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Home Office Ideas

Whether it is a spot to catch up on emails, an area for study, or a quiet room to work from home, these home office ideas explore different ways to create a place to carry out focussed activities and household admin. When looking for home office inspiration, there are many things to consider, including electrical power, making sure the area is well lit, and ensuring there is plenty of surface space to carry out the day job. Within this guide, you will find top tips from our team of expert designers and real home examples to get your home office makeover off to the best start.

1. Benefit from a blank canvas

Colour plays a pivotal role within home office design as it sets the tone for study, work, and even those all-important video calls. We recommend taking @elliejordanhome’s lead by opting for a neutral tone that creates a blank canvas for free thinking. Within her office space, she has carried through the white hue of her kitchen cabinetry to create a luxe look that is free from distraction.

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@amyjohughes - Clerkenwell Super Matt Graphite

2. Make it matt

Like white, muted finishes can reduce visual distractions within a room helping to maximise focus for the task at hand. @amyjohughes has used matt units to create plenty of home office storage without overcrowding the room. This soft exterior is also a great feature in rooms with lots of natural light or where computers are used as it will prevent glare on monitors.

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White gloss home office with concrete worktop

3. Invest in handle-free

If you have ever worked in a busy office, then you know how quickly a workstation can get messy. It is also surprising how much grime builds up when using a mouse and keyboard. @homeatno_2b has the right idea by switching to handle-free cupboards for their home office space. With an integrated handgrip, it is easy to keep clean and adds to a fuss-free environment.

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Walnut work space with charcoal Clerkenwell drawers

4. Get savvy with storage

To keep an office clear and clutter-free, it is important to plan in plenty of storing areas to tuck stationary or cables out of sight. @thelondonhomeproject has the right idea using drawers within their compact study area. This small home office idea is easy to implement in rooms of any size and makes those “working from home” essentials easy to access.

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5. Free up space for filing

Even when you have gone green with paperless billing, there are always important documents that need to be filed safely, whether that is family passports, mortgage details, or the kids’ certificates. Making the most of space using wall units will help free up room at ground level for more regularly used items and will stow paperwork out of sight.

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6. Prepare for pairs

For any of us that share our home office with a business partner, family member, or colleague, I think we all know the pain that encroaching paperwork can cause. To combat this, @waterhallreno has taken their surface space to new lengths creating a long bank to work from. This provides ample room to pair up at home without having to fight over desk space.

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@haveyouseenherhouse - solid oak block worktop

7. Keep it simple

Sometimes all you need is a good work surface to perch from, and wooden counters are a sound investment for a quick home study fix. @haveyouseenherhouse has created a custom desk out of a simple timber counter. When paired with organic features like a cork board and white furniture, it offers a minimalist backdrop for maximum productivity.

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8. Make it multi-functional

When space is at a premium, you can look to existing areas of a home to make rooms more multi-functional. An island is a great spot that can double up as a workstation, creating a place for home working or simply catching up on phone calls. By using a dedicated island counter that is wider and longer than other models, you can create a freestanding feature with plenty of surface space.

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9. Be on point with power

The last thing you need in the middle of a video call or when halfway through an email, is for your laptop or mobile to power down. @pingcoombes has a savvy solution for this, by placing power outlets in strategic locations where work is carried out. When setting up a home office, or a multi-functional study area, remember to include plenty of sockets so you remain up and running.

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10. Craft a custom desk

Creating a sturdy place to position yourself for a full day’s work is important and building a custom desk is an easy way to accommodate your exact needs. Why not look beyond traditional desk legs and consider spindles for your base. Designed to withstand stair elements, they are strong and robust. They also come in a selection of shapes, making it easy to create a signature look.

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