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How to Plan a Home Office

With functional floorplans, storage solutions, and desk designs that enhance the remote working experience, discover how to plan a home office that suits daily life. Find tips to transform a spare room or empty corner into a practical and comfortable place to work. From professional set-ups to family-friendly designs, this guide offers ideas and inspiration for every workspace, plus product recommendations from our range to help bring a stylish study to life.

1. Lead with layout

Consider how you work when choosing a location. Room dividers create a space for focus, while an open-plan layout suits those undertaking housekeeping tasks.

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1. Lead with layout

With tasks that require concentration or a diary full of calls, a room divider can offer greater privacy and block out external noise. This can also help distinguish between worktime and downtime and provide a better work-life balance. Alternatively, if an office is primarily used for home admin, positioning it within a wider living space will enable multi-tasking alongside household chores.

See room divider sliding door gear
2. Find your flow

Think about frequently-used items when planning an office layout, so the design offers easy access to the equipment needed for working from home.

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2. Find your flow

A larger desk is useful for those who work on multiple screens or use different devices throughout the workday. Meanwhile, some people may need extra room for filing paperwork, which makes storage more important. When deciding how the study will be set up, consider where these everyday essentials will fit into the space.

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3. Look at lighting

Boost productivity and mental wellbeing by ensuring the area is well-lit at all times – essential for detailed tasks, working on a screen, or in the winter months.

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3. Look at lighting

In addition to creating a more pleasant work environment, good lighting can make it easier to focus and improve comfort. If possible, position the office layout to make the most of light, while being careful not to place monitors directly in front of a window, which can make vision more difficult. Artificial lighting is also a must-have in rooms that lack natural illumination or during the darker months, as it can help reduce eye strain.

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4. Prioritise power

Plan a home office design with power sockets in convenient spots, like @pingcoombes, enabling you to stay connected and keep devices powered up.

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4. Prioritise power

From laptops and phones that need charging, to Wi-Fi routers and monitors that require a constant source of electricity - many items need plugging in when working at home. Place outlets close to the desk to keep the floor free of wires, for a discreet solution that can be stored inside a cupboard when not in use.

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1. Go robust

Choose a desk material that is hardwearing to withstand the demands of daily tasks, like @bhcarpentry's wooden counter that will provide years of durability.

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1. Go robust

With its natural colour and texture, wood will add an organic, grounding feel to an office design, promoting positive wellbeing. Premium solid timber also gives the space a more high-end appearance, which will look impressive on video calls or during in-person meetings. Solid timber is also easy to cut and fit to a custom shape, which has helped @bhcarpentry to make better use of corners and awkward areas in their home office.

See solid wood worktops
2. Ease everyday chores

Pick a laminate surface like @homeatno_2b's that can be quickly wiped down to reduce cleaning time and keep the workspace spotless – handy for creative jobs.

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2. Ease everyday chores

Many office areas are multi-purpose and used by the whole family, which is why a low-maintenance, laminate surface can prove useful and durable. With a top layer that recreates the appearance of stone or wood, as shown in @homeatno_2b's design, these counters offer an affordable alternative to natural materials, which is suitable for use on even the busiest of desks.

See laminate worktops

3. Select a style

Decide whether the desk should be built-in to maximise space for paperwork and equipment, or a freestanding piece that is custom-made to match the office.

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3. Select a style

Base units and counters can be used to create a fitted work area that offers plenty of storage, making the most of a compact layout. Meanwhile, a bespoke desk can be made using spindles as the legs. This handcrafted design suits a library-inspired layout that is more spacious, and creates a professional look well suited to welcoming clients.

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4. Look at length

Be inspired by @waterhallreno's longer counter and dual workstation, great for creative collaboration, extra company, or simply mid-morning coffee meetings.

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4. Look at length

As well as being big enough to share, a larger working area offers room to welcome customers or clients into the home office. @waterhallreno has used a lengthier countertop to reduce joins in the surface, so this dual-use desk mimics a professional set up. It also provides space to spread out - great if you a paper-heavy worker or like extra room to think.

