CREATE THE PERFECT HOME OFFICE

Tuesday 6th of September 2011

We are wired to stay connected these days so it's only natural that almost everyone has a home office. From entrepreneurs to bloggers, or even if you already have a 9-5, you just can't resist setting up a work station to store your bills, journals, magazines and knickknacks you've collected over the years. It's not only nice to stay organized but it can also say a lot about your personality.

Here are some tips to create a working (or some people consider it their 'down time') enviroment that you'll appreciate every day. By mixing in furniture and accessories to make the space fun and inspiring.

STEP 1 - FINDING THE RIGHT SPACE

Start off by dedicating a room or a niche within your home. Whether it’s part of a vestibule, or underneath the stairs, you need to think about how much space you need to work efficiently and to store materials that you need access to everyday.

STEP 2 – START FROM THE GROUND UP!

Area rugs are great inspiration pieces that can differentiate between the office and other spaces within the home. Use a bold patterned rug, like this Greek inspired soft grey and mustard mix. Make sure it’s comfortable on your feet and low pile so that you can move your chair around easily.

STEP 3 – SEATING

The more seats, the better! Upholstered dining and side chairs add touches of elegance and sophistication to the mix. Balance the linear angles with streamlined, round shapes.

STEP 4 - LAYER WITH SOFTNESS

Accent pillows can add visual interest especially if you’re choosing a graphic pattern. A traditional floral print can be updated with a modern palette of black, grey and white. A lumbar cushion can cradle your back, while the cheerful bright yellow adds a bold shot of excitement to the room.

STEP 5 – ADD LOTS OF LIGHT

It's important to add enough practical lighting to create the best possible work environment. Adjustable task lighting is an absolute must for your desk. In addition to the existing overhead fixtures, add a few side lamps on a console table to help brighten up the rest of the room. Make sure that they are on a dimmer so that you have total control of how the space is lit.

Mirrors - the larger the better - are a great way to reflect natural light into a space. Hanging a collection of mirrors to as a focal point can make the room feel both brighter and more spacious.

STEP 6 – STORAGE AND ORGANIZATION

Organization is probably the most important part of the room setup and may take the longest. Before you buy anything, take a good look at the amount of books and files that you need stored. Magazine files are great for items when you require easy access. Neutral colours work well because they tend to fade into the background. If you need some help staying organized, go for bright colours, and colour code each one. Hatboxes can be used to store items that are irregular shaped items and extra cords. You could easily stack them on top of each other to create an additional side table.

STEP 7 - ACCESSORIZE

Use metal stationary organizers to add a modern edge to a traditional desk. Sculptural objects or even a clock can double as paperweights. It’s all in the details!

STEP 8 – ADD SOMETHING PERSONAL

The final layer to creating the perfect home office is finding a piece of art that reflects your style. If you don’t have the wall space, try placing the art on a windowsill, or prop them on a shelf. Be inspired and remember that by personalizing your space you’ll feel more at home and less at work!