Designing a home office has become a regular request in my practice. Whether you’re running a business, managing a remote job, or simply need a dedicated space for focus and creativity, the question remains: how do you create a home office that is both functional and inspiring? Clients often come to me overwhelmed by choice—unsure where to place their desk, how to manage clutter, or how to make a work zone feel distinct without compromising the elegance of their home. The shift towards hybrid living and working, means the need for thoughtful, tailored design has never been greater.
After 20 years of designing homes that balance beauty and practicality, I’ve come to understand that a home office isn’t just about fitting in a desk and chair. It’s about supporting your mindset and daily rhythm. The right design choices can influence everything—from your productivity to your wellbeing. That might mean carving out a quiet nook in a busy household, repurposing a spare room to support dual functions, or investing in bespoke solutions that honour both your work and your aesthetic.
In this article, I’ll walk you through the design strategies I use with clients—whether they’re transforming an entire room into a dedicated office or adapting a corner of an existing space. We’ll look at light, comfort, storage, zoning, and the subtle cues that help separate work from rest. Above all, I hope to show you that your home office can be more than a compromise—it can be a space of clarity, focus, and personal expression.
1. Big Picture Design Considerations
Maximise Natural Light
Natural light is the designer’s secret weapon, uplifting, energising, and essential for prolonged focus. Ideally, a dedicated home office should be placed in a room with ample daylight. Natural light is proven to improve mood and productivity, and it helps reduce eye strain during long working hours. I always recommend positioning your desk near large windows or incorporating glass doors and reflective surfaces to harness every available ray. If your space is low on sunlight, don’t worry—clever lighting can completely transform the atmosphere. Task lights for clarity, ambient lighting for mood, and a statement piece like a sculptural pendant or brass wall sconce can add both function and flair.
Invest in Ergonomic Furniture
Comfort isn’t a luxury; it’s a necessity. I’ve worked with countless clients who didn’t realise how profoundly a well-designed chair or desk could improve their day until they made the change. Your desk should suit your working style and proportions. Whether it’s a sit-stand model for flexibility or a timeless timber design built just for you, ergonomic furniture is where style and support meet. I often commission custom pieces tailored to your posture and preferences, because productivity begins with comfort.
Create Defined Zones for Functionality
A well-planned home office isn’t just a desk in a room—it’s a series of intentional spaces. One for deep focus. One for thinking aloud, journaling, or reading. One for stepping away, even briefly, to reset. I like to include a soft armchair and side lamp in a quiet corner—your personal thinking spot. These subtle distinctions create rhythm in your workday and help maintain energy , focus and creativity throughout your day.
Tailored Storage Solutions:
Clutter kills clarity. That’s why I design storage that works hard and looks beautiful. Built-in cabinetry, wall-hung shelving, or a bespoke credenza can tuck away papers, cables, and equipment while keeping your space visually serene. The goal is not just order—but peace of mind. A well-organised space quietly supports your best work.
Make it Personal
This is the space where your best ideas will come to life—so let it reflect you. Whether your style is minimalist, richly layered, or bold and modern, I love incorporating design elements that spark joy and creativity. A favourite art piece, a meaningful object, or a carefully chosen palette can make the difference between a space you use—and one you love.
When Space Is Tight, Design Smarter
Don’t let limited square footage discourage you—a thoughtfully designed home office can thrive in even the most compact of spaces. Over the years, I’ve transformed modest rooms and awkward corners into high-functioning work environments, including a full trading desk setup in a former bathroom barely wide enough to stretch your arms. The key is to maximise every detail. We’ve installed sleek Velux windows to bring in uplifting daylight, layered smart task lighting for precision, and carefully curated the background to ensure video calls look as professional as they feel. A beautiful bookshelf, an artful wall, or an energising color palette can become your virtual handshake. With the right design touches, small spaces can deliver big performance.
2. Repurposing a Room
Not every home comes with a spare room waiting to become an office—and that’s perfectly fine. Some of the most inspired workspaces I’ve designed were born from reimagining a room with an entirely different purpose. If you’ve ever looked at a guest bedroom, a quiet corner of the living room, or even a forgotten attic and wondered “Could this work?”—the answer is yes, with the right approach.
Start by Reading the Room
Before you move a single piece of furniture, take a moment to really see the space. What kind of light does it receive during the day? Are there architectural quirks—like sloping ceilings or deep alcoves—that could become features rather than limitations? I once transformed a spare bedroom with a bay window into a luminous, dual-purpose study that now functions as both a writing retreat and a guest haven. A few clever moves—like a floating desk and a built-in Murphy bed—can change everything.
Spare bedrooms: Often an ideal choice, spare bedrooms typically provide sufficient space and privacy. To ensure the room transitions seamlessly from its former use, consider dual-purpose furniture, such as a daybed that doubles as seating or a wall-mounted Murphy bed that frees up floor space.
Living room corners: If your home office must share space with a living area, demarcate the workspace with thoughtful design elements. Use area rugs, shelving units, or even a folding screen to create visual separation without overwhelming the room.
Attics and Lofts: These spaces can feel tucked away and private, making them great candidates for a home office. However, sloping ceilings or low lighting may require creative solutions, such as installing skylights or utilising custom-built furniture to fit unconventional angles. Also consider that top floors will get very hot in summer so ideally install airconditioning right away.
Merge Style with Practicality
One of the key challenges is maintaining visual harmony. Your workspace should blend seamlessly with the room’s existing personality. Think colour continuity, elegant concealment (like a cabinet that hides your printer), and materials that echo the rest of your home. In the featured project, we paired a masculine, mid-century colour palette with bespoke oak shelves and concealed storage—instantly making the office feel intentional, not improvised.
