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New research from office furniture experts, Slouch, shows a quarter of Brits are working from their kitchen tables, with 23% admitting they work from their sofa while working from home
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Matt Ousby, Innovation Director at Slouch has shared simple steps to help you set up a dedicated workspace from home – including how to match it to your decor
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Plus, they’ve partnered with Lyz Igwe, interior and lighting expert from Dowsing & Reynolds who shares how design choices can impact productivity
A home office is great if you have the space – but what if you don’t?
If you live in a flat or shared house, setting up a dedicated work space could be tricky. And, if you’re limited on space, your bedroom or living room could be the place for it – but how do you avoid your WFH space being an eyesore?
Below, Matt Ousby, Innovation Director at Slouch shares his advice on setting up a home office in small spaces and Lyz Igwe from Dowsing & Reynolds shares how lighting and paint choices can impact productivity…
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Make the most of small nooks
Matt says: “If you’re limited on space, utilising small nooks in your home can be a great way to find space for a WFH setup.
“For example, utilise landing space, alcoves or under stair space. Tucked away, this will help to maximise your floor space while also feeling like you have a dedicated corner for work.
“To create the perfect nook, consider painting the corner in a contrasting shade to the rest of your walls to make a statement. Alternatively, add prints to the wall to add character to the space. Add a table lamp to ensure you have enough lighting for the space.”
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Blend office design with your home decor
“If the best spot for your home office is in your living room or bedroom, consider how you can blend the two together, to avoid your work setup looking out of place.
“To do this, choose an office chair in a complementing shade to the rest of your living room decor, to help tie the room together.
“Choosing muted tones such as blue and pink can help to soften a functional space.”
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Choose colours that promote productivity
Lyz says: “Paint is not only key for creating a design feature and tying the space together visually, but can also help to promote productivity too – if the right choices are made.
“To promote productivity, choose shades in grounding greens or blues, which both evoke calmness.
“Consider plums or sophisticated navy to create a bold backdrop.”
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Play with technique to create an illusion of a bigger space
Lyz says: “Consider colour drenching the space by painting your ceiling the same colour as the walls to help blend the space, creating a cocooning effect.
“This technique is an emerging trend for small spaces and helps to create the illusion of a bigger space.
“If your home office corner is positioned in a room with an open layout, use paint, wallpaper or wall panelling to zone the space to differentiate the spaces while creating a modern look and feel.”
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Don’t forget about lighting choices
Lyz goes on to suggest: “Lighting is key for task areas such as a desk, helping the space be functional.
“A desk lamp is brilliant for this but if you’re short on desk space, use wall-mounted spotlights instead to ensure your desk is well lit.”
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Make the most of vertical space
Matt advises: “To maximise on floor space, don’t forget to look up and make the most of vertical space.
“Leaning desks with shelving are a great option for this. Alternatively, install shelving above your desk space to double up as both storage and a design feature.
“Add stress-busting greenery to your shelves along with hanging plants, decorative pieces and leaning mirrors to add light into the space.”
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Make sure you measure
“We always recommend measuring your space before committing to an office desk and chair, but if you have a small space this is especially key.
“Small spaces don’t want to appear overcrowded, so make sure your chair can comfortably slot under your desk, to avoid it sticking out and becoming an obstacle in your space.”
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Don’t forget classic ways to make a small space feel bigger
While you’re decorating a home office, don’t forget easy ways to make a small room feel bigger.
Matt adds: “Hang ceiling-to-floor curtains to create the illusion of a bigger space. Adding textures and soft furnishings into your office space will also help to make the space feel more cosy and welcoming, helping to blur the lines between your home decor and workplace setup.”
To find the perfect fabric for your office chair to suit your home office space, request a sample from Slouch: https://slouchonline.com/order-fabric-samples/