skip to main content
Sign In
Join as a Pro
History of Houzz
  • PHOTOS
    KITCHEN & DINING
    • Kitchen
    • Dining
    • Outdoor Kitchen
    • Kitchen Islands
    LIVING
    • Living Room
    • Family Room
    • Home Theatre
    • Sunroom
    • Fireplace
    • Study Room
    BATHROOM
    • Bathroom
    • Laundry
    • Powder Room
    • Small Bathroom
    BEDROOM
    • Bedroom
    • Kids Bedroom
    • Nursery
    • Master Bedroom
    • Storage & Wardrobe
    KERB APPEAL
    • Exterior
    • Driveway
    • Carport
    • Garage
    • Entry
    OUTDOOR
    • Garden
    • Courtyard
    • Balcony
    • Deck
    • Patio
    • Pool
    • All Outdoor
    MORE IDEAS
    • Granny Flat
    • Home Office
    • Home Gym
    • Staircase
    • Home Bar
    • Wine Cellar
    • View All
  • FIND PROFESSIONALS
    BUILDING & RENOVATION
    • Architects
    • Home Builders
    • Building Designers
    • Design & Construction
    DESIGN & INTERIORS
    • Interior Designers & Decorators
    • Home Stylists & Property Staging
    • Painting & Wallpaper
    • Carpet & Flooring
    • Shutters, Blinds & Curtains
    • Furniture & Home Decor
    • Artists & Artisans
    GARDEN & LANDSCAPING
    • Landscape Architects & Designers
    • Landscape Contractors
    • Garden & Landscape Supplies
    • Arborists & Tree Services
    OUTDOOR & EXTERIOR
    • Pools & Spas
    • Decks, Patios & Structures
    • Fencing & Gates
    • Driveways & Paving
    • Stone, Pavers & Concrete
    • Cladding & Exterior Contractors
    • Roofing & Gutters
    • Blacksmiths & Welders
    KITCHEN & BATHROOM
    • Kitchen Designers & Renovators
    • Bathroom Designers & Renovators
    • Kitchen & Bath Fixtures
    • Tile, Stone & Benchtops
    • Joinery & Cabinet Makers
    HOME SERVICES
    • Lighting
    • Heating & Air Conditioning
    • Fireplaces
    • Windows
    • Doors
    • Staircases & Balustrades
    • Wine Cellars
    SYDNEY
    • Architects in Sydney
    • Bathroom Renovators in Sydney
    • Builders in Sydney
    • Interior Designers in Sydney
    • Kitchen Renovators in Sydney
    • Landscapers in Sydney
    MELBOURNE
    • Architects in Melbourne
    • Builders in Melbourne
    • Bathroom Renovators in Melbourne
    • Landscapers in Melbourne
    • Interior Designers in Melbourne
    BRISBANE
    • Architects in Brisbane
    • Builders in Brisbane
    • Landscapers in Brisbane
    • Bathroom Renovators in Brisbane
    • Cabinet Makers in Brisbane
    • Fencing in Brisbane
    PERTH
    • Landscapers in Perth
    • Tilers in Perth
    • Bathroom Renovators in Perth
    • Kitchen Renovators in Perth
    • Cabinet Makers in Perth
    • Architects in Perth
    View All Pros View All Services
  • STORIES
    STORIES FROM HOUZZ
    • Houzz Tours
    • Kitchens
    • Bathrooms
    • More Rooms
    • Renovating
    • Building
    • Architecture
    • Interior Design
    • Gardens
    • Eco Living
    • Lifestyle
    • News Stories
    • How to Use Houzz
    HOUZZ RESEARCH
    HOUZZ TV
  • ADVICE
    HOUZZ DISCUSSIONS
    • Design Dilemma
    • Before & After
    • Polls
    • Kitchens
    • Living Rooms
    • Bathrooms
    • Gardens
    • Renovating
    • Home Decorating
    • Exterior
    • Flooring
    • Building a home
Lifestyle
Lifestyle
Believe It or Not: Ghostly Home Encounters
Top Ideabooks
Believe It or Not: Ghostly Home EncountersTeen Spirit: Experts Reveal the 11 Key Elements for a Happy HomeWe Are Framily: How to Build a Fabulous Friendship GroupSun Salute: How to Set Up a Morning Yoga Routine
Appears in
Latest from Houzz
See also
EntertainingCleaningPetsUrban LivingCountry LivingHome TechBook Extracts
Home Offices
Home Offices
Study Nooks: How to Squeeze in a Home Office Anywhere
Top Ideabooks
Study Nooks: How to Squeeze in a Home Office AnywhereTop-Shelf: Storage Options for a Study With StyleGarden Studio Makeover: See How an Online Bargain Was Transformed20 Garden Office Ideas for a Working-From-Home Haven
Appears in
More Rooms
Interior Design Ideas
Interior Design Ideas
The Power of Negative Space in Interior Design
Top Ideabooks
The Power of Negative Space in Interior DesignThe Golden Rules of Proportion: Decor Laws You Need to Know5 Homes Where ‘Stolen Space’ Is a Game ChangerMy Houzz: A Georgian-Meets-Modern Home for a Family of Six
Appears in
Interior Design
Home Time
Home Time
20 Garden Office Ideas for a Working-From-Home Haven
Top Ideabooks
20 Garden Office Ideas for a Working-From-Home Haven4 Ways to Set Up Your Home to Reduce Stress TodayHow a Couple Completed a Renovation During Covid-19Insights: The Most-Saved Photos During Lockdown
Appears in
Popular Houzz Series

