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Home Office Heaven
The Times, 3rd October, 2007.
Unleash your inner decorating diva and transform your claustrophobic cubbyhole into a practical but pretty workspace...
It is simple to transform a cramped, cluttered and claustrophobic cubbyhole into a practical but pretty workspace provided you are sensible. "Go for simple colours or even acrylic, which is huge this season," suggests Karen Howes, the managing director of the interior design company Taylor Howes Designs. "Paint everything in a soothing putty colour and add a few colourful, funky desk accessories. Choose a desk chair that can double up as a dining-room chair; M&S has some great furniture that is reasonably priced and the new Poliform Strip chair comes with different coloured cushions and is right on target for this year's retro chic."
Lindsey Peters, a diet and fitness instructor, runs a Rosemary Conley franchise from her double-duty lounge in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire. She explains how she avoided traditional "office-looking" furniture by integrating her workspace with her home decor.
"The nerve-centre of my work is my lounge; an L-shaped space which has an alcove to accommodate my desk, computer, printer and filing system," Peters says. "I've adapted my fixtures and fittings so that the office blends with my room decor and doesn't look out of place. I've added homely touches, but have been careful not to overdo the "home" in home office."
Susan Edwards runs Magnum PA, a concierge and secretarial service based in Morpeth, Northumberland. She has converted a bedroom in her terraced house into a no-frills home office by using existing furniture.
She says: "I've used a cupboard stolen from our dining room, a set of drawers that my parents received as a wedding present and an IKEA desk which doubles as a computer table. It's comfortable, well-lit and the perfect set-up - just as long as we don't have guests to stay!"
Quick design tips
Chair: Invest in the best ergonomically-designed chair you can afford. The trick is to be able to turn full circle without hitting anything.
Desk: "When buying a desk, consider if you need it to be heightadjustable. It should also have cable management and metal drawer runners for durability," says Mark Craigie, the head of regional marketing at Staples.
Colour: Pastel blue and neutrals are calming choices; stay away from bright whites and yellows.
Storage space: "Don't skimp," says Alan Bora, the sales manager at the furniture designers Neville Johnson. "Consider angled cupboards that make the most of any space and ensure that there is adequate working space either side of you."
View the article on the newspaper's website
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