This article was updated April 2023

If you’re tempted to get stuck into a home office makeover, we’ve got some practical ideas for you. There are so many ways to inject personality into any type of work zone, whether that’s a work-from-home space the whole family will use or an office to suit the hybrid working professional. If you’re ready to take your home office design from drab to fab, read on… 

A Creative Workspace 

Home office design for creative spaces should blend personality with the practical to help inspire and get you into a flow state.

Ideas come from everywhere, but they need a place where they can be distilled. Whether you’re a graphic designer bringing websites to life or a copywriter working on the next hit Australian television series, you need a work zone that’s more than an office. It should be a space that’s brimming with inspiration. Somewhere you can stare at the ceiling, play music loudly and get into a flow state without fear of interruption. At the very least it needs to be a room with a door, although a shed in the backyard could also do the trick, too.

Ergonomics is just as important for artists as businesspeople, so invest in a quality office chair and consider a standing desk. Add drawers and other storage solutions to your space to avoid clutter. You might have a bigger stash of supplies in the cupboard, but be generous with storage for pens, markers, paints, paper, brushes and notebooks on your desk so materials are close at hand when inspiration strikes. Add cork boards to the walls to which you can attach half-formed ideas, postcards from afar and images you connect with.

HOT TIP: Use stretched canvases to paint your own artworks and add even more inspiration to your work-from-home space.

What To Try

SEE ALSO: How I Work: My Home Office Setup

Create a Teen Retreat

Consider ergonomics and storage solutions to create a clutter-free and comfortable study nook for hardworking teens.

Ensuring your teen has a study space that’s peaceful is essential, particularly during busy exam periods. One of the best places to set up a quiet zone for them is in a corner of their bedroom. 

Begin by clearing a space big enough for a desk, chair and some storage so they can keep it tidy (or at least attempt to). Then explore how they envision the space. Ask about the sort of furniture they’d prefer and if they’ve got any trinkets or posters they’d like to include in the design. Choose a chair that can be easily adjusted as they grow and that will maximise comfort while they work, plus a compact desk that slots in with other furniture your teen might have in their room.

Shelves aren’t just for books. They can hold plants, photos and a clock, while a small drawer set gives them somewhere to stash notes and handouts. Save space on the desk by adding a magazine holder or two. They make finding everything far easier than stacking books and notes in piles. When exams roll around, so too do late nights spent studying. Make sure they have ample light by adding a desk lamp to the setup. 

For a teen interested in music, a vinyl record (attached to the wall with 3M Command Strips) and space for their guitar adds a personal touch. The final addition to their study setup should be a light yet sturdy backpack. Make sure all their books and laptop fit, and give it a dedicated space for when it’s back in the room. Not only does it save clutter in your home’s main living areas, but it means anything in the bag is easily accessible when homework is being done and there’ll be no “Has anyone seen my school bag?” in the morning.

HOT TIP: Let teens express their individuality. They could choose artworks and ornaments for small shelves that can be easily updated as they get older.

What To Try

SEE ALSO: Smart Home Products for an Effective Home Office

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A Professional Home Office

Office furniture and storage solutions for your home office setup can be fabulous as well as functional.

With flexible working on the rise, it’s time to ditch the dining table for a dedicated office space. 

Your home office should be comfortable, functional and speak to your sense of style. Add personality by hanging your favourite prints, displaying flowers or lighting a scented candle. These days, even the most basic of office furniture, including ergonomic chairs, is available in a variety of materials and colours to suit any room, while also providing shoulder and arm support.

While personality is important, so is practicality – and that means storage. Stow away pens and other office paraphernalia in small drawer sets that will keep your desk clear and your mind focused. 

Need to accommodate two people in a home office space? Simply place another desk as far from the first as possible, either on opposite walls or at right angles, and invest in noise-cancelling headphones. The most important piece of equipment for hybrid working, however, is a laptop. It will allow you to easily switch between your home office and your workplace’s central hub, or to take work with you to meet clients.

HOT TIP: Don’t skimp on larger office storage solutions, such as a decent filing cabinet, because you’ll want to keep private documents and work files separate.

What To Try

SEE ALSO: How to Switch Off from Work When Working from Home

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Save Space With a Study Nook

It’s used for kids’ homework, keeping track of the household accounts and work-from-home days. Not every family has the luxury of an extra room for a home office, but with more of us in hybrid work arrangements, it’s become almost essential that every home has a space where business can be conducted. If you’ve decided a study nook is for you, this prime piece of residential real estate needs careful planning.

If you have a few square metres of space – in a dining room, near the kitchen, beneath the stairs – it’s possible to create a study space that works for your needs. It’s a question of considering its main use and making that the priority. Situating it near the kitchen is good if the kids like to take it over; somewhere away from high-traffic areas is better if an adult needs to make important calls. Wherever you end up setting up your nook, consider using a sit-stand desk – the easily adjustable height means it’s practical for the whole family

When setting up the space, consider how easy it is to hide or alter it. Choosing neutral pieces of furniture or ones that can be easily moved to another room is important, as is being able to clear the desktop with ease. You’ll still need office and study equipment, so choose storage solutions that keep things close but can be stashed in a cupboard if necessary. Otherwise look for office furniture that has built-in storage, which keeps things streamlined in a small space. Decorative touches, such as the assortment of plants in our example, help to blend this area with the rest of the room.

HOT TIP: Adding a simple wall decoration, like this oversized teal dot, is a visual cue signifying this space has a separate function to the remainder of the room.

What To Try

SEE ALSO: How to Declutter Your Home Office