How to Arrange Space When Everyone Works and Studies At Home

Three interior designers share advice on how to carve out space and the best ways to set up a productive work area

Mariella Attard
Mariella AttardMarch 26, 2020
Houzz Australia contributor. I'm a freelance writer, always looking for the next story. (And always picking cat hair off every item of clothing and furniture that I own.)
More
Print
Embed
Facebook
Twitter
Email
Three interior designers, all sole traders who have worked from home, share their professional and personal tips to help you set up a home office that works for you.
Kanika Design Inc.
Take stock
Carving out a space to work in from home can be complicated, even for people who devote their lives to making beautiful interiors.

“Many interior designers and artists have baggage including papers, pens, markers, fabric rolls, wallpaper books, even bricks and tiles,” says Melbourne interior designer Giulianna Del Popolo of GDP Interior Design.
Before she moved to commercial premises to accommodate her growing business, Del Popolo learnt first-hand the challenges posed by combining work and family life in the same space.

“I worked from home for years [in] a small home with two boys, no spare bedrooms, musical instruments and copious amounts of Lego,” she says.
GDP Interior Design
Now that she’s moving her business back home for a few months of self isolation and potential home schooling, she’s carefully considered how that’s going to work. Her advice from her previous experience sums it up: “Before you start rearranging your whole home to set up an office, ask yourself how you’ll be using that space, and what’s doable. That will depend on your home, the work you do, who you live with, and the kind of person you are,” says Del Popolo.

Need to carve out a space to work from home? Find an interior designer near you on Houzz for expert tips
Lisa Burdus Interior Design
Do you share your space with kids?
If you do, this will be one of the biggest things you’re going to have to address. Frances Cosway, interior designer, author and principal of White Pebble Design, says working from home is not just about adults. Kids need a space of their own too. “My children are going to be at home, and we’re using it as an opportunity to say, ‘Let’s create an environment for you’,” says Cosway.
De Hasse
“I don’t want [my kids] doing computer work in their bedroom, but there are a lot of other things they can do. There is the opportunity for them to work in their own private space.”

One of Cosway’s daughters wants to be completely surrounded by plants, and the other by particular colours. “They’re really excited about the prospect that they’re going to be able to put their own stamp on something and they’ll love it,” says Cosway. “Give your kids some involvement because then they have ownership.”
Neil Dusheiko Architects
Of course, much depends on the age of your children. “Really [if your children are young] they may just want to be near you,” says Del Popolo, whose children are now aged nine and 11. “Obviously this is not always easy, but setting up Duplo, playdough or TV shows in a shared space will make them feel like they’re part of what you’re doing. Maybe not kinetic sand though. That stuff goes everywhere.”
My Architect
Setting boundaries
If you’re going to succeed at working from home, you have to mark out your territory. “People often think because you work from home that you’re available 24/7. They don’t see it as a workplace,” says interior designer and founder of Downie Thomson Interior Design, Jane Thomson.

