Office Works, Beautifully

Over the past 18 months, you may have spent time working from home - but that’s no reason for your workspace to be anything other than designed to inspire, says Gabi Mills.

THERE HAS NEVER been a better time to show your workspace some love - in some ways, we’ve got COVID-19 to thank for that.

According to Dulux’s Andrea Lucena-Orr, your study should be a space of calm and concentration.

“Most importantly it should be somewhere you actually enjoy spending time and this is where colour comes in; if your study is drab and lifeless, a lick of paint is the fastest, cheapest and most effective way to switch up the mood and make it a space you’ll love.”

Fortunately Dulux has done the hard work for you and thanks to stylist Julia Green, here are three looks for your study, using this season’s colour scheme - think soothing, sun-baked neutrals, saturated, oceanic blues, all giving your study area a distinctive look.

“You don’t need a big budget or lots of time to add style to this space. By focusing on colour, we were able to achieve these three looks very affordable in a day,” says Julia.

“If you don’t have room for a separate study and want to delineate a study nook within an open-plan room, choose tones for your nook that are different to, however harmonise with, the palette in the adjoining living/dining areas. You can then use folding screens to tuck your workspace away when it’s time to switch off,” says Andrea.

Be careful not to overfill the room – allow plenty of breathing space which can make a room feel calm.

“We used soft sheers on the window that let in filtered light and we added a statement artwork to each look – this anchored the desk set-ups and gave the user something beautiful to look at. Touches of greenery help clean the air and provide that all-important connection to nature,” she says.

Mauve moves For the first look, Julia painted the walls a soft grey-mauve, Dulux Wash&Wear in Aura, combined with pink clay and punches of terracotta in artwork and accessories.

“There’s an eclectic feel to this palette, so we had fun mixing old and new – a graphic, contemporary artwork and a modern lamp sit alongside a traditional patterned rug and a rustic-style desk with trestle legs,” says Julia. “A scheme like this calls for natural textures so bring in touches of timber, leather and wool.”

Ocean inspiration When it came to the second scheme, Julia looked to the calming colours in the Retreat palette. She made a feature of the back wall by painting it a rich, oceanic blue, Dulux Wash&Wear in Five Fingers Peninsula.

“Bold colour contrasts generally energise a room, but there’s a lovely muddiness to this blue that makes it feel tranquil and relaxed. It’s a classic scheme that would work beautifully in a traditional or contemporary home,” she says.

Julia completed the look with a traditional writing bureau in dark timber, an inspiring artwork and a zebra-print rug.”

Tan fans For the final makeover, Julia layered earthy neutrals from the Nourish palette for a look that speaks of warmth and comfort in Morocco Tan on the walls, combined with tonal shades of tan and clay in the artwork, rug and furniture. Woven detailing in the rattan screen and desk chair add texture.

“Layering similar tones like we’ve done here creates a nurturing, comforting feel – you could imagine happily working here for long stretches,” says Green. “Rich earthy neutrals are also easy to work with and integrate beautifully with the warm whites many of us already have in our homes, as well as the natural materials such as timber and leather.”

Julia’s study styling tips

• Consider mood: Choose colours to suit the mood you want to create – warm tones will create a cosy, nurturing feel (great for a teen study), while brighter hues are energising and inspiring – ideal for creative thinking. • Personalise: Family photographs and mementos from your travels can add character to your study and make it feel more welcoming. • Buy quality: A comfortable and supportive office chair and an adjustable desk lamp that allows you to see what you’re typing or writing are must-haves for a home office. • Greenery: Add plants or fresh flowers to purify the air and provide a connection to nature.

Find Dulux products at Homebase, 55 Salvado Road, Subiaco. Visit homebaseperth.com.au

Getting organised

For some, beauty in the home comes from implementing organisation over chaos. If you’d like to implement your own minor Marie Kondo-style revolution and make sure everything has its proper place in your home or office, Howard’s Storage World will have the box, shelf or storage solution for you. It’s a treasure trove of nifty mess-busting solutions from beautifully designed cutlery drawers to a shoe rack for all those sneakers and school shoes which somehow migrate around the house. There are suction racks to store shampoos and potions next to the shower and pantry accessories to inspire you to never lose another spice jar.