Something softer and prettier is required when a corner of the bedroom has to be harnessed for work — like the Portland dressing-table from the Painted Furniture Company, designed to double as a desk. Keep sleeping space serene by scrupulously packing paperwork into the drawers before clocking off for the night.
Remember, a decent reading lamp is always necessary but need not look industrial — Anglepoise, master of office lighting, has introduced the 90 Mini Mini desk model which comes in softer colours, such as blush, berry red and warm silver, suitable for a bedroom.
Where a whole room is available to reconfigure as a home office, fitting out one wall with a desk unit incorporating cupboards, shelves and/or drawers, as required, is the best way to maximise space. Mobili Domani, which has a showroom in Hendon, has seen increased demand from customers working from home. It creates stylish bespoke wall units, as well as supplying glamorous free-standing Italian desks.
Crown has created Lifespace, a modular office-furnishing system with a pleasingly non-industrial look which can be added to as your needs change.
BoConcept’s Cupertino home office desk is a minimal and space-conscious option. Its desk top is equipped with multiple storage compartments to help keep you organised. The modular Copenhagen desk, meanwhile, can be configured as a T-shape or corner shape.
BoConcept offers home office packages at all its stores, including desks, chairs and storage solutions. The design team will also create a bespoke home office if you cannot find what you need.
“Office spaces often fall victim to a cold and sterile look, thanks to bland colours, an abundance of electrical equipment, impersonal decor or all of the above,” says a BoConcept designer. “An easy way to cultivate a cosier vibe is by choosing furniture in natural materials, like wood and leather.” Metal and glass are easy to clean but, if you choose these, consider off-setting the more manufactured look with a couple of wood accent pieces or a few potted plants.
Where space permits, you could add a standing desk, increasingly recommended by health experts, as an alternative work station. In an era when sitting has been dubbed the new smoking, getting up and moving around regularly is essential — especially on days when deadlines prevent a brisk walk in fresh air (particularly important when you’re not commuting).
The standing desk could accommodate a tablet optimised for Zoom meetings, not to disturb your regular computer screen when you return to your desk.
The importance of a good chair cannot be over-emphasised for the seated screen-worker, and classic mid-century options are a handsome, if perhaps not as ergonomic, alternative to industrial office models.
Martin Hutchinson from Office Furniture Online says: “It’s important to invest in an ergonomic office chair which will support your body while sitting for long periods of time; look for lumbar support, breathable mesh back designs, and adjustable arm and head rests.
“The position of your desk and chair should mean your arms are comfortably rested at a 90-degree angle, and computer screens or laptop should be eye-level to avoid any body aches and neck pain.”
He recommends the Response Synchro Mesh Task Chair, £130 with contoured seat and adjustable lumbar support or the Comfort Ergo 3-Lever Mesh Operator Chair, £80, available in six colours.
One invisible aspect of a healthy home-working environment is air quality — even when viruses are not present, indoor air can be up to five times as unhealthy as that breathed outdoors. An air purifier and/or humidifier is almost as vital as good lighting, and the Bellaria from Falmec performs both tasks, as it is a purifier which doubles as an elegant lamp.
While it may not quite replicate the pine-scented air of a Scandinavian forest, the AX9 air purifier from Swedish-owned AEG does promise continuous monitoring and customised filtration options.
Don’t forget about wall space. Think beyond just hanging photos and art and go for a large chalk board for brainstorming, a mountable schedule, or even a big bulletin board to keep paper clutter off your desk.
For privacy, BoConcept also suggests French doors to block out noise, without being claustrophobic, or folding room dividers, which are easily movable.
If you want to create more space, for a dedicated office, an extension is not the only option. You could build a separate structure outside — for the satisfaction of being able to close the door on work and genuinely leave the office when the day is done.
Garden rooms, with lots of lovely leafy nature surrounding them to boost your wellbeing, are increasingly popular as home offices; a more portable alternative is a shepherd’s hut.
For flooring here, durable sisal rugs or carpeting are practical and will help warm up the look and feel of a hard floor, as would luxurious underfloor heating where connecting to power allows.
If you intend to have clients visiting you (when restrictions permit), you should not only consider your own comfort, but theirs, advises BoConcept. This can be as straightforward as investing in some extra ultra-comfy home office chairs — or something a bit outside-the-box, like creating a small coffee bar in an unused corner.
Giving up living space to accommodate home working is a move likely to pay if you decide to sell: “Dedicated office space is now a fundamental requirement for buyers,” says Lindsey Eden, chief operating officer at Richstone Properties, which builds studies large enough to be considered “sumptuous retreats”.
Rachel Hall, head of interior design at Octagon Developments, echoes the wisdom of investing in suitable home-working space for several years to come, saying: “Where once a buyer would ask ‘Is there an en-suite or two?’, today a decent home workspace ticks the top of the wish list.”
