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Tidy office, tidy mind – Smart ways to de-clutter your office

Laptop on top of a dark wood office desk

Some of us appear to thrive with a less-than-tidy desk. Or do we? With strong scientific evidence that a cluttered work environment stifles our focus and creativity, the time has come to try it. But that means upping your office storage solutions and making changes to your home office.

Boxes and trunks are great for quick, easy wipe-it-away decluttering

Decluttering in the home office tends to take a back seat when work is so busy and relentless all of the time. The secret to a tidy desk is to have storage solutions that are quick, easy and simple to use.

A box with a lid is perfect. But what you don’t want is a teetering column of boxes in the corner so opt for one box, two at the most and make it a monthly activity that you empty the boxes contents and recycle, shred and get rid of the contents.

Avoid the clutter of boxes in the office with hideaway storage such as a sideboard, ideal as office storage and for complementing the reclaimed wood furniture you’ve chosen for your working space.

Tidy doesn’t mean featureless

Clutter is the stuff that doesn’t need to be there or directly correlate to what you do in your home office but getting rid of everything under this definition means you’ll create a featureless, boring landscape.

This is not what a tidy desk is all about. Being surrounded by pretty things and items you like can be just as good for creativity and focus as a tidy desk.

Open shelving is perfect as office storage BUT you need to be confident that those open shelves won’t become a dumping ground for ‘stuff’.

Industrial shelving is the ideal solution. Space for important books and files but also space for accessories that give your home office character and appeal. Of course, there is nothing stopping you from choosing office storage that is pleasant to look at. For example, the industrial metal storage cabinet from the Aviator collection is surely welcome in every home office?

Create order

A tidy industrial desk is one that allows you to get on with work but for you to be able to ‘see’ clearly. So the printed document you need to consult or the tools you need to reach for all need to be within easy distance of you as you sit or stand at your desk.

Therefore, for a tidy desk, you need one that suits what you do and offers the simple office storage solutions you need.

A larger reclaimed wood desk with ample storage is fantastic, especially if you want integrated storage at your fingertips. Opt for a desk that offers you plenty of drawer and cupboard space.

Lights that will stylishly brighten your home office

Working in natural light is the best option but when the skies are grey or you work late at night, what kind of lighting in the home office illuminates without dazzling? The answer lies in pendant light, a single or cluster of lights that hang from the ceiling, casting a practical glow around the home office. But how do you style the lights in the home office? Do you opt for large pendant lighting choices, or smaller, more subtle choices? And what else makes a difference to your lighting.

1. Position is the most important factor

Whether you want bright lights or a soft, warm glow, the single most important factor of sure-fire in the home office is position. Never work in shadow but also don’t opt for a bright light directly in your eyeline either. Hanging a light in front of your home office desk where it neither dazzles nor cast shadows is the better option.

Don’t want to go to the expense of moving lighting? Pendant lights are ideal as they can use the current ceiling fitting but the long cable means the light itself can be stylishly hooked into a different position.

2. Size of lighting

Pendant lights and shades come in different shapes and sizes. Essentially, this is a personal choice but one that closely linked to the style of your home office.

For example, an industrial style home office will be chic and almost-minimal in appearance, a great style for the industrious nature of the home office.Modern pendant lighting would fit right in. There are other styles too, of course, such as a bamboo pendant light that would fit well within the Scandinavian style in the home office (and other rooms too).

3. Consider colour too

The previous on size of the pendant light leads nicely onto choosing colour. It may be that you want the light to stand out (or maybe you don’t!) but there is one sure-fire way of achieving this: colour.

Natural bamboo or wicker tends to blend into a room but a black pendant light will slot perfectly into an industrial style. Standing out doesn’t always mean bright, gregarious colours – take this white pendant light, for example, and the statement it could make in your home office.

4. Material

Just because it is a functional item in a functional space doesn’t mean that the pendant light in the home office has to be boring. Far from it! Which is why we have a range of materials on offer with all our lights. For example, what about woodchip modern pendant lighting, perfect for adding a touch of ‘something different’ for an item in your home office that is functional? Perfect for sitting alongside your reclaimed wood desk and sumptuous leather office chair.

5. Desk lamp complement!

As well as a ceiling light, don’t forget the difference a desk lamp could make. Again, a desk lamp can be anything but boring such as this beautiful recycled glass lamp that will work in the home office and be just as much at home in the hallway, the living room, the bedroom or any other room you could possibly think of!