When she isn’t with clients or busy with projects such as the Network 10 renovation show ‘Changing Rooms’, Thomson works from her Sydney home. Her number one tip? “You’ve got to create definite boundaries.”
Benjamin Moore Spain
Those boundaries help you distinguish between work and home life, but they’re also for the other people in your home. A schedule posted on the wall and other kinds of visual cues can help remind people that you’re at work.

“Pre-teens and teens would understand that when you have a sign on your door handle – or a Post-it Note on your forehead – you’re simply not available,” says Del Popolo. “In our house, our nine- and 11-year-old have visual timers for screen time, so that’s already a familiar system.”
Shannon Malone
Stake a claim
So, what is the best place, given your specific circumstances, to set up camp?

Cosway says a dedicated room where your work doesn’t have to be packed away every night or meal time is best if you can manage it. “If you don’t have that, I’d suggest setting up a temporary spot in a bedroom or second living area or something like that.”

The small nooks in hallways that are common in many new homes are not, however, ideal. “Working from home is not like just quickly paying a bill online, which is what those little stations are set up for,” says Cosway. “You need to sit there comfortably for long periods of time and be in a conducive environment for working.”
Rikki Snyder
But if a shared space is all you have, don’t despair. In these situations, Thomson suggests the best place to set up is in a corner.

“Even if you’ve got a sliding door onto a balcony, usually you have quite a lot of room between that and a coffee table or a sofa,” she says.

Grown-Up Study Nooks (for When a Home Office Isn’t an Option)
3rdSpace
“If you have a wall that’s 1,300 or 1,400 millimetres, or smaller, you can fit something in that,” says Thomson. Use an old console or a small desk and bring it out and decorate it to created your own little space. “Once you do that, you are actually saying ‘this is my area’.”
White Pebble Interiors
Try to get a good view
The kind of lighting in most homes is not going to do you any favours when you’re trying to concentrate for hours at a time.
“Often people are working with a pendant or downlights that create glare,” says Cosway. “If you can, have your desk either looking out the window or where you’ve got really good natural light.”

Her own office was designed to overlook a pond and waterfall, providing both natural light and ambient sound. “It’s nice to be able to look outside,” she says. “A lot of new homes will have the highlight windows, but you just get this cabin fever and an awful feeling in your body because you’re not looking outside. So that’s really important.”
LINEOFFICE Architecture, Inc.
There are only three essentials
It only really takes three pieces of furniture to delineate an office space for most computer- or desk-based jobs. And, while each item has to perform its task well, it doesn’t need to be expensive. But taking into account good ergonomics – as anyone who’s ignored it will tell you – is essential. Cosway says when it comes to office furniture, she’s very much “function over aesthetics”.

Add a Standing Desk and Improve Your Health
White Pebble Interiors
Whether it’s your grandmother’s 18th-century writing desk, a new Ikea console, or a street find such as Cosway’s desk (above), your work surface has to be functional and comfortable. “Having an adjustable-height desk is great. When you’re getting fatigued, you can always stand up,” says Cosway. “But not everyone has one of those, so an adjustable-height chair is really important. You can take the arms off a proper office chair and change the height of them so you can sit for long periods of time at your desk.”

Don’t want to sit up straight all the time? Cosway says it’s important to have another, more relaxed place to lounge. “When I have a call, I’ll go and sit in [my comfortable chair] and not necessarily have to be at my desk.”
Anna Stathaki | Photography
If you’re working from a laptop, Cosway suggests using a separate, larger screen to avoid eye strain, and position it at eye height. “A quick way of doing that is to put a couple of telephone books underneath your computer,” she says. “Most people have it too low and that leads to us slouching over.”
Common Bond Design
Task lighting
Task lighting is also essential when it comes to taking care of your eyesight and ensuring your work is always in the spotlight. And your light source can express your own personal style and help you create a look you love.

