How to create a stylish home study
YOU know that extra room in your flat that’s too small to be a bedroom but too big to waste on storage alone? That’s the room you should really get round to turning into an office. And, with the rise of technology that enables you to work from home more easily, this is the time to do it.
Of course it depends on the space you have at your disposal. But the chances are, it’s too small for your liking. To make it appear bigger, Jan Janeck, of high-end interior design company Bentheim, recommends avoiding wall-to-wall carpeting and dark colours. “Dark colours make a space look cramped. And carpets are not practical for chairs with wheels. When you’ve got a small space, you’re going to want to have everything within arm’s reach, so you want to be able to whiz around smoothly on your desk chair.” Janeck says stone floors with heating underneath are an elegant flooring choice for home offices – wood is also a good choice. But a carpet somewhere – perhaps away from the desk – will soften the acoustics.
Using wall space as much as possible is crucial for making the most of your office room. Juliette Byrne, an interior designer with her own company, recommends bespoke shelving which can maximise storage in an odd-shaped room or a small space – luxury furniture shops such as Huelsta (www.huelsta.co.uk) and Ligne Roset (www.ligne-roset.co.uk) can help with that. Pull-out filing units are also invaluable.
Byrne also advocates careful choice of blinds – metal Venetian and Holland provide a lovely filtered sunlight. Nothing’s worse than glare on a computer screen, after all. Here we’ve assembled some office furnishings to lift any home work-space. Comfort, elegance and efficiency are the watch-words.
Barcelona Chair, Vital Interiors
Price £445
www.vita-interiors.co.uk
Zogg Storage Space and Pinboard Combination in Zinc, Aram
Price £1,985
www.aram.co.uk
George Nelson Home Table by Vitra, at Aram
Price £3,250 reduced to £2,600
www.aram.co.uk
Eames Lounge Chair, Vitra
Price £3,324
www.vitra.com
Original Red Lamp 1227, Anglepoise
Price £111
www.anglepoise.com
Tattoo Mousepad, Zazzle
Price £8.95
www.zazzle.co.uk
Night Desk Clock, Vitra
Price £222
www.vitra.com