How to design the perfect home office
You asked…we answered! We get a lot of feedback from our followers and customers asking for advice on how to create the best possible work space in their garden room, so we teamed up with the super talented team at Natalie Holden Interiors to bring you a step by step guide…
The team at Natalie Holden Interiors work on a variety of different projects across Manchester, Liverpool and Cheshire for both luxury residential and commercial clients, specialising in designing authentic spaces which reflect their client’s personalities.
With so many of us having done some form of working from home over the last year, this has brought into sharp focus how we make use of our homes.
With remote working and zoom meetings now becoming the norm it is vitally important for many people to be able to maintain the same level of productivity that they would if we were in the office. The best way to do this is to use a separate room for working. This makes sure that we’re able to switch off the computer and shut the door at the end of the working day, which promotes healthy wellbeing and an effective work-life balance. But this wasn't an available option for everybody last year.
If your dining table doubled up as your desk last year, then investing in a dedicated office space may be a solution for you. But rather than jumping straight into extension research, have you thought about a garden room office? A separate garden room offers a flexible, multifunctional solution if you’re struggling for space within your four walls. Unlike a typical extension, a garden room is the epitome of bringing the outside, in, and delivering sustainability-focused, nature-inspired spaces is what we specialise in. To top it off, the process is straight forward and it has the potential to add significant value to any property.
Here we’re going to walk you through some of our top tips to design your dream office.
The team at Natalie Holden Interiors create beautiful and inspiring mood boards for their clients as part of the design process.
Where to start when designing the perfect home office
Consider how you will use your space.
We already know that work is the main focus, but think about how you work. How much desk space do you require? Do you need a lot of shelving for files? Do you need to factor in space for a printer? Start thinking early on about your storage requirements, and consider going for multifunctional items which can be easily moved.
2. The appropriate office furniture is key.
Invest in a desk chair with lumbar support to ensure that you are keeping your body fit and healthy whilst you’re working.
3. Remember, home offices should be inspiring!
Make sure that you have visual stimuli throughout your space to keep you motivated. On our example design concept, we’ve specified for a floor to ceiling cork board to act as an inspiration board, but using colour on the walls could be used to brighten a space too.
4. Bring the outside inside.
We’ve all heard by now the benefits of nature-inspired design, or biophilia. An easy way to inject some life into a home office is through houseplants – they have air purification properties, are proven to improve our mood and decrease stress, and they come in all shapes and sizes too!
5. Focus on lighting.
Lighting design is key for a home office space to avoid eye strain. Natural lighting is preferable (which is why a perfectly placed garden room could be ideal), but if this isn’t possible then the best alternative would be to install lighting with the correct lux levels and lighting temperature for the appropriate tasks that are taking place in the space.
6. Window treatments can make all the difference.
Choosing appropriate window treatments are really important so you can control glare from the sun and stop your equipment from overheating. There are so many different types of blinds available on the market; from venetian blinds, to vision or roller blinds, right through to automated and motorised systems! If you do opt for motorised blinds these needs to be planned in early on in your project to ensure the correct electrical supply and positioning is considered.
7. If you want an amazing result…bring in the professionals!
Many people aren’t sure what to expect when bringing in an interior designer. We’re there to help guide you through the renovation project. Like an architect, surveyor and builder, we have our own areas of expertise. We know how best to maximise your space, whilst effectively remaining within your desired budget, and we act as the middleman between you and other contractors. Through the process we’ll meet with you to get to know your requirements, your style and budget - the design process is an entirely personal experience. Using your room measurements and drawings we’ll then work towards compiling a design concept and specification. We see your project through from start to finish taking on all the stress and hassle.
Here are our two golden rules for any home improvement project:
1) Bring your interior designer into the project early to avoid making any costly mistakes.
2) Have a clear budget in mind. To help with budget planning we offer a free budget guide. To get your hands on a copy, just sign up to our newsletter over on our website.
For more information on what we offer, check out our services page over on the website.
Next Steps
If this guide has inspired you to embark on a home office renovation project this year, you can contact the Natalie Holden Interiors team today to book your free consultation and discuss how they can help. You can also see more of their work over on their portfolio page in the meantime.
Don’t forget to give Natalie Holden Interiors a follow over on their social media channels to keep up to date with what we’re getting up to behind the scenes. Find them on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.
For Baltic Bespoke customers, if you wish to add these additional specialist Interior Design services to your build, let us know at the very beginning and we can team up with our friends at Natalie Holden Interiors to create your dream space.