Category: office

Creating a study space is similar to creating a home office type of space where you can work undisturbed. But, all too often, we ‘settle’ for a dark corner or a gloomy desk facing a wall.

This is how to create the perfect study space at home…

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Choose the Space Carefully

You may be fortunate enough to have a spare room – an ideal location for a study or home office. At the end of a working session, you power down the PC, switch off the printer and shut the door.

Or, you may struggle for space. The good news is that even in small spaces, you can create an amazing home study space with a reclaimed wood desk and comfy chair. Choose a space that is free from distractions, and in a quiet location, and that’s half the battle.

Bring in Light

No matter what work you do, in any working space, the right lighting is essential and industrial style lights are a great choice for the modern office or study space.

• Pendant lighting – this is the main central light and although there are many stylish options, if you are working with the light behind you, you will be working in shadow.
• Desk or table lamps – excellent for adding on-the-desk luminosity and prevents you from working in shadow. Be as bold as you like with design and style.
• Floor lamps – movable about the space, floor lamps can add height and texture to a room. Consider a floor lamp that could act as a spotlight too.

The Desk

Your work is important and this, the working platform at which you will sit for often hours at a time needs to be able to accommodate everything that you do. But this does not mean throwing style out of the window. You can be as stylish and as vibrant with your choice of desk as your budget and imagination allow.

Of course, you will want a desk that matches your style, whether that is an industrial style desk or a rustic inspired table. There is no reason why you can’t be quirky with your choice either. This is why the Standford Industrial Reclaimed Wooden Desk is possibly one of the best buys when it comes to study desks and spaces.

Shop Standford Industrial Reclaimed Wooden Desk

The Chair

Ergonomics is the study of everything that makes life easier and more comfortable. If you do spend hours at your desk, it needs to be the right height. Your bespoke leather chair needs to support you, especially in the lumbar region.

Shop Standford Grey Faux Leather Office Chair

But again, this doesn’t mean opting for the ‘plain’ or the ‘normal’ office chair. The Standford Grey Faux Leather Office Chair is on castors, perfect for wheeling yourself about the to fetch books or notes from around the room.

There is no reason why you cannot create a study space that inspires and enthrals. Why wouldn’t you want a study space that is stylish, with depth colour and texture?

Keep an eye on the time with a wall clock whilst being surrounded by appealing items such as contemporary candle holders or even a wall or floor mirror to maximise light in the study. Or, add an industrial bookcase to keep things organised. The addition of an urban modern rug will add a softer tone to your space that may make it feel a little more relaxed if that helps you study better.

How will you design your study space?

The way we work is changing. Increasingly, more of us are choosing to work flexibly and from home. This means you may be looking for small home office ideas to create a work space at home that is comfortable, ergonomic, suitable and stylish.

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Finding the Right Space

What is the right space for some, may not be for others so this is a personal choice. You are, however, looking for a space that offers:

• Plenty of space to work and store a few things – being too cramped means an uncomfortable home office that you won’t be able to work in for longer than a few minutes.
• Good light – natural is, of course, best but ambient lighting is also needed. Don’t work in shadow as poor lighting leads to eye strain.
• Minimal distractions – you may love looking out the window and this is all well and good but if the habits of the garden birds because all encompassing then your workload will suffer.

Creating a Bespoke Space

Working from home means taking on the exciting project of re-modelling a part of your home to be a comfortable and stylish workspace.

Once you have decided on where you are going to locate your small home office – spare bedroom, a corner of a room, conservatory, small extension, rooms under the stairs – you can choose the furniture accordingly.

The Desk

A primary piece of kit is the desk. A flat-pack, mass produced item is not always the most practical nor ergonomically comfortable. This doesn’t mean spending thousands on a bespoke design. We love the look and character of reclaimed wood items, especially when the old wood is teamed with modern stainless steel to create an industrial desk. Take a look at our Standford range, such as this reclaimed wood desk with black steel frame.

Shop Standford Industrial Reclaimed Wooden Desk

In terms of bespoke design, you will need to consider the space you have available – thus, if a narrower desk would suffice, you can order a made to measure desk that will fit your space perfectly.

The importance of getting the right desk for your work cannot be under estimated for your comfort as well as for not swamping the space.

You need a clutter-free environment that is appealing as much as it is to keep clean and organised.

The Chair

If you work at a PC or design at your desk, then the right chair is a must to make sure your back in well-looked after.

We have a range of leather office chairs, perfect for supporting you. This Hudson vintage style chair is perfect in so many ways. Note its cleanliness and uncluttered appearance. The open frame the smaller office space from being ‘closed down’.

Shop Standford Brown Faux Leather Office Chair

We also love the fact that our office chairs look nothing like ‘office chairs’! In other words, they are robust, comfortable and stylish.

Storage

With so many documents and data kept on the cloud, storage needs for the home office are now different to how they used to be. Our bespoke bookcases can be used for styling and decor as well as storage, perfect for keeping those smaller things that don’t need to be used on a frequent basis.