10 steps to decluttering your home office

Struggling to fit everything onto the oak bookcase in your home office? Or maybe the top of your reclaimed wood furniture hasn’t seen the light of day for some time with all the papers and paraphernalia strewn across it. If this sounds familiar, you need these 10 decluttering tips.

1. The drastic but quick solution

Remove everything from the drawers and cupboards of your reclaimed wood desk, put it in a box and carry on working. As you need something, go an get it. Eventually, over time, you’ll have the things you need and a pile of things you don’t need in a box ready to be recycled.

2. Need vs. want

The home office is or should be, a place of productivity and creativity. There are certain things you need around you but there are other things you may want on your home office desk and shelving. However, some of these things could be cramping your work output. So start with things you need, and then consider carefully what other things you want in the space.

3. Storage, storage, storage

The right storage that is accessible is key to keep any room tidy and uncluttered. The same is true in the home office. Opt for home office furniture that gives you the storage you need, such as an oak bookcase for books and files and a desk with storage for smaller items.

4. Sort the cables

It’s not uncommon to find the home office desk strewn with cables across it or hanging down behind it. There are various cable tidy solutions you can buy. Once they are grouped together and tidy, you’ll be amazed at the difference it makes.

5. Take photos

There’s a saying – not being able to see the wood for the trees – and this can apply to when it comes to decluttering your home office desk and space. So take photos – you’ll be amazed at how much more you can see from a photo than when you’re standing in it.

6. Think vertically

The home office can have all kinds of items in it and finding the right kind of storage can be tough. Think vertically by adding tall industrial shelving for extra space either across one wall or arranging it around your desk so you get instant access to items.

7. Get storage savvy

Thinks don’t have to be on display. You can hide a myriad of stuff in boxes neatly lined up on the industrial shelving we’ve talked about in the previous point.

8. EVERYTHING in your office should have a defined space

When you add something to your home office, it needs to be allotted storage space right from the start. Clutter builds when things are ‘just left’ or put down on a bookcase or filing cabinet.

9. Tidy up every day after work

Clearing your home office desk when you’ve finished for the day is a great way for you to start your next working day. Cups and glasses need to be returned to the kitchen, papers need to be filed or recycled, and so on.

10. Don’t get obsessive!

And finally, we end on a light-hearted note. It’s easy to get obsessive about clutter and become too streamlined, throwing everything away that we feel doesn’t fit only to find we need and have to buy another one. Just relax with it and enjoy your stylish home office!

Decorating your office space for success

Oldman Reclaimed Wood Boardroom Table and Leather Chairs

The environment in which we work is important – get it right, and your productivity and employee happiness levels rise significantly. If the office décor hasn’t enjoyed an update in some time, now is the time to up the style stakes – but it doesn’t just mean putting in some industrial shelving and a few new desks – there are plenty of other things to consider.

Let there be lots of the right light

Sunshine flooding in through the windows is uplifting BUT, working in harsh light means lots of glare and discomfort. Make the most of natural light with the right window dressings that allow for shade. And when natural light is lacking, opt for LED lighting that doesn’t give off heat and is cheaper to run too.

Add texture with rugs

We can hear ‘what about health and safety?’ but with rugs and rug stoppers (use special carpet tape), rugs in the office can be a thing. And they are wonderful for adding colour, pattern and texture. You can also use rugs to zone an area, such as a rug in the easy seating area, along with sumptuous sofas, and oak bookcase and side tables.

Talking of informal seating…

More small businesses are realising that ‘play areas’ or informal areas are not just for large companies but are a welcome addition to their office spaces too. Seating areas with sofas and armchairs are ideal for short breaks and meetings. They are also great for adding pops of colour too. Colourful armchairs such as a canary yellow armchair nestled alongside a brown leather sofa certainly add plenty of zing. There is a raft of other colours to choose from too.

Update the working area

Who wouldn’t enjoy an updated working space? If you want to keep a certain style, opt for a reclaimed wood desk from the same range. The Oldman industrial style desk is a functional and utilitarian piece of reclaimed wood furniture, perfect for small businesses as they can be made to bespoke sizes. Likewise, updating the seating with the ergonomic and stylish leather office chair is also a way of adding style to an office space.

Give the meeting room a new lease of life

From rugs to wall art – why not seek out local art talent? – the meeting room shouldn’t be a dreary space. Investing in a large conference table will never be wasted. It will be used time and again for meetings as well as sit down lunches with your crew.