See 3.6m worktops

1. Conceal clutter

Introduce tower cupboards, as shown in @jamesduhan's design, to boost the amount of storage for books and paper, making it easier to stay organised.

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1. Conceal clutter

From boxes of files to bulky devices like printers and shredders, tall units provide a home for the work essentials that can be hidden away. This solution is particularly handy for those who need extra space for storing paperwork like tax returns, and can also be used as a bookcase, as showcased in @jamesduhan’s design. Keeping the study tidy will also help boost productivity and ensure the desk remains clear for work.

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2. Do more with drawers

Mix and match cupboards and drawers, like @thelondonhomeproject, to create a varied look that has dedicated areas for storing different items.

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2. Do more with drawers

For fast access to stationery, cables, or smaller tech, @thelondonhomeproject has the right idea with drawers. Positioning storage close to a desk area makes it handy to grab items as you work, while internal accessories such as cutlery trays will keep everything organised. This storage solution is also accessible for all ages, which suits a study shared by the whole family.

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3. Free up walls

Reduce visual distractions by choosing cupboards which are positioned below eye-level, for a workspace like @amyjohughes' where focus comes first.

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3. Free up walls

Base units provide practical and versatile storage in line with the desk, making it easy for @amyjohughes to reach for items when sitting down. This also ensures that walls remain clear, which frees up room for a noticeboard or decorative touches and can make compact offices feel more open. To ensure a neat fit, different widths are available to slot into any layout.

See kitchen base cabinets
4. Maximise storage

Use wall units to boost organisation in a small layout, just like @zitajanehome's home office – useful if the workspace is part of a multipurpose living area.

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4. Maximise storage

@zitajanehome's home office design uses wall cupboards to frame a desk, crafting a premium, built-in look that has the appearance of a bespoke piece of furniture. As well as creating a high-end feel, using wall units will make the most of height without crowding a room - great for a calming work environment.

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1. Style-up shelves

Follow @thelondonhomeproject's lead by displaying photographs and mementoes on open shelving, to add a personal touch and bring joy to everyday tasks.

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1. Style-up shelves

While a home office focuses on functionality, @thelondonhomeproject shows how it is also an extension of your interior style. Shelves offer an area to showcase special items which can help boost the mood during busy workdays. A good way to break up banks of cupboards, this storage solution can be used to style the background of video calls too, for those who want to make an impression in virtual meetings.

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2. Mix hand grips

Pick easy-to-grip hand pulls, similar to @zitajanehome's design, for fast access to storage, while finishing units with a personal and decorative touch.

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2. Mix hand grips

Hand grips with a wide design can be quickly grabbed when reaching for office supplies and are available in an assortment of finishes to complement every space. @zitajanehome has used a combination of antique brass cup and knob hand pulls to create a curated, boutique-inspired look that is also practical. These fixtures can be easily swapped for new designs to enable a simple and affordable room refresh.

See cabinet handles

3. Look to laminate

Choose durable laminate for a practical, low-maintenance floor that can be easily cleaned and used to recreate the look of premium materials on a smaller budget.

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3. Look to laminate

With people coming and going plus potential coffee spills, hardwearing surfaces are a must-have in a busy study area. Available in a variety of colours and designs, laminated floor panels mimic the appearance of real wood or stone tiles while offering a wipe-clean finish that withstands everyday use.

See laminate flooring
4. Protect privacy

Keep commercially-sensitive paperwork securely stored away by fitting magnetic catches to office storage, ensuring business information remains safe and private.

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4. Protect privacy

Providing extra peace of mind, a magnetic catch will add a layer of security to cupboards, which is particularly important for those whose jobs involve managing clients’ files. In addition to protecting confidential correspondence or valuable equipment, this easy-to-fit solution can create a private spot to store household documents and family records like passports and bank details.

See magnetic catches and latches