office
Slide to hide If you’d like the option of hiding the desk area when it’s not in use, this idea could work. The design team at Heartly in Australia have created a workspace for kids next to a blackened oak sliding door. The door can be pulled over to conceal the nook when the adults want to use the dining room as a more formal space. To create a harmonious feel, the designers have once again replicated materials – the desk is made from a leftover piece of marble that was used for the kitchen splashback.
Make a room within a room When true separation is required, glass partitioning can divide without losing openness or light. Here, floor-to-ceiling shelving forms one wall, while the glass doors and side panels ensure that both this and the area beyond benefit from all of the windows. To maximise light, low furniture that sits at or below sill level is a must-have. Opt for window treatments that don’t obscure any of the glass when they’re open or, if you’re not overlooked, take a leaf out of this room’s book and go without.
A small, floating study shelf with drawers provides a spot to catch up on emails and paperwork. The floors throughout the living space, hallway, bedrooms and study are whitewashed timber. “The clients wanted a hard-wearing, light timber floor, which eliminated most native Australian hardwoods commonly used,” says Joel Carr of Fido Projects. “We proposed and installed rock maple, a very hard light timber, in 180mm-wide boards, whitewashed and with a matt finish.”
Rack it up How’s this for a pretty take on a pinboard? You can buy sheets of wire mesh in assorted dimensions online, or at some builders’ merchants and DIY shops. Either leave yours in its galvanised metal state or spray-paint it in the colour of your choice. This relaxing work spot is all about the neutrals, even down to the images held in place by buff coloured pegs. Layer up pale, muted shades when choosing accessories for your own
‘If you’re sitting in the office, you can see the garden whether the doors are open or closed,’ says Lander. ‘You can be part of the ground floor when they’re open, but if you need to take calls, you can just pull them across.’ All the office furniture was built bespoke and includes desktops and shelves in ebony. The chairs continue the orange theme.
Facing inward W guest bed under platform?
Desks can eat up space, so opting for a built-in solution can be a simple way of creating the surface space you need in the most minimal way possible. This desk extends seamlessly from the shelving unit to the wall with no legs required.
Build a floor-to-ceiling wardrobe It may seem counterintuitive to build in a floor-to-ceiling wardrobe in a small bedroom but it works wonderfully well. By keeping the lines of the room clean and simple, space is maximised and the flow of the room creates an illusion of space. Nothing makes a room feel smaller than too much free-standing furniture.
Clear the floor A clear, open floor is a very effective way to visually enhance a space. Having no desk legs is a simple trick that allows the eye to see the full expanse of the room. Wall nooks, meanwhile, do the same favour for the desktop, lifting office paraphernalia out of the way for a clear, wide work space.
For narrow spaces, a console-style desk will take up floor area while making the most of available wall space. With just enough width for a computer, and being long enough for laying out other work, it’s the ideal size and shape for creating an office area in a small room, or even a wide corridor.
Need to keep your home office out of sight (and mind) in the evenings, or when it’s not in use? Why not hide it in a cupboard? This unit blends perfectly into its surroundings when closed, but opens up to reveal a self-contained office area. A folding chair or a stool that can be tucked away under the desk will complete this practical system.
File drawer under bed
Shelve your space You don’t need a huge home – or, indeed, a stand-alone desk – to make space for a little work perch. Tuck a desk-height shelf into dead space, and breathe life into a previously unloved corner.
Drawer desktop
A spare bedroom and office combo is one of the most common setups. It makes a lot of sense. Unless you're constantly playing host to out-of-towners, an uninhabited bedroom can be a great workspace.
Include space for displaying your work. Keep a record of your work and get inspired for further explorations by displaying your art. A long picture rail is wonderful for propping up artwork. A magnetic rail or picture wire is great for quickly clipping up works in progress, along with other bits and bobs of inspiration.
The living room in this studio apartment doubles as a home office. It works because the desk is integrated into its surroundings and sports matching finishes, so you're not immediately aware that you're looking at a desk. (It helps that the top is neat.) The desk chair maintains the illusion, appearing more residential than commercial. Note the use of storage cubes in lieu of a conventional coffee table; they can also double as seating when friends pay a visit.
In a windowless space, getting your lighting right is crucial. A mix of types is ideal. Try combining bright LED task lighting underneath shelving and cabinets with ambient feature lighting within cupboards and overhead spots to prevent dark corners and shadows.
Squeezing in the longest desk possible will mean even a small room can accommodate more than one person. Two workers in a compact space make for a busy atmosphere, though, so keep the room visually quiet with unadorned walls and a simple bank of largely closed storage
Lil paintings above bed
Desk drawers
Thin white cabinets above desks
Desk
Boost your landing OK, so a landing isn’t a room as such, but, in some homes, it’s an existing space that has the potential to give you anything from a home office, as here, to a reading nook, dressing room or play space. Indeed, making use of a decent-sized landing can give you a whole extra, self-contained room.
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