Encourage personal touches

When people make the decision to come to work for you, you want their personalities and characters to shine through. All too often we hear of companies ‘banning’ personal items from desks, afraid of the clutter and perceived health and safety risks that they bring. In a small business, you can let these stuffy attitudes go and encourage people (within reason) to add personal touches to their desks.

Appeal to all the senses

Visually, you want an office that is appealing. You also want it to welcome employees and support them in their daily work in other ways too. And that means appealing to their sense of smell. Either the best scented candles or diffusers, the delicate scent of which hang gently in the air, are perfect for creating a pleasant perfumed aroma around the office.

Clever style tips for a welcoming home office

The home office is not always a place you work in isolation. At some point, you may welcome clients into your home office space and that means giving it a facelift so it looks appealing, stylish and professional. You can’t get away with a stark home office desk with not much décor – and why would you want to – even if it is only you that will see it!

Add texture with soft furnishings and office rugs

You may not have thought to add an abundance of soft furnishings such as scatter cushions or a large grey rug to the sofa or small armchair in your office, but, trust us, it will instantly lift the space by adding texture. There is a sumptuous luxury associated with fabrics, especially in a productive and creative space such as the home office.

Don’t forget scent

Another factor that lifts the room and makes it a welcoming, inviting space is the scent. From fresh flowers for a visually appealing addition to the gentle perfume of diffusers and premium, luxury candles, adding an understated scent to a space will add an instant welcoming note.

Make the most of the space with informal seating

If you can’t fit an upholstered sofa into your home office, take a look at adding two small armchairs and a reclaimed wood coffee table opposite your reclaimed wood desk to make an informal meeting space. If you don’t want to add swathes of colour, opt for the neutral but warm tones of a leather armchair or two. If there is one material that oozes sophistication it is leather.

Place sculptural forms on reclaimed wood furniture

Storage in the home office is essential because it means you have on display only the things you want people to see and admire. Reclaimed wood furniture is beautiful in any room and in the home office, it brings the perfect stylistic notes that you are looking for. Crown this glory with beautiful sculptural objects that emphasise your good taste to your clients.

Create a statement art wall

There is nothing more understated than an expanse of clear, painted wall but if you are not overly keen on being too minimal, then creating a ‘wall of art’ is the ideal solution. Choose pieces of artwork that have connections either in style or colour. Using different sizes of frame and mixing and matching artwork, create a wall of art that your clients will enjoy looking at and admiring.

Be organised & deal with clutter!

It may be that for the majority of the time, you work alone in your home office with client meetings being only an occasional occurrence – or it could be the opposite. Either way, clients will form an impression as soon as they enter your home office, so you need to be sure that it is sending the right signals. And that means being organised. Deal with clutter and make sure there are plenty of storage solutions that keep the office tidy.

Frame office furniture in the room

Just like in other rooms in your home, for the office to look balanced and symmetrical, reclaimed wood office furniture needs to be framed. At its simplest, this means grouping items together in a way that makes sense. For example, a rug, two small armchairs, a coffee table or side table with a lamp will instantly appeal to your client, as will a tidy desk and a stylish focal point in the room.

Revive your home office with the perfect desk

At the last estimate, over four million people choose to regularly work from home. For some, the home office is the place from which they run their own freelance empire, from the comfort of a leather office chair. Like other rooms in the home, when it has a function, it means there is a main player just crying out for reclaimed wood furniture.

For the home office, it is the desk. It is the table at which you will spend many, many hours. It needs to be comfortable and large enough for everything you use as part of your working day, as well as offering storage, but you also want it to be stylish. So, where do you start when it comes to choosing a home office desk?

What size should an office desk be?

The dimensions of the desk are important. Not only does it need to offer ample working space for you, but it also needs to fit in the room itself.

Measure the space where you are considering sitting your desk – remember to consider the lighting and never work in shade or bright sun glare – and then consider how large you need the desk to be.

If you need minimal equipment, you could opt for a slimline desk and even with IT equipment, you’ll find that their streamlined nature means you won’t need a gargantuan desk. How about a reclaimed wood desk with two small drawers on either side for your pens and notepads?

How deep should my desk be?

A deep home office desk allows you to complete various tasks without necessarily putting equipment away each time. For example, when you want to handwrite or draw something, by pushing your keyboard or laptop aside you have plenty of desktop space.