“I have the sexiest little blonde-timber-and-white architectural lamp from Kmart,” says Thomson. “It sits on my desk and it cost $12! That bad boy is so gorgeous. It looks like a designer piece.”
Homepolish
Environment is important
The word ‘office’ can conjure up some pretty dire expectations with regards to decor. “A lot of people work in awful environments, so working at home can actually be an advantage in terms of creativity,” says Thomson. “When you have pretty things or objects that are attractive around you, that is more conducive to being productive. Environment is everything.”

“Everybody connects with different things,” says Thomson. “It could be somewhere you want to go for your next holiday. It could be your dream house by that little beach in Noosa. If you pop an image of that on your wall, it’s something that will drive your work and keep you on track.”
White Pebble Interiors
Cosway has her favourite piece of art hanging in her office.
“This is my space – I have artwork in here that my husband doesn’t like. It’s from Amsterdam, where I used to live,” she says.

“You have to claim the space and make it a spot that you really want to be in. That’s why people in their office environment will put photos around. They personalise their space, and that’s why hot desks are so unpopular, because people can’t make it their own. Surround yourself with photos or plants, maybe a bunch of flowers – just some things that make you feel happy.”
Proud House Studio & Co
A special mention about plants
Plants are not just nice to look at – they also have a positive impact on your mental state. A recent study published in the American Society for Horticultural Science showed that even one little plant placed on an employee’s desk had a measurable effect on stress reduction and fatigue.

“Green is such an amazing colour, it’s restorative,” says Thomson. “When we stress, our bodies produce cortisol. That increases adrenaline and you cannot be creative. You can’t be focused. “So if you’re working long hours, just having that plant creates so much happiness. It’s something that creates a calming ambience. And you’ve got to set up your work area as your sanctuary.” Thomson says plants also help combat the isolation that can plague remote workers. “They’re a connection to the external world. So you don’t feel separated from everything else.”

How Do I… Grow Indoor Plants in Low Light?
Gina Sims Designs
Colour
Colour is one of the most satisfying ways to make your mark on a space. So which ones are right for your home office? “I’m a big believer that if you surround yourself with a colour that you love, it’s going to work for you,” says Cosway. “It doesn’t necessarily have to be what everyone else is calmed by. I find greens a lot more calming than blues, but that might be different for someone else.”

Colours can evoke certain states of mind. “Blue is often associated with logic and communication and efficiency,” says Thomson. “Red is really physical. It evokes feelings of ‘I’ve got to get this finished’. Placing something red on your desk jogs your mind. Green evokes harmony and nature. It rests your eyes and allows you to get creative. And orange – that’s an amazing colour. It provides a similar sense to red but it gives you a feeling of comfort. It’s a super happy colour, as is yellow, though yellow can be more emotional.”

If possible, Thomson says, stay away from grey because it can be depressing. “It’s not conducive to creativity. If need be, print out a colour and stick it on your wall, so maybe a plant and something yellow against a grey wall,” she says, offering advice for those who already have this hue in their home.
maja_krajewska
Bonus tips
While there’s a lot that can be done with design, it never hurts to have a few extra tricks up your sleeve when you’re trying to carve out a workspace at home amid the rest of your family:
  • Earbuds or headphones can help signal to others that you’re not available – even if there’s no sound coming out of them. “You’re telling people, ‘I am working’,” says Thomson. “It’s about respect for the fact that you’re at work. And don’t then skive off to do the laundry!”
  • Break it up a little. “I do some of my calls outside,” says Cosway. “When you’re in the office you often go for coffees with people and walk around. That’s gone when you work from home. It’s important not to sit at your desk the entire time, no matter how beautiful it is. You need to get up, walk around. And do your team huddles on video so you can still see people’s emotions and reactions. It’s the next best thing to meeting in person.”
  • Flexibility and managing expectations are key. “Give yourself a break,” says Del Popolo. “Multi-tasking is proven to be less efficient than single focus, but these are the cards we have been dealt during this time. Employers and clients will also need to show flexibility as we are all in it together.”
Luci.D Interiors
Your turn
How have you set up your workspace and is it working well for you? Share your photos and experiences in the Comments below, like this story, save the images for inspiration, and join the conversation.

