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Stylish and Functional – The Amazing Options for Office Storage

Kingsbridge Reclaimed Wood Console Table

Whether you are a student of one of the many millions of people who enjoy working from home, a stylish, comfortable and practical home office is a must.

Creating a stylish home office is something we have looked at a few times but this time we want to take a look at storage and how storage units, like industrial shelving, can be used in other ways.

Far from basic

You have basic storage requirements but that doesn’t mean the bookcase or storage unit has to be basic.

What tends to happen is, despite spending hours of our time in the home office, we opt for items to ‘make do’. Up your home office game with pretty items that offer the best of both worlds.

The Mitcham bookcase industrial styled unit gives you everything from open shelves to cupboard space, perfect for when you have confidential stuff that needs hiding away but books and the like on display.

Limited space?

The smaller home office usually means we have to be at our creative best to make the best use of space but that doesn’t mean you have to limit your style.

Console tables with storage work really well in the smaller office, providing valuable store solutions such as the Rocco console storage table.

In fact, we think that an item like the console table is perfect for use as a divider in a room too. It is not uncommon for couples to work together in the same space, or even have the kids in there doing their homework whilst you continue to work.

A divider is great for giving a room, like the home office, a little more structure. And, of course, using something like a console table limits the floor space it takes up whilst giving you open shelving to display things too.

The Kingsbridge industrial console table is the perfect example of this with its symmetrical design and beautiful industrial appeal. Not everything on display in your office needs to be ‘work-related’.

Why not include stylish sculpture, over-sized table lamps and fresh flowers for heady scent?

Repurposed furniture

Don’t forget that just because a piece of reclaimed wood furniture is in the ‘living room’ section of the website or featured on the ‘dining room’ pages doesn’t mean it can’t be used in the home office…

·The Maddox reclaimed wood TV unit is perfect for a TV in the living room as it is for low-level storage in the home office. The top is perfect for a pair of heavy bookends and files, and the slender shelf perfect for hiding away those smaller items that we all seem to accumulate. The Raffles TV unit offers the same versatility in the home office.

·A sideboard is an underrated piece of home office furniture in our opinion. The perfect complement to the reclaimed wood desk, the dining room sideboard easily fits into a productive office space. The Chalfont industrial wood sideboard with both cupboards and three drawers is perfect or maybe the bookcase is more your thing.

What are your home office storage requirements?

Get the look – the industrial rustic office

Industrial rustic is a pleasing landscape in the office. We often think as workspaces as being utilitarian and functional because, we can’t have anything distracting us can we, as we toil at our desk?

Leave the corporate look behind, the barren landscape of matchy-matchy furniture and welcome the industrial rustic look to your home office with reclaimed wood furniture. And here’s how.

The key elements

MATERIALS

Natural materials sum up this look, sitting side-by-side with the coolness of steel or aluminium. It can be a highly polished, mirrored stainless steel or it can be the dark, broodiness of black steel.

But don’t think that means waving goodbye to colour either.

THE DESK

The Oldman industrial desk is one of our best sellers because not only is it functional and stylish, but it is made to measure and customisable too. Choose your frame size and colour and there you have it – your own piece of unique industrial office furniture.

With your home desk in situ, you need an office chair that is comfortable for you. Fortunately, there are many examples of stylish industrial rustic office chairs too, where the chic coolness of leather meets metal.

THE STORAGE

The remainder of the office landscape also needs to serve a purpose, whilst retaining the industrial rustic style.

We are often taught in school and college that a workplace setting should be ordered and tidy because a tidy desk signifies a tidy mind. So what does an empty desk signify?

Creativity knows no bounds. Slowly, we learn that what matters most in our work is us, our creativity and how the office environment supports us and our work.

Alongside your wooden desk, an industrial rustic display unit is perfect for your files and books, but don’t be too ordered. Cluster your books in ‘unkempt piles’, enjoy a plant or three in your office too, their lush greenery picking up the tempo of the industrial rustic style.

Allow your creativity to flow and that means not hiding everything away or trying to be ordered, with everything in its ‘proper’ place.

THE COLOUR

The reasons why the industrial rustic home office style has remained so very popular are many and varied. There is a growing range of industrial home office furniture from which to choose, its quality and stylish credentials no longer in doubt.

