THE STYLE BOOK Home offices

Under the stairs can easily be transformed with built-in cabinetry

Use... a neglected alcove

Utilise those unused nooks and abandoned spaces to fit in a clever home office with savvy storage solutions

TRANSFORM A BEDROOM ALCOVE INTO A COMPACT HOME OFFICE If you’re limited on space, using a bedroom alcove as a study area is a great solution. A neat wall-hung desk can easily double up as a dressing table – simply add a mirror and a comfortable chair to match your scheme.

FLOAT A DESK TO TAKE UP MINIMAL FLOOR SPACE Choose a narrow, wall-hung desk that won’t protrude too much into the room and frees up floor space. Keep your home office essentials minimal, so you have less to hide away.

CLAIM BACK UNDER-STAIR SPACE The space under the stairs is often wasted in homes. Instead of allowing it to become a dumping ground for bags and trainers, turn it into a stylish home office. If budget allows, go bespoke as you’ll be able to build in cabinetry to make the most of every available inch.

ADD IN EXTRA STORAGE Build in as much storage as you have room for. Not all of it needs to be for office supplies; you can keep a cupboard for coats, and maybe a pull-out drawer for all the miscellaneous hallway paraphernalia.

Use an existing dining chair to double up as office seating

Use... wall space wisely

Make the most of valuable wall space with a wall-mounted desk or fold-down storage solution

USE ALL AVAILABLE WALL SPACE When space is limited, it’s key to utilise every inch to the max. For a small home office or craft room, the key could be making the walls worker harder.

BUILD A BESPOKE MODULAR SYSTEM A wall-mounted storage unit with fold-down compartments provides ample space for a desk and storage without taking up floor space. You can choose to fold each section flat against the wall when not in use.

PICK MULTI-FUNCTIONAL FURNITURE A wall-hung cabinet that doubles as a desk is another smart solution. Simply fasten the bottom half away to hide all trace of the day’s work. With drawers and storage compartments it can also be used as a standard bedside unit to place a lamp etc. Add a small stool for when you’re using it as a desk.

CREATE A SENSE OF CALM Pick a serene colour palette for a restful room scheme that promotes calm and creativity. Soft pastels are a contemporary choice, including pale grey/blue for walls. Brighten desk drawers by painting the fronts in complementary shades.

Group items in odd numbers and keep space around them to create balance

Use... a beautiful backdrop

The view behind and in front of your screen are equally important, so make sure it’s functional and inspiring

STYLE UP OPEN SHELVING Open shelving offers a great base for creating striking wall displays in a home office. From pretty box files, books and magazines to family photographs and vases filled with flowers, anything that brings you creative inspiration deserves a designated space.

BUILD A CURATED BACKGROUND While it’s important to consider the view from your desk, consider the backdrop from your computer camera, too. Think carefully about the wall behind you and the impression it will create on video calls, as it is likely to be one of the most seen parts of your home.

THINK ABOUT LIGHTING Work in tandem with your lighting choices to ensure both your face and backdrop are perfectly lit, while avoiding irritating screen glare. A task lamp with an adjustable shade is the perfect choice.

GET CREATIVE WITH PAINT Create an ombré effect by painting sections of the wall behind your desk in different shades, divided by floating shelves. Alternatively, cheat a flowing watercolour effect with wallpaper.

You can afford to be a bit more daring with colours and patterns in a small space

Use... print and pattern

Introduce inspiring wallpapers to zone your home office space and promote a sense of calm and wellbeing

TRANSFORM AN AWKWARD NOOK Sloping roofs are the perfect example of a space that might otherwise be redundant. It’s often tricky to make use of the half-height ceiling, due to the awkward measurements, but a desk will happily slot in.

USE PATTERN TO ZONE A SPACE Don’t be afraid of introducing pattern into a nook or alcove behind a desk, as an interesting wallpaper or mural will cleverly distract from a messy desk and can play with the perception of space. Whether it’s in a designated home office or not, a bold design will also zone the area from the rest of the room.

TAKE INSPIRATION FROM NATURE If you’re short on desk or floor space, or you’re not very green fingered, hanging botanical wall art or wallpaper can help you destress and set you in the right mood for a productive day.

PICK A TRANQUIL COLOUR PALETTE Stick to calm shades so the effect is softer and easier on the eye when looking away from your laptop. Think pale greens, pinks and greys, along with natural wood finishes.

A cluster of houseplants, in varying heights, leaf shapes and pot textures can help to instantly add an informal feel to a home office