More
Need more inspiration to set up your space and increase productivity while working from home? Don’t miss 7 Things to Consider if You Find Yourself Working From Home
Print
Embed
Facebook
Twitter
Email
Comments (7)
See 4 more comments
  • sharoncrutt
    9 months ago

    The best advise I gave my daughter when she built her extension was make sure you build into the plans a sensible size utility room and a walk in larder, and include in the utility room a basic 2nd dishwasher and have your hot tap by the sink for coffee and tea making etc in there too. She took my advice and she said the hot tap being away from the main Kitchen is wonderful no messy cups piling up or coffee/tea stains on the beautiful white work top and the overflow d/washer is a godsend all the time all cups go in there.
    Walk in generous larder the envy of all her friends.
    My dauber in-laws has now copied the format and is delighted.
    I have the ideas but not the money to do them!!!

  • PRO
    Thomas Studio
    9 months ago

    One of the best places to avoid disruption during your working day is to move a work table and place it in front of a window that looks out to the street or a garden.

    It means you can refocus your eyes when you look-up from your work desk removing eye strain;

    You can improve general mental wellbeing by viewing nature and others outside;

    You benefit from daylight direct onto your working surface without your own body causing a shadow; and,

    You'll have your back to the room so if you have a busy household during lockdown there will be fewer distractions.

  • hayleycas
    24 days ago

    I began working from home two years ago and began with a little desk at the end of my bed. It wasn’t the ideal location so when I moved house and had a spare bedroom, I instantly turned that into an office. However, that wasn’t working for me either, as it was closed off from the hustle and bustle of the home, and the window looked out onto the road. I now have a corner of my dining room (in an open plan living space) as my home office and it works perfectly for me. I can see nature out of the window, am close to the kitchen for cuppas and still can separate the space off from the rest of the house if I need it.

    My advice would be to try different options if you can. If something isn’t working for you then change it up. Your home workspace should be designed around your needs. And most of all have fun with it. I am surrounded by plants and art all day and it brings me joy in a way a shared office never did.


