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Gabrielle Fagan shows how to make your office suit your taste and needs
"olidays leave many of us yearning not to return to the .office, and in-
creasingly, we’re taking the
® option notto. Recent research reveals
the proportion of people working from home has reached a record high -13.9% of employees, according to the Office for National Sta tistics. What’s more, 70% of
^"home renovation plans now include space for a study, further demonstration of
a the fact that a home office or work space is a core room in today’s homes. The trend may also reflect
a growing desire to escape the world of bland, char acterless public offices, in favour of private areas per sonally tailored to our taste and needs. Soifyouwantsome-
’ ^ where simply to deal with bills and household manage-'
® ment,aretreatwhereyou can pursue a hobby, a study which doubles as a children’s homework area, or a serious state-of-the-art workzone,
Ofy- FACT:
check out these four winning looks...
. . .
HOBBY HAVEN Areas where you indulge a • passion should be personal sanctuaries, where the col our scheme and kit appeals to both your head and your • heart, and encourages crea tivity. “The last thingyou need
is clutter if you’re setting up a hobby area. If time is limited, you don’t want to waste pre cious minutes collecting ma terials or clearing a space,” says Amanda Watson, head of design for fitted furniture specialists Betta Living. • “Built-in cupboards max
imise every square inch of the room, and with every thing neatly stowed away at the end of the day, you won’t be reminded of work or tasks left unfinished while you’re trying to relax. That’s espe cially important if the area’s sited in a bedroom or living
room.” WORK WISE: Shelves
built around a doorframe utilise commonly wasted
wall space. Choose: a colour scheme carefully, especially
■m
S e v e n o u t o i l O , b u y e r s n e w s p a p e r t o
on the wall you face as you sit at a desk, because colours affect mood; blue calms and red stimulates, for example.
_______ 11___ r____ ........ STUDY IN VINTAGE
Decor divas know mid-cen tury modem furniture is bang on trend, and designer pieces from a more relaxed era could conjure calm and
tranquillity. “People often presume
functionality is the most important aspect of a home office, but a primary con sideration for me is comfort - being comfortable and re laxed in a workspace is para mount to'beingproductive,” says Jamie Graham, manag ing and creative director at Graham & Green. “So the ingredients for my
home office recipe are sim plistic style and design clas sics, such as those from the Fifties and Sixties. A func tional, sleek chair teamed with a solid but beautiful desk is the best foundation. “I like a business-like in
terpretation - with essentials such as a clock and wire desk baskets - but that doesn’t mean boring. Basic kit sits.
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alongside quirky framed posters found on buying trips abroad, and favourite family photos.” WORKWISE: Experi
ment before making a final decision on exactly where you site yourself within the home, to ensure the spot is exactly right. Adequate stor age for paperwork and equip ment is essential; a ‘clear desk’ policy’s as important for efficiency at home as it is in the office.
MADETOMEASURE
If you have the space and budget, release your inner execdtive and create a tai lored space, proclaiming your status with bespoke, luxury fittings.
• - “Having a dedicated room, or investing in bespoke fur niture, ensures a space not only truly works but will be an infinitely more appealing environment than a soul less public workplace,” says Simon Meyrick, designer for bespoke furniture special: ists, Neville Johnson. “By mixing painted doors,
drawers and shelving with a wide selection of veneers,
olglnQs and plass finishes., a home office will have a modern cutting-edge look. In space-starved homes, we maximise storage by utilis ing sloping ceiling areas or
oss an glass inis
awkward corners like under st ai r s ” WORK WISE: Architects
recommend a ‘work space’ area should be at least lofty by 10ft, with items used on a daily basis within an arm’s reach of the desk seating
. position. Aweli-planned area gives a first impression of organisation and profes sionalism, vital if you hos business meetings at home.
FACTORYSPACE
Functional furniture suits a ‘work’ area ro bust enough to endure the rough and tumble of family fife, and is also appropriate for a fashionably rugged con temporary setting, with exposed brick work and wood floors. “Ifyou’re
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AcuteBunny Scissors . And Clips DeskTidy, . . £22,Maiden
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