How to Create a Beautiful Office at Home

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26 Jun

Written By LBM

Working from home is a joy. Overall I don’t have many complaints; it is so lovely to be able to wake up in the morning and just potter to my office – I don’t often miss the hours on a hot stuffy train or bus to and from work, but I do from time to time pine a little bit for my morning routine from that life.

I used to love the feeling of rushing out the door (usually a few minutes late) grabbing a coffee on the way to the bus stop and if there were blue skies, walking as far as I could before jumping on the bus for the last part of the journey.

Most days I would really enjoy the bus commute (except those days when traffic was hell, making me even later!). Sitting on the top deck, watching the world go by and admiring the lovely displays in the shop windows, whilst browsing through the morning news online, it was usually quite a gentle start to the day.

Now that I am based at home, all of that is a thing of the past. One of the biggest challenges when working from home can be managing your time effectively –household chores often get in the way (washing, cleaning, washing up, walking the dog, there is always a long list of things to do). In order to overcome this and try to make the most of your working day it is key to create a calm, cool and inviting office space.

We have recently moved into our new house in Dorset – we have fully renovated the whole house and it’s been chaos! One of the last spaces to get sorted has been my office, but I am thrilled to say that I am finally there and can already feel my productivity and efficiency improving now that it is unpacked and tidy.

Here are my top tips for creating a beautiful space that you love working in at home.

Keep it tidy

First things first keep things organised and tidy – when I chose my new desk, I went for one with lots of drawers. My old desk only had one and this was a nightmare – much better to keep all that filing (that you will get round to doing soon!) hidden away so you have a calm, clear desktop. I also love to use trays to keep bits and bobs more organised in, like this lovely brass tray.

Details

Think about the details – it’s your space to make it pretty as well as functional. I love having a candle burning on my desk – I find it calming and a bit of an indulgence. I also need to have a lamp for when I am stuck at my desk late into the evening. I wanted to have something stylish as well as functional and was thrilled when I found this beautiful, curved brass one that ties in perfectly with the brass frames and mirrors on my wall.

Stationery

Finally, choose your stationery well. Since I was a little girl I’ve had a mini obsession with stationery – these beautiful feather note cards and journals add pretty to my desk and having them so close to hand means I’m much more likely to use them.

This post was created in collaboration with Laura Ashley.
Photography by Patrick Butler-Madden.