  • Read Related Stories
    Believe It or Not: Ghostly Home Encounters
    LifestyleBelieve It or Not: Ghostly Home Encounters
    By Joanna Tovia
    Have you ever seen a ghost? Paranormal activity could be more commonplace than we think, as these experiences reveal
    Full Story15
    Teen Spirit: Experts Reveal the 11 Key Elements for a Happy Home
    ArchitectureTeen Spirit: Experts Reveal the 11 Key Elements for a Happy Home
    By Georgia Madden
    Three design experts share some crucial things to consider if you're designing a home that's to be shared with teens
    Full Story16
    We Are Framily: How to Build a Fabulous Friendship Group
    LifestyleWe Are Framily: How to Build a Fabulous Friendship Group
    By Joanna Tovia
    You can't choose your family, but you can choose your framily... here's how to create one of your own
    Full Story6
    Sun Salute: How to Set Up a Morning Yoga Routine
    Eco LivingSun Salute: How to Set Up a Morning Yoga Routine
    By Eva Schafroth
    From motivation to method, here's how to establish a yoga practice to make 2018 the year of flexibility and strength
    Full Story12
    Talking Technology: Should You Get a Home Assistant?
    LifestyleTalking Technology: Should You Get a Home Assistant?
    By Kate Shaw
    Automated home devices such as Google Home are rising in popularity. Could they really change your life?
    Full Story9
    Could You Live Like a Minimalist?
    Eco LivingCould You Live Like a Minimalist?
    By Julia Fairley
    Houzz explores what minimalism really means, and visits three homes that have embraced it in sleek (and rustic) ways
    Full Story23
    Cheatsheet: How to Do a Smart and Cheap Grocery Shop
    Sustainable IdeasCheatsheet: How to Do a Smart and Cheap Grocery Shop
    By Vanessa Walker
    In an extract from 'The $50 Weekly Shop: Weekday Dinners', Jody Allen shares her tips for outsmarting canny retailers
    Full Story14
    The Life-Enriching Benefits of Togetherness
    Healthy HomeThe Life-Enriching Benefits of Togetherness
    By Joanna Tovia
    Give your health and happiness a lifelong boost with closer relationships, connection and community
    Full Story9
    Embracing the Humble and Handmade at Home
    TrendsEmbracing the Humble and Handmade at Home
    By Joanna Tovia
    There's a reason we've fallen head over heels for perfectly imperfect home interiors – it just feels good
    Full Story6
    Finding Peace: A Beginner's Guide to Gardening Mindfulness
    Garden DesignFinding Peace: A Beginner's Guide to Gardening Mindfulness
    By Kate Shaw
    Keen to give mindfulness a go? The perfect place to start might be right outside your door
    Full Story11
    A Caregiver’s Guide to a Supportive Home
    LifestyleA Caregiver’s Guide to a Supportive Home
    By Shana Levy McCracken
    A daughter who’s been there shares 9 tips on tailoring a home for a loved one with dementia
    Full Story267
    Got a Spare 60 Mins? Choose from 3 Satisfying Decluttering Jobs
    DeclutteringGot a Spare 60 Mins? Choose from 3 Satisfying Decluttering Jobs
    By Hannah Young
    Make the most of a spare hour with these simple yet effective decluttering tasks
    Full Story6
    Just Quietly, Here Are 7 Chores You May Be Doing Wrong
    LifestyleJust Quietly, Here Are 7 Chores You May Be Doing Wrong
    By Pauline Morrissey
    In the interest of making life easier, we want to have a quiet word about household chores... and how not to do them
    Full Story67
    The Bare Bones: An Honest Look at Life With a Dog
    PetsThe Bare Bones: An Honest Look at Life With a Dog
    By Liz Durnan
    There's no doubt that a canine companion can improve your life in many ways, but do think before you bring a dog home
    Full Story34
    10 Things You Never Knew You Could Rent in Australia
    Lifestyle10 Things You Never Knew You Could Rent in Australia
    By Georgia Madden
    With the subscription economy in Australia booming, renting is now an option for more than just homes
    Full Story0
    People who liked this story also liked
    Believe It or Not: Ghostly Home Encounters
    Believe It or Not: Ghostly Home EncountersFull Story
    Teen Spirit: Experts Reveal the 11 Key Elements for a Happy Home
    Teen Spirit: Experts Reveal the 11 Key Elements for a Happy HomeFull Story
    We Are Framily: How to Build a Fabulous Friendship Group
    We Are Framily: How to Build a Fabulous Friendship GroupFull Story
    Sun Salute: How to Set Up a Morning Yoga Routine
    Sun Salute: How to Set Up a Morning Yoga RoutineFull Story
    Talking Technology: Should You Get a Home Assistant?
    Talking Technology: Should You Get a Home Assistant?Full Story
    Could You Live Like a Minimalist?
    Could You Live Like a Minimalist?Full Story
    Cheatsheet: How to Do a Smart and Cheap Grocery Shop
    Cheatsheet: How to Do a Smart and Cheap Grocery ShopFull Story
    The Life-Enriching Benefits of Togetherness
    The Life-Enriching Benefits of TogethernessFull Story
    Embracing the Humble and Handmade at Home
    Embracing the Humble and Handmade at HomeFull Story
    Finding Peace: A Beginner's Guide to Gardening Mindfulness
    Finding Peace: A Beginner's Guide to Gardening MindfulnessFull Story
    • Australia
    • ABOUT
    • MOBILE APPS
    • PROFESSIONALS
    • BUTTONS
    • FAQs
    • CAREERS
    • ADVERTISE
    • Terms & Privacy
    • © 2021 Houzz Inc.