image defines you. Alternatively, there are wallpaper designs featuring rows of books, cityscapes and peaceful forest vistas, all of which would make an equally dramatic statement.
Remind yourself of your mission Place around you some visual encouragements – an inspirational quote, an object which has meaning for you, or a painting – for those days when you might be tempted to forget what it is you actually go to work for. This cool monochrome desk space is surrounded by interesting photographs and postcards, including a typographic reminder to be creative.
With a home office, it’s really easy to concentrate solely on the desk and accessories and forget all about the floor. Adding a rug will zone the area and bring some warmth and comfort to a spot that might otherwise feel quite boring. Here you can see how a colourful rug has added a little fun to the white desk and chair, and it will keep feet nice and cosy, too.
Fit wall-to-wall shelving If you have stacks of books, paperwork, notes and office paraphernalia to store, you can’t go wrong with long rows of built-in shelving. Max out a skinny, narrow room by covering an entire wall with shelves, running corner to corner and up to the ceiling. Or opt for a modular system with closed drawers and countertops to create masses of practical storage. Units and shelving in the same colour as the walls will blend unobtrusively into the architecture, and make the space seem bigger.
Strip it back This gorgeous, grey-hued space still captures the same inviting, feel-good spirit of the vintage look, but uses cleaner lines and a smarter silhouette. Seek out heritage paint colours in practical, modern-day finishes, as well as timeless furniture and lighting, and add in the odd vibrant colour to show off your personality.
Bask in blue Blue is well known as a ‘productive’ colour to help stimulate the brain and get the most out of your 9 to 5. This soothing, vintage blue is the perfect choice for a relaxed yet hard-working home office. The calm shade works well here with the Ercol wooden desk and ties in beautifully with the Eames DSW chair. For a slightly prettier vintage vibe, why not try a floral wallpaper in a soothing blue shade instead?
Ramp up the colour Paperwork storage does double duty in this office space, concealing the essentials and adding a bold accent shade. Here, only books are kept on show, with all documents tidied away. Orange is a sound colour choice for a home office, injecting a scheme with energy. Need a de-stressor rather than fizz? Try blue or green instead.
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