Privacy and Peace, Creatively Achieved
If the room sits in a high-traffic part of the house—or doubles as a social zone—you’ll need to carve out both focus and calm. Acoustic panels can be cleverly disguised as art. Floor-to-ceiling curtains, even if purely decorative, soften sound and define the space. In several projects I designed floor to ceiling shelving which acts as a room divider and carves out either cozy seating nooks or functional workstations. It’s these subtle layers that allow your workspace to feel like your own, even when shared.
3. Maximise Functionality in a Multi-Purpose Space
When a room must serve more than one role, intelligent design becomes essential. Many of my clients face this challenge—an office that shares space with a guest bedroom, a library that doubles as a working hub, or a quiet study corner within a family living area. The key lies in crafting a space that feels effortless, elegant, and entirely intentional—never like an afterthought.
Smart Storage, Beautifully Concealed
In a multi-functional room, storage must walk a fine line between practicality and discretion. Custom-built joinery, finished in the same tones as the room’s palette, allows for seamless integration. I often design floor-to-ceiling cabinetry with concealed compartments—elegant enough to enhance the room, yet fully capable of hiding laptops, files, and even printers. When shelves are open, they’re styled with books, ceramics, and collected objects that elevate the space visually. We use clever doors and pull out trays to enhance functionality: sliding panels, bifold and pocket doors and extending desks.
Flexible Furnishings, Refined Execution
Bespoke furniture allows you true flexibility without compromise. A custom writing table with good drawers to store away your work , doubles as a console and contains a flip up mirror functions as a vanity, or a sculptural side chair upholstered in plush fabric, can perform multiple roles from office to guest suite while enhancing the room’s sophistication. We designed a refined daybed with concealed drawers, allowing the room to shift from executive workspace to elegant guest suite. My furniture designs allow you to transform rooms with ease, preserving their multi-functional nature. Modular furniture provides adaptability, enabling you to rearrange the space for different needs, whether you’re working on a major project or hosting a guest. Create shallow wardrobes with back to front rails for just a few pieces and decorate them with mirror, leather or fabric for a luxurious finish.
Blend the design with the room’s aesthetic: When adding an office to an existing room, ensure the workspace complements the existing decor rather than clashing with it. But you still want to achieve distinction. This helps the home office station feel integrated and natural within the home’s overall design. Consider a consistent colour palette, extend the room’s existing colour scheme into your office setup. Use complementary tones for desks, chairs, and shelving to create a cohesive look. Consider the timber, metal and fabrics in all areas of a multi purpose space. Use a leather chair for the desk and chunky textured upholstery for other seating areas. Contrast painted surfaces with veneer.
Disguised Workspaces: Choose furniture that blends into the room’s style when not in use. For example, a minimalist desk with clean lines could double as a console table, or an office chair in luxurious fabric could enhance the room’s decor.
Curate the View: In an era of video meetings, the backdrop behind you has become part of your professional signature. A considered composition—perhaps a shelf with books, sculptural objects, or curated artwork can elevate both your screen presence and your own sense of calm while working. Soft ambient lighting or a discreet floor lamp completes the scene with grace.
4. Enhance Privacy and Minimise Distractions
In any home—especially those with open layouts or lively households—creating a calm, private workspace can feel elusive. But I’ve learned over the years that serenity doesn’t require isolation; it requires intention. With thoughtful design, even a room that sees daily life unfold can offer a sanctuary for focus and clarity.
Sound Matters
The first step is often acoustics. Many clients underestimate how significantly sound affects their concentration. To soften ambient noise, I frequently layer in tactile elements: thick rugs underfoot, floor-length curtains, upholstered furniture, and even acoustic panels disguised as textured artwork. In one city apartment, we replaced hollow-core doors with bespoke solid oak—instantly reducing noise while adding warmth and presence to the room.
Visual Boundaries Without Bulk
A sense of privacy isn’t always about walls. Sometimes, it’s about creating gentle visual cues that define your zone. Freestanding bookshelves, tall plants, or elegantly crafted screens in natural timber or fabric can offer both enclosure and aesthetic continuity. In one terraced home with a generous landing we built a beautiful sleek crittal frosted glass divider which hides the home office but is not shut away entirely. In homes with glass doors I have added frosted film or sheer linen drapery which is abeautiful tactile addition and strikes a balance between openness and discretion.
Placement Is Power
Where you position your desk has a profound impact on your experience. I often advise clients to face a wall, window, or artwork—never a busy hallway or a television. It’s a subtle shift that instantly enhances focus. In a recent heritage home, we placed the desk just inside an arched alcove, framing the view ahead and shielding it from the activity behind—quiet elegance with spatial intention.
A Calm Mind Begins With a Calm Room
Ultimately, your home office should feel like a space that holds you, protects your time, and respects your energy. Privacy and peace aren’t luxuries—they’re the foundations of doing your best work. With the right layers and layout, even the busiest home can offer a corner of stillness, tailored just for you.
Designing a home office isn’t just about where you work; it’s an extension of how you think, create, and live, it’s about creating a space that works for you. It’s your productivity hub, your idea incubator, and over the past two decades, I’ve seen how thoughtful design—anchored in quality, beauty, and intention—can transform not just how a space looks, but how it feels to inhabit. When your workspace is both functional and deeply personal, it becomes more than a place to work. It becomes a place to thrive. With thoughtful design, even a corner nook can become your power spot.
Stay inspired, stay sophisticated
Love, Claudia
