Home office

SHANE HOMES This edgy office space is one of the first things you see upon entering this showhome. The space is not only functional, but makes a homeowner excited to sit down and be creative in their workspace. It is a real escape from a traditional office. DREAM HOMES Tucked away from the main living space, this office space features a quiet sanctuary for focus, privacy and comfort. A timeless aesthetic rooted in tradition, the crisp palette serves as a backdrop for stylish touches that promote a sense of calm and contentment.

GENESIS BUILDERS The Charlesmark in Bayside Estates features a front-of-house office, that allows for easy flow of clients or guests with minimal disruption to the rest of the home. Thoughtfully designed to be full of natural light with plenty of room for storage makes working from home convenient and enjoyable.

HARDER HOMES Entering through double French doors is a functional and inviting work space that motivates creativity and productivity. Clean and uncluttered, this room is large enough to accommodate all items of a home office while still feeling like home. The large window provides ample natural lighting and the wainscoting throughout an element of sophistication.

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WITH KIM PURVIS

“Address the needs of the office space using the same design principles applied to any space in the home”

These days, lots of people are working remotely out of necessity rather than choice.

Many don’t know when they will return to a public office and may be exploring the idea of permanently working from home.

For those that haven’t worked from home until recently, creating a dedicated workspace is the first order of business.

Steve Jobs, creator of Apple said, “Design is not just what it looks like and how it feels. Design is how it works.”

Function first, beauty second.

We need to address the needs of the office space using the same design principles applied to any space in the home.

The 4 Qs

It is essential to ask:

Who will use it? What is being done? When will the space be used? How will the space be used?

Answering these questions will help you get a good idea of the needs of the space.

Truthfully answering the planning questions will ensure the space enables you to do your job efficiently and productively.

Why does it matter who will use the space? If it’s a large man, but you buy a cute little chair, you’ve eliminated comfort in favour of aesthetic.

What you’re doing in the space may require a lot of usable work surface or you may need just enough space for your laptop; this would greatly impact the size of desk required.

When the space is being utilized could be a factor if it’s near a window, then avoiding glare on the computer screen needs to be considered. Another timing question could be if the workstation is a shared space in the home. Can work be done while more than one person is using the space?

How the work area will be used is perhaps the most challenging and limiting question to answer. Depending on the size and amount of furniture and how many components need power, there may not be a lot of layout options.

AVALON ZEN at Chinook Gate is a collection of unique live/work townhomes, each offering a workspace within the home. Each townhome is designed with a bonus room on the main floor, perfect for a home office or a small business. HOMES BY AVI With the increasing need for flex space to work from home, for homework, or for homeschooling, Homes by Avi has you covered. This beautiful home office has a stunning feature wall and a bright, beautiful window that gives a dynamic interest to this simple and clean space, allowing you to focus on what is important to you.

Make it yours

Now that you’ve carefully laid out furniture and plugged everything in, it’s time to infuse some personality in the space.

Offices are fun spots to get bold. Especially if the office is a separate room. It doesn’t need to follow the decor flow of the rest of the home.

Is there a perfect wall for doing an accent wallpaper or large piece of dramatic art?

Can lighting be updated to something more suited to the aesthetic you’re going for?

Full-length drapery on windows is a great way to soften the space with fabric.

If you have the room, a little sitting area is another great way to soften the space; add pillows and a side table.

Area rugs are great for defining a space, but you’ll want to consider a plastic cover for the desk chair to glide nicely over top.

Small touches like photo frames, candles, task lamps and plants are important details.

Work can be stressful. Doing your best to set up a functional space and adding personal touches will go a long way to making the morning commute to the next room with a coffee more pleasurable. life

Decorator Kim Purvis, owner of Aurora Decor, is pursuing her lifelong passion of creating beautiful home spaces