Get your work-life balance right with our guide to creating an office at home.
Finding a working area within your home can pose a challenge, but whether you need a full-time office, hobby workshop or a bill-paying spot, a dedicated space makes life so much easier. If you’re working from home, grand plans include converting a loft, garage or basement room but, on a smaller scale, you might give up a spare bedroom, or create some space in the bedroom, hall or landing.
It’s estimated that one in eight of us works from home on a full or part-time basis. There are many advantages in this – flexible hours, no commute, and more time spent with the family. However, in order to work comfortably and efficiently, it’s important to set aside an area for a home office – the kitchen table simply won’t do. Whether you have a spare room, wasted space that can be put to use, or need to steal part of a bedroom or living room, here’s how to go about it.
Capella coffee table with monitor shelf, drop flap printer space and storage for disks, £89, Littlewoods
Whatever the nature of your work – or even if you just want somewhere for dealing with bills and other household admin, you’re bound to need a desk, chair, and storage, plus a computer and printer. Ideally, you’ll require an area of around 180 x 70cm to work in, plus room for a chair, but space-saving solutions such as corner and hideaway desks make it perfectly possible to do your job in a far smaller space. The one thing you shouldn’t skimp on is a supportive office chair, as you’ll be spending a great deal of time at your desk. It’s also worth installing a separate, business phone line so other family members aren’t disturbed by work calls, and check whether your broadband service can be upgraded for a speedier internet connection.
Urbano office, from £3,000, Neville Johnson
Locating the office in a dedicated room, such as a spare bedroom or attic, gives you the luxury of privacy and being able to shut the door on your work at the end of the day. You won’t have to worry about furniture blending in to an existing scheme, so can take your pick from the wide variety of styles and designs available. For a streamlined look, choose a desk with holes in the top for cables to thread through, and a mix of open bookshelves and cupboards. Position the desk so that direct sunlight doesn’t fall on to the computer screen, leaving at least 70cm of behind the chair so that there’s enough clearance for it.
Acme shelving unit, £635, from John Lewis
If your office doubles as a spare room, consider buying a daybed which can be dressed during the day with cushions as additional seating, or a guest bed which has a standard single and a pull-out second bed stored beneath.
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