A home office has two jobs: help you concentrate, and let you stop. Most fail at the second. These are the principles we use to design workspaces that are calm during the day and disappear in the evening.
Give it a door, or the illusion of one
A sliding screen, a curtain or a bookcase that closes the desk away at night draws a line between work and home. Out of sight really does help it stay out of mind.
Face the light, not the window
Place the desk at right angles to the window so daylight falls across the work rather than into your eyes or onto the screen. Add a warm task lamp for evenings.
Choose a quiet palette
Soft greens, warm whites and pale wood lower the visual noise. Keep strong colour for one object you enjoy looking at, not the wall behind your screen.
Invest in the chair first
An adjustable chair that supports the lower back, a desk at elbow height and a screen at eye level will do more for your day than any decorative choice.
Build storage for everything, then close it
Cables in trays under the desk, papers in drawers, shelves with doors. A clear desk at the end of the day is the most restful thing a workspace can offer.
Soften the sound
A rug, lined curtains, an upholstered chair and full bookshelves absorb echo, so calls sound better and the room feels quieter.
Bring in one living thing
A plant you can see from the desk, a view, a vase of whatever is in season. Something alive in the corner of the eye is quietly restorative.
A serene office is less about the furniture and more about boundaries: light, sound, storage and a way to close the day. We are always happy to help plan one into your home.