If you don’t need a huge amount of space, why not opt for a slimmer desk? If you are really struggling for space, a foldaway desk is another great option. Situated next to your reading chair and an oak bookcase, you’ll have created the perfect home office come snug.

How much space do you need for a desk?

Try to be practical. You need plenty of space to push back your office chair and to move around the room. The issue with most home offices is that they are jam-packed and have no real storage solutions. That means keeping it tidy and a place that is productive is even harder.

A slimline desk with accessible storage is perfect, especially if it gives you the tabletop space you need. Home office furniture needs to ‘fit’ just as much as it needs to be stylish and offer storage.

Where should a desk be placed in an office?

We touched on this in an earlier point but when it comes to position, it is the light that is your most important consideration. Working with some natural light on your desk is good and natural light should be maximised but watch for glare. Of course, if you can position your industrial desk in a position where you have a view that’s perfect for those daydreamy moments we all have in our working day…

How to design a functional home office with flair

The home office can be a difficult thing to style. Often built into whatever space you might have to hand, there is often very little room to create a really productive working area. However, with the right home office furniture, any office, large or small can be organised to make it a more rewarding environment. Here, we take a look at a few examples of reclaimed wood furniture, and a few extras too, which will inspire you to design a home office that is a beautiful, yet highly functional space.

Choose your desk – and chair – wisely

Opting for a reclaimed wood desk is something we’d obviously recommend, as we have so many beautiful options to choose from. However, getting the right home office desk is all about how you want the space to feel. For example, if you’re trying to make your home office seem larger, you might want to opt for a lighter colour when it comes to your furniture, and this white industrial desk clearly fits the bill – allowing for plenty of workspace without taking up the whole of the room.

Alternatively, you might prefer a desk with drawers, such as the Worcester reclaimed wood desk for all those spare pens and post-its that form part of most people’s office clutter. This will again help the space to seem more ordered, and you’ll be able to find all those small items such as paperclips and the like easily, allowing you to be more productive. For a more serious feel to the office, the Quinton desk would be a fantastic choice, paired with a sumptuous brown leather office chair, it offers comfort, style and space to stack away any paperwork you might not need to hand right away.

Storage options can be stylish

When it comes to creating a space that helps with productivity, storage plays a key role. While the filing cabinet may have its uses, many people now prefer something a little more stylish – think a beautiful wood bookcase such as the Mitcham or the Rocco, with neat box files interspersed with quirky ornaments – the ultimate in style and organisation. Alternatively, you could consider bringing in a sideboard to your home office. The Rustic Mitcham sideboard would easily fit a home printer, a set of wire ‘in trays’ and some greenery on top, allowing you to have everything you need within easy reach in the cupboards below. Or, you could go quirky with the squared sideboard, also by Mitcham. This is an ideal alternative to a filing cabinet, as you can separate all your important filing but without the unattractive design of the standard filing cabinet.

It’s the little things that count

Of course, it’s not just the layout of the office that could have an effect on your productivity. Choosing your accessories will not just set your space off nicely, it could add real value to your working environment. Our tips on accessories to boost your productivity include:

Keeping an eye on the time – Opting for a large industrial wall clock that you can’t miss, or considering a table clock in your eyeline means you won’t lose track of time.

Creating the right atmosphere – There is a range of options when it comes to boosting your productivity with scent. Whether it’s stress-busting lavender misting gently from a diffuser, or a scented candle with a citrus fragrance to make you more alert, getting the atmosphere right really can have an effect on how much you can get done.

Get the lighting right – Whether a table lamp for darker evenings, or a floor lamp you can position to best effect, having the right light could really help you work better.

These are our picks for the ultimate in home office productivity, but which one will you choose to help you work more efficiently?

How to turn a spare room into a dream home office

Quinton Reclaimed Wood Desk and Bookcase

Room to work at home can be problematic. If you have a spare room, however, you could turn it into your dream home office. Fortunately, with just a few tweaks and additions, the addition of a wood bookcase and some other furniture, it can become the home office that you need.

How much space do you have to work with?

The good news is that for a dream home office, you really don’t need that much space. There are many tips on creating a home office, one is accurately measuring the room so that as you create your mood board of the must-have desk and leather office chair, you know you can fit it all in (leather armchair for lunchtime naps included).

