Home office design ideas: Create your dream office space

Whether you're turning a whole room in your home into an office or creating a workspace in a section of your living area or bedroom, spend time assessing your available space and your office layout and furniture.

You don’t want to choose furniture that is too large or too small for your space. You need enough room around your desk to be able to move around it comfortably.

Tip: Use masking tape to plan out your furniture layout on the floor. This will help you visualise the space it will take up.

If you can, position your desk near a window to optimise the natural light and fresh air coming in.

Natural light helps reduce eye strain and gives you an energy boost and, when you open a window, you improve your indoor air quality.

If you’re undertaking building work to create your home office, if possible, place your windows opposite each other to allow for cross ventilation. This is where fresh air comes in one window and is pushed out the other. Or, go for two windows stacked above each other, by placing a roof window above a vertical window, for example, to create the chimney effect. Here, fresh air comes in from the lower window and hot air rises and leaves through the upper window.

To minimise the glare from your computer screen, use VELUX translucent pleated blinds to regulate the intensity of natural light in your home office. And, if you spend a lot of time in front of your screen, invest in an anti-glare screen to protect your eyes.

You want to minimise external noise in your home office so that you can focus and join virtual calls without distractions.

If possible, choose a space for your home office away from noisy areas, such as your children’s bedrooms. To absorb noise, use soundproofing materials in your workspace, such as thick carpet, heavy curtains and acoustic panels.

Sound transmission between rooms can also be reduced by opting for solid doors, rather than hollow ones.

If you’re replacing windows or installing new ones, go for double or triple-glazing and install external roller shutters on your roof windows to reduce the noise of rain and hail.

Noise-cancelling headphones or earphones are also a useful investment if your home office is in a busy area, such as a hallway or living room.

The style of your home office can affect your productivity and state of mind. Design an office that inspires you and contributes to your overall wellbeing.

Minimalist home office design focuses on simplicity. Clutter and distractions are kept to a minimum to help you concentrate on your work. Functional furniture and clever hidden storage solutions create a clean and tidy workspace.

Industrial-style decor is characterised by raw materials and neutral colours. It creates an atmosphere of understated style and functionality.

Scandinavian design emphasises functionality, minimalism and the use of natural elements. A Scandinavian-inspired office is warm and welcoming and promotes a peaceful and productive working environment.

Choose furniture that complements the style of your room and provides ergonomic support for long workdays.

Look for an office chair that offers lumbar support, adjustable height and the ability to tilt the backrest for optimal posture throughout your working day. Remember to get up and walk around regularly so that you don’t get stiff.

Your choice of desk is equally important. Your desk should be at the best height for you and provide enough room for your computer, documents and any other tools you need for your work.

Consider a height-adjustable desk that lets you alternate between sitting and standing. An ‘L’ shaped desk, which can be tucked into a corner, increases your work surface without encroaching too much into your room.

Good storage solutions ensure your home office always looks good, and they help you work more efficiently.

Easy to access, wall shelves, filing cabinets and storage boxes keep your workspace tidy and functional because you know where everything is.

Select furniture that can be adjusted to suit your different needs. A desk with retractable extensions, for example, can be expanded for large projects and then collapsed to free up space.

In a small room, choose multi-purpose furniture, such as a table that can serve as a desk and a meeting space. Ottomans with built-in storage provide extra seating and additional space for office supplies.

Install wall shelves for books. Hooks and hanging bins are also useful for items that you want to have easily to hand.

Designing your home office around technology you rely on can increase your productivity and make your office layout more functional.

How productive you are at home depends largely on the technology at your disposal.

You want a powerful computer and a reliable internet connection. A printer and scanner could come in useful too, as will a reliable backup and data security system.

Opt for a good sound system for ambient background noise and a desk light that lets you direct the light to where you want it on overcast days.

A desk cluttered with cables is distracting.

Use a cable management system to keep your desk organised and safe.

Cable grommets, cable storage boxes and cable clips create a tidier office space.

Integrate home automation, such as VELUX ACTIVE with NETATMO, which adjusts your blinds and shutters based on indoor temperature, humidity and CO₂ levels, keeping your home office bright and stimulating all year round.

Top tip: organise your work tools too. Only open apps that you need for the tasks you’re working on, turn off notifications and activate ‘work mode’ on your devices when working.

The colours and decor you choose for your office can affect your mood and concentration.

A well-thought-out colour palette can transform your office space into a peaceful haven of creativity and productivity.

Colours influence your state of mind and energy levels. When it comes to decorating your home office, light, calming shades, such as pastel blue or soft green, help you concentrate and relax.

Dark colours create a more intimate atmosphere and soften the reflection of light on your walls. Black, dark blues and deep greens help create a calm and productive haven.

If you prefer more dynamic decor, opt for pops of bright colours, like yellow or orange, which stimulate creativity.

Choose colours that resonate with you and complement your natural lighting.

Incorporating artwork or photographs that inspire you is a great way to personalise your home office.

Art prints and film posters add a personal touch, while photos from your latest holiday will remind you why you’re working so hard and keep you motivated..

Objects with special meaning, such as travel souvenirs, gifts, family photos or trophies and certificates, are a source of daily inspiration.

When you're working on a big project, create a gallery wall or mood board where you can pin photos, images and quotes that illustrate your dreams and goals.

Add house plants to your home office to bring the outdoors in. These will also improve your air quality and help to alleviate stress.

Philodendron, pothos and ficus are plants that look great and require little maintenance.

Good lighting reduces eye strain, improves mood and increases productivity.

Combine natural light with artificial task and ambient lighting to create an optimal working environment whatever the time of day.

Task lighting highlights the areas where you work the most, like your desk.

If you work on a computer, it's important to reduce the contrast between the brightness of the screen and your desk space. Too much contrast creates eye fatigue.

A desk lamp with adjustable LED lighting can help you focus light where you need it.

Ambient lighting adds soft, indirect light to your office space, helping to eliminate contrast and dark patches.

Floor lamps or wall sconces complement natural light and give an even brightness to your office space.

Searching for a document in a pile of paperwork on your desk is incredibly frustrating. To avoid this, sort your documents and objects regularly, file away important pieces of information and shred and recycle the rest.

Well-organised office supplies and filed documents reduce clutter and free up desk space.

Shelves, pen pots and filing cabinets offer efficient storage solutions and keep your office tidy.

Use desk organisers for small items, such as stationary, and label your files for quick and easy access.

A well designed and functional office boosts your health and well-being.

Your work equipment plays a key role in maintaining your health every day.

Make sure your chair, desk, computer display and other work tools are properly adjusted to support healthy posture.

The height of your chair should allow your feet to rest flat on the floor. The computer screen on your desk should be at eye level to avoid neck strain.

If possible, invest in quality equipment:

• a chair with multiple adjustment settings to fit your body type and support your back
• a sit-stand desk that allows you to change positions
• an anti-glare screen that protects your eyes.

Incorporate regular breaks into your routine to stand, stretch and move around.

The ‘Pomodoro’ method, for example, is a time management technique that advocates a series of 25-minute sessions of focused work followed by a five-minute break. By balancing work and rest, it helps boost concentration and productivity.

It's also a good idea to regularly move between sitting and standing. Practice light stretching exercises too to reduce the risks associated with a sedentary lifestyle.

Create a dedicated space for breaks away from your desk, somewhere you can relax or stretch. This could be a small corner with a comfortable chair for reading or a yoga space.