Shop Colette Reclaimed Wood Metal Open Display Unit

What tips do you have for creating the perfect small home office?

Creating an office interior often means choosing from furniture and pieces that are, at best, functional and, at worst, downright bland. But, it doesn’t have to be and introducing an industrial style to an office space can change all of those preconceptions. Industrial interior design works brilliantly in a modern office and can be as simple as adding an industrial office desk or industrial office chair. With collections specifically for the office, including the stunning Aviator Keeler Desk Wing, let us show you how to bring an industrial style that will make a real impression on your office space.

What is the Industrial Style?

The industrial style means mixing raw materials – exposed brick walls, naked steel beams – with the warmth of natural materials, the cool elegance of leather and the warmth of reclaimed wood. But to add the industrial edge, mix it with well-known materials that with additional processes look stunning – like polished concrete worktops or desk tops.

Impressions Start in Reception

No matter who is visiting the officer, customers, interview candidates or key stakeholders, creating the right impression is key. And that means a reception or front of house that means business. Made to order brown leather chairs are the ideal seating solution for reception and social areas of the office too, offering a welcoming yet professional first impression.

Industrial furniture

No office space is complete without a desk and chair for the team to work, but practicalities aside, these pieces are where you can bring in the industrial style to your office interior. An industrial office desk paired with an industrial office chair will instantly elevate your office scheme and add a lofty and urban cool no matter what business you are running.

Social Areas

There has been research that shows office spaces that have a mix of spaces, such as dedicated working areas and informal social areas, have a team that works more collaboratively. As well as leather chairs and leather sofas, opt for industrial style furniture, such as an industrial coffee table to keep the mood professional, but cool.

A reclaimed wood coffee table is perfect for when staff need informal spaces with colleagues and customers, along with leather sofas and armchairs.

Style Out the Boardroom

The boardroom is the place where deals are struck and discussions are held. There is no reason why it can’t be stylish but it needs to be practical too – we all know how long meetings can go on for. A substantial industrial office desk or boardroom table is the ideal addition – strong, robust and delightfully stylish, it is the main focal point of your boardroom space. Match it with comfortable seating for maximum effect.

Storage Solutions (Not a Filing cabinet in Sight)

The business landscape has changed so much with the digital age meaning that paper is not always needed to be stored in such vast quantities as it once was. The filing cabinet may soon be defunct and replacing it with reclaimed wood shelving is a stylish addition to any room or unit within your company.

Lighting – Functional and Stylish

For optimum productiveness, lighting has to be spot on in any style office space. Whilst it must be functional, it can also be stylish – think metal desk lamps or hanging pendant lighting that cast a warm glow but plenty of luminosity without being stark and fit seamlessly with an industrial interior design.

Extend Work Space to the Outdoors

On a glorious sunny day, why can’t the team innovate in the sunshine or, enjoy lunch or a break in the garden or outdoor space, such as a roof terrace? If your industrial office is lucky enough to have an outdoors, style with an outdoor industrial dining table with outdoor dining chairs and encourage staff to work outdoors.

All too often we assume that there is only one way of styling a workspace, well, we suggest you think again. Shake things up with an industrial office desk and an industrial office chair and you’re sure to make the right impression on anyone who enters your office.

With recently being ‘Organise Your Home Office Day’, it seems the right time to remind all the thousands of home workers that their office space is important. And yet, so few of us make the effort to create a space that is stylish, functional and welcoming. Styling your office doesn’t mean throwing practicalities out the window. You can have the home office you want, in the style that works for you and within budget.

The Desk

You need the right work platform that fits your space and offers you the space you need to work. To illustrate this, we’re launching a range of beautiful yet practical desks, which you can customise to perfectly fit your space. You’ll be able to choose from a range of sizes, and a range of coloured legs, bringing a stunning yet functional piece to style your office around.

Office Furniture

No office can function without office furniture that offers the right amount of storage. When you store things, from papers to books, the items need to be accessible.

However, finding office furniture that compliments your home office design can be tough and that’s why your office space can look and feel mismatched.

We have solutions, from bookcases made from reclaimed wood to industrial furniture and bookcases in a style to match your desk.

Add Finishing Touches with a Dash of Detail

Detailing is important in any space. Accessories add warmth, depth and texture to a room, and your home office should be treated no differently.

The Power of Green

Plants and flowers in any space but especially your home office are the perfect additions that not only look great, they add colour and scent too. But, there is also research to suggest that a plant in the office creates the right environment for more productivity.

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Keep an Eye on the Time

You know what they say: too much work is never a good thing. Make time to play by keeping an eye on the time with a stylish wall clock.

Dress the Walls

Art inspires us and when you work long hours at a desk, it can be helpful to have another point of focus in the room, other than your computer screen. Wall art is a great way of adding detail to your room, providing inspiration without distracting you.

Dress the Floor

A rug adds texture, as well as warmth beneath your feet. Choose a colour and style of rug that matches your décor or use it to add a streak of colour and detail into the space.

At Modish Living, we love to make even the most functional home office design beautiful – so why not try a new look in yours?