The essential guide to decorating your home office

Whether you work in a quirky corner or dedicated study, we’ve got all sorts of smart solutions that’ll help you transform your office hours...

Assess your needs

  • No matter how large or small your space, it’s important to plan carefully. Before you begin, sit down and make a comprehensive list of the things you are likely to need and how you are going to use your office.


  • Consider who will be using the office – will it just be you, or your family as well? Are you using it for business or purely for personal admin? Are you going to invite clients into the space? Are you going to be working by yourself or will the office need to accommodate another person?


  • What equipment are you likely to need? A computer, printer and telephone are the most basic requirements of any office space, but you might also find you need further pieces, such as a fax machine, scanner or laptop docking station.


  • Will you need shelving for reference material such as books and magazines, or space to archive papers or past projects? Designers may require plan chests, or you may need lockable cabinets for expensive or sensitive equipment. Always overestimate the amount of storage you think you’ll need.


  • Get the light right. Poor lighting can cause eye strain and if the ambience is flat, it can make you less productive. Ideally you need lots of natural daylight, preferably from windows, not skylights. Additional general lighting will also reduce strong contrasts.


  • How do you want to present the space? Should it look neat and orderly, or contemporary and creative?

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