8 Modern Ideas for a More Marvellous Office
Bring your work space up to speed in all the ways that matter, for maximum comfort and productivity
Joanna Tovia
17 March 2016
Houzz editorial team. Photojournalist specialising in design, travel and living well. Follow her photodocumentary about pets and the people who love them on Instagram @unfoldingtails
Houzz editorial team. Photojournalist specialising in design, travel and living well.... More
If your home office is looking a little tired, or you feel tired just thinking about having to set foot in there, it’s time to re-energise. Breathing new life into your workspace need not be expensive, but it can make a huge difference to how you feel when you’re there, and how efficiently you operate. These ideas are sure to supercharge the hours you work from home and change your life for the better in the process.
1. Foster more focus
Easily distracted by noise? Why not seal yourself away from household sounds with a glassed-in home office. You can focus on your work without feeling too closed off, but earplugs will be a thing of the past. Plus making a phone call to a client while someone’s doing the vacuuming will suddenly become possible – a workspace like this could be positively liberating.
Easily distracted by noise? Why not seal yourself away from household sounds with a glassed-in home office. You can focus on your work without feeling too closed off, but earplugs will be a thing of the past. Plus making a phone call to a client while someone’s doing the vacuuming will suddenly become possible – a workspace like this could be positively liberating.
2. Design an office built for two
If you like to work in the evenings but also need to help a child with their homework, this set-up allows the two of you to work side by side with ease. The same goes if more than one adult gets work done at home – it’s nice to have your own desk space, but this design means you don’t have to dedicate two rooms to make it happen.
If you like to work in the evenings but also need to help a child with their homework, this set-up allows the two of you to work side by side with ease. The same goes if more than one adult gets work done at home – it’s nice to have your own desk space, but this design means you don’t have to dedicate two rooms to make it happen.
3. Rethink the standing desk
If you don’t yet have a standing desk, but think you should probably invest in one, consider this option instead. A bar-height desk eliminates the need for an expensive standing desk you need to keep lowering and raising whenever you want to sit down or stand up – with this one, you just add tall chairs.
12 out-of-the-ordinary desk ideas
If you don’t yet have a standing desk, but think you should probably invest in one, consider this option instead. A bar-height desk eliminates the need for an expensive standing desk you need to keep lowering and raising whenever you want to sit down or stand up – with this one, you just add tall chairs.
12 out-of-the-ordinary desk ideas
4. Let it slide
Small changes can make a big difference to your working life, and this is one of them – enabling ease of movement. It’s quite simple: a hard floor makes it easy for a chair on wheels to roll around; carpet doesn’t. The solution is simple too: just top carpet with a plastic floor mat. This inexpensive office addition can also protect floorboards from the wear and tear caused by chair castors.
Small changes can make a big difference to your working life, and this is one of them – enabling ease of movement. It’s quite simple: a hard floor makes it easy for a chair on wheels to roll around; carpet doesn’t. The solution is simple too: just top carpet with a plastic floor mat. This inexpensive office addition can also protect floorboards from the wear and tear caused by chair castors.
5. Allow creative juices to flow
Don’t let your life be all work and no play – playtime is when the best ideas tend to emerge. Break up your day with some downtime in a hanging chair for some quiet reflection on the big picture. You might be surprised at the groundbreaking thoughts that begin to surface.
Cool hangouts with hanging chairs
Don’t let your life be all work and no play – playtime is when the best ideas tend to emerge. Break up your day with some downtime in a hanging chair for some quiet reflection on the big picture. You might be surprised at the groundbreaking thoughts that begin to surface.
Cool hangouts with hanging chairs
6. Go for ergonomic excellence
How comfortable is your office chair? If you’ve had yours for years and rarely sit anywhere to work but your home office, you might not know what you’re missing out on. Well-designed office chairs can be supremely comfortable for long periods, and keep those aches and pains at bay.
Eames EA208 chair: The Conran Shop
How comfortable is your office chair? If you’ve had yours for years and rarely sit anywhere to work but your home office, you might not know what you’re missing out on. Well-designed office chairs can be supremely comfortable for long periods, and keep those aches and pains at bay.
Eames EA208 chair: The Conran Shop
7. Create clean lines
Mess isn’t good for stress levels or clarity of thought, so make it a priority to hide it away with adequate storage. If you still rely on an old filing cabinet to stash your stuff, it’s probably time to think about an upgrade.
The streamlined storage solutions in this home office might take up some room, but the space is clear and clutter-free as a result – just what you need to do your best work.
Get rid of ugly filing cabinets
Mess isn’t good for stress levels or clarity of thought, so make it a priority to hide it away with adequate storage. If you still rely on an old filing cabinet to stash your stuff, it’s probably time to think about an upgrade.
The streamlined storage solutions in this home office might take up some room, but the space is clear and clutter-free as a result – just what you need to do your best work.
Get rid of ugly filing cabinets
8. Make it more personal
Anyone who works in an office away from home tends to personalise their space with photos and feel-good accessories; don’t forget to do the same at home. If what you surround yourself with makes the work you do from home a little more joyful, there’s no downside.
TELL US
How have you revolutionised your home office? Share your ideas in the Comments section.
MORE
Make Your Home Office the Prettiest Room in the House
Keep These Dimensions in Mind When Planning a New Home Office
9 Hardworking Home Office Ideas to Keep You Focused
Anyone who works in an office away from home tends to personalise their space with photos and feel-good accessories; don’t forget to do the same at home. If what you surround yourself with makes the work you do from home a little more joyful, there’s no downside.
TELL US
How have you revolutionised your home office? Share your ideas in the Comments section.
MORE
Make Your Home Office the Prettiest Room in the House
Keep These Dimensions in Mind When Planning a New Home Office
9 Hardworking Home Office Ideas to Keep You Focused
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Great !
This is part of the home office we designed and built at Sawbespoke. Notice the foating desk!