Teleworking is here to stay, so it’s important to set up a home office that’s both professional and homely. Marie Kelly talks to experts about how to find the right balance
The key to creating a functional and inviting home office is in the name – it should feel as comfortable and homey as any other room in your house.
The idea that a workplace must have clinical, clean lines without decorative “distractions” is as tiring and uninspiring as magnolia-colored walls.
Personality should be the driving force of any home office, just as it is in a bedroom, a cozy study or a TV room.
Our physical environment has a huge impact on our creativity, productivity, motivation and happiness. What may be a turn-off for one person may be a stimulating factor for another.
This is why your attitude should come first.
Emma DelaneyInterior designer at Dublin lifestyle store April and The Bear, agrees.
“A home office should be a very personal space and there should be a seamless transition between it and the other rooms in your home,” she says.
“Fancy, intimate details can be strategically placed throughout the space without impacting your creativity or productivity. I find that sterile workspaces are often underutilized by homeowners.”
Delaney says it’s important to choose a room that offers some level of seclusion from the chatter in the rest of the house and to maximize natural light.
“If possible, choose a room that is lit by windows. This reduces fatigue and makes the room feel more inviting,” she explains.
Even if your home office has the perfect orientation, task lighting is essential, says Delaney.
“A quality desk lamp is essential. A decorative pendant light is an attractive alternative to traditional ceiling lights and there are also great adjustable wall lights on the market that are battery operated so you don’t have to deal with unsightly cables.”
Portable desk lamps can be placed on open shelves to give the entire room a warm glow, she adds. By lighting dark corners in this way, you also make the room appear larger.
When it comes to color, Delaney recommends earth tones that have a naturally calming effect without being too relaxing.
“Most people gravitate towards greens and blues because we associate these colors with nature,” she says.
Delaney advises avoiding bright white, as it can be tiring and stifle creativity, and opting instead for more nuanced shades.
“White with a subtle red pigment can work really well,” she adds. “It adds a gentle warmth and more depth to the room.”
Deirdre McGetrickthe Sligo-born founder of furniture and home decor comparison website ufurnish.com, has been an interior design enthusiast for life and worked in her parents’ curtain shop in Ballymore as a teenager.
She recommends trying bright orange in your home office, but with one caveat: “You may not want to paint all four walls. But a single accent wall in orange can have an invigorating effect,” she says.
The biggest difference in setting up a home office, Delaney says, is customized storage options.
“Bespoke units fit the nooks and crannies of a room, ensuring the entire space has a beautiful flow and always appears neat and tidy.”
It’s also a great way to partially hide necessary but often unsightly tech devices like printers, cables, portable monitors, and headphones.
“A bespoke unit with open shelves at the top and a closed element at the bottom is great for hiding a printer while ensuring it is always within easy reach,” she says.
Messy cable clutter is a nuisance for many customers and Delaney says custom storage allows all cables to be routed through a small outlet to discreetly placed power sockets.
Irish online store Amber + Willow also stocks attractive vintage-style braided extension cables in a range of colours, replacing ugly white cables and adding a more attractive, tactile touch to the room.
A home office must not only reflect your personality, but also suit your individual way of working.
Delaney often works with clients who want both a standing desk and a traditional executive-style desk, credenza or writing desk.
The nice thing about a home office is that you can accommodate your own peculiarities.
If standing during Zoom calls in the morning gives you energy, but you prefer sitting while doing paperwork in the afternoon, you can create the configuration that works best for you.
McGettrick agrees that it is important to understand your own personal work habits.
“Consider whether you use a lot of paper documents in your work or predominantly digital files. This will not only determine the size of the desk, but also whether you need a model with integrated storage space.”
Trestle desks are very popular with professionals who don’t have a lot of paperwork to do and prefer a no-frills workspace. However, those who simply have more “stuff” often opt for the traditional executive desk.
“Traditionally, this type of desk has been at the center of decision-making in the company, so this type of desk has an authority that continues to resonate,” says McGettrick.
“The modern version, however, is not a monolithic wooden avatar. There are now a variety of elegant designs made from interesting materials such as steel, glass and engineered wood, which also offer cable management systems, integrated charging ports and other modern conveniences.”
However, if you don’t like contemporary design, look for vintage or reclaimed furniture pieces instead.
They immediately add individuality.
The most difficult part of setting up a home office for most people, according to Delaney, is the decorative aspect and achieving the right balance between adding character without creating visual disharmony.
“Subtle touches can make a big difference,” she says. “Try covering the inside of an enclosed storage space or the back wall of a bookshelf with wallpaper.”
We all agree that an empty wall is neither inspiring nor motivating.
Delaney is a big fan of using artwork to create a gallery wall and incorporating pieces with sentimental value.
“Like any other room in your home, textiles transform a home office into a place you enjoy spending time in.
“To add the finishing touch, place an armchair with a few cushions in the corner of the room,” she advises.
Add a textured rug as it will define the perimeter of your workspace and add an appealing tactility to the area.
For example, throwing a sheepskin rug over the back of your computer or office chair makes it seem less like a general ergonomic necessity and more like a hand-picked object that reflects your own style.