Start with the most important item: the desk

Aside from it needing to be the right height and offering the worktop space that you need, style is important too. A streamlined home office desk will work well in the smaller office as would other standalone desks.

You could also opt for the ‘fitted’ bespoke desk solution for your home office. The Oldman reclaimed desk, for example, can be made to measure, perfect if you have constraints of space or you want to create a myriad of worktop space around corners in the home office.

Choose your office chair carefully

With your choice of reclaimed wood desk made, there is another serious consideration: getting the right office chair for you. And that’s the important bit ‘for you’. It needs to be the right height – opt for an adjustable desk chair – and it must offer you the lumber supported needed as you sit at your desk.

There are, as you would expect, several options when it comes to office chairs. But here’s the best bit: it doesn’t have to look like a chair from a busy office. It can be the epitome of style too, perfect for complementing your chosen desk. A leather office chair on wheels, for example, is perfect for easy movement. Or you could throw the rule book out of the window and enjoy the stylish aplomb of the Aviator office chair (and if you have the room, the Aviator half-wing desk is a must-have too!).

Make it a versatile space

Occasionally, you may work with a partner in your home office or even welcome clients to your working space and so you’ll need some accessories and essential additions to turn it into a versatile space.

Consider additional seating such as a leather armchair or two, flanked by a reclaimed wood coffee table that complements your bespoke desk. As well as choosing a neutral canvas of colour for our office to make it a productive space, add dashes of colour and texture with soft furnishings, such as small rugs, scatter cushions for the armchairs and maybe a throw or two for extra style notes in the room.

You’ll need to check the lighting levels too, making sure you are not working in shade or that the sunlight streaming in through the window is not too dazzling.

Is the spare room in your home the perfect location for your dream home office? It could be…

How to mix gold and velvet furniture in a workspace

Belfort Dining Table and Green Velvet Chairs

There is no reason why your boardroom, complete with conference table, can’t be a stylish, creative space. In fact, forward-thinking companies are realising that a stylish work environment is an important consideration in productivity and employee happiness too.

There is no denying the sublime fusion of a gold finish with the opulence of velvet. And it has its place in the boardroom too.

Working with strong players and accents

Colour is an accent and a statement as too is the use of materials such as velvet. They are not easily siding lined – and they shouldn’t be – but creating a seamless, stylish fusion between the strong characters that are gold and velvet can be a tall order, even for those with a clear vision and a stylistic eye for detail.

It isn’t a case of determining which one will sing the loudest, but how to create connection and cohesion between each. Opt for items from one collection, such as the Blackbone range, whilst also attempting to keep the shade of the gold finish the same. Flecks of colour will work, opting for variations in the shade of one colour. Don’t be too light in your colour choices as the danger is it will look insipid against the dramatic backdrop of the dark furniture.

Black, gold and velvet

Using colour in any design is always welcome and for the work environment, it brings a welcome note of the change. Getting the right combination is key and if you are looking for opulence and a sense of luxury, then the fusion of black and gold is simply perfect.

And that’s why so many business clients opt for items from our Blackbone Collection, where black industrial oak marries perfectly with the gold coloured finish.

Better still, all the items are ideal for the workplace, including the boardroom as well as staff and client areas.

The extendable dining table, for example, would make a superb boardroom table with leather or velvet upholstered boardroom chairs to match. Sitting alongside it the drinks cabinet would make an ideal storage unit and a large bookcase as a display unit would be a versatile addition to the meeting room too. You could even throw in a velvet armchair or two if you have the space.

Work and social space

Many more business clients are creating social spaces within the workplace. How we work has changed beyond all recognition and that means the workplace is no longer row upon row of desks or cubicles that isolate colleagues from one another.

Creating breakout areas or social areas is defined by what is used. Just as you would create a welcoming, comfortable informal space at home, you would do the same at work.

Build from the floor upwards, opting for a gold rug that brings a warm, happy tone to the space. For a neutral base, consider using a grey rug to allow the metallic gold finish of the items to glow and shimmer.

Against the backdrop of the dark drama of the Blackbone Collection, lighter shades can look too insignificant. Thus adding yet more colour with earthier shades on the colour spectrum if a failsafe way of combining and contrasting colours.

The terracotta orange shade of the Chestey velvet sofa is fast-becoming one of our most coveted sofas. For the home, it adds depth. For the workplace, it adds comfort and style too.

Is this a landscape you could see working in your boardroom?