Nailing that home office design is so important, especially when many of us working are working on a more hybrid home office/work office basis. So how do you create a space that ensures a productive atmosphere no matter what size space you are dealing with?

Start by thinking about the purpose of your home office. If you’ll be working in there on a daily basis, creating a different feel from the rest of your rooms may help you to focus, while a room that’s part home office, part homework study, part home admin center might look better decorated to match the rest of your home – especially if it’s part of an open plan scheme.

Whether it’s a dedicated room, a built-for-purpose garden room, or a small study space with big ambition, here’s some home office tips:

LOCATION LOCATION LOCATION

The first – and probably the most important – thing to think about when designing a home office is where your home office ought to be located. Consider your working style and the nature of your work, as well the needs of the people you live with.

WHAT DO YOU NEED IN YOUR HOME OFFICE?

When designing a home office ask yourself a series of questions to establish what is needed in your work area:

– How much desktop space do you require?

– What storage do you need?

– What are your printing requirements?

– Is it important for you to have peace and quiet; to be insulated from noise and disruption within the home?

– How much of your time is spent on the phone and, while on the phone, do you use other equipment?

– Do you require access to a library of books, or samples?

– Are you untidy, and must your clutter be left untouched by other people in the house?

– Do you often need to access files? Would these work better for you as lever arch files on a shelf or drop-in files in a desk drawer, or are there so many that they would work better on your wall?

THINK ABOUT TECHNOLOGY

If your desk is in the middle of the room, you need to plan the safest way to run cables to a power point – flexible plastic trunking is the best option. Buy a power pack for charging your home office tech, which can be positioned under the desk. Top up your smartphone with a dual-purpose desk lamp that allows wireless charging.

With bespoke units, you can specify how many power points you want and where cables need to go, so ensure you factor in lighting, computers, printer, TV, music system and charging points. You may also want a mini-fridge and tea/coffee making facilities, too.

INVEST IN THE BEST DESK YOU CAN AFFORD

Choosing the best desk for your home office will involve considering how much space you have available in the room. The desktop needs to be big enough to accommodate your laptop or computer, while giving you space to take notes or sort files.

COMPREHENSIVE OFFICE STORAGE

Clutter is at its most distracting in the home office area, and you will want to make sure that the space is as tidy as possible, with all important paperwork easily accessible. Choose home office storage, such as shelving and smaller home office storage accessories that are functional and stylish and will encourage you to keep everything where it should be.

Work with Closets Unlimited to design the custom workspace of your dreams, from built-in systems to cabinets, we create storage solutions that are both functional and stylish.