But it is the fact that as styles go, the industrial rustic look us unique from one person to the next. Eclectic it may be, but it is not overly quirky meaning its ‘shelf life’ as a style scheme is short.

Industrial style furniture itself can be found in different colours and finishes, as can the colour scheme of industrial rustic office space.

Opt for cool neutrals or even a light grey. Or go all out, opting for an earthy green or dramatic navy. The Pantone colour of the year 2018, Ultra Violet could work too.

From one room to another

It is also a style that moves seamlessly from one room to another. The display unit in the office would look equally as stunning in the living room, or the industrial sideboard would make for a fantastic office cupboard.

Who doesn’t love the versatility of the industrial rustic style?

5 Inspiring ideas to fit a work station in a small space

A spacious home office is a luxury for those who skip the commute and can work from home. But in modern homes, space is at a premium, and we must find clever ways to work in the space we have. But a makeshift office in another room can still look stylish and inspire productivity.

It goes without saying but a neat and tidy working environment is the most productive, removing distractions and allowing you to concentrate. When you are trying to come up with a workspace solution which works in a small space, this should be one of the focusses. Make sure you maximise on storage in order to keep clutter off the desk. A display unit is a great way of creating an enviable amount of storage whilst often taking up limited floor space (if you opt for height instead of width). Alternatively, make the most of your wall space with built-in reclaimed wood shelves either above or below your desk.

When trying to work out where to place your reclaimed wood desk, make sure to use all available space – you might have nooks in your living room or dining room which would be a perfect spot for a small desk that you hadn’t even considered.

The recessed spaces on either side of a chimney are often a great size for popping a small desk (and also provides the perfect space to put up floating shelves above). Alternatively, if you have an open staircase, you may have room for a desk beneath. You may even use a bay window which is not being used as effectively as it could be (with the large windows being fantastic for keeping you awake and inspiring productivity all day long)!

If you are working in a unique area, you might find that a bespoke desk is the perfect solution, being built to fit the exact space you have to play with. Not only will opting for a bespoke desk cut down the hours you might otherwise spend trying to fit a desk that will fit, a perfectly fitting piece of furniture creates a clean, sophisticated look which is just what we need in a small space in order to keep the room looking as large as possible! Our Oldman range can be made to order and is the perfect way of adding a modern touch to a room featuring reclaimed wood furniture.

If you are really struggling for somewhere to place a desk, consider whether you have a hallway wide enough to home a desk and chair. Your landing is often quieter than many of your downstairs living spaces and is the perfect spot for a home office where you don’t feel trapped.

Also think about stepping away from office furniture, which can sometimes feel a little restrictive and may not offer you exactly what you need. Using a console table is a creative solution if you need a narrow desk. A console table is more likely to fit in your hallway or on your landing with just enough room to place a computer or laptop and desk lamp and often comes with a drawer or two which will provide a space for storing desk essentials you don’t necessarily want on display in your hallway.

A few final tips…

It’s very easy to get carried away and think our current setup isn’t working and we need to change it all. But before you start hunting for something better, think about whether you can work with what you already have with a simple reorganisation. You might find you are using other storage spaces ineffectively, or that simply by moving your desk to another space in your home, it makes your living room feel far less cluttered.

In a small space, measuring is key if you don’t want furniture turning up only to discover your beautiful new desk doesn’t fit. If you are unsure, map out how much space it will take up with newspaper on the floor, and you can even do this carefully on the wall to get a good idea of the height. It may be worth leaving the newspaper where your desk would sit for a weekend, just to get an idea of whether you can still easily move around your room.

Have you found a genius place in your home for your study? Let us know.

The best home office ideas for couples

A major problem of working from home is isolation. But it may be with a sense of trepidation you welcome a partner into your working space.

With this in mind, we decided to take a look at ideas for sharing your home office. What kind of home office furniture arrangement would work best? We offer insight on everything from a wooden desk to share, to storage options you’re sure to love.

Independent or collaborative?

It may be that you work for two separate companies and your daily activities can be quite different. Or maybe you work for your own business or the way in which you work is similar. Your home office design is dependent on your interaction type – whether that is independent or collaborative.

INDEPENDENT

When daily tasks and activities will differ between you and office-sharing partner, you will probably work best;

Facing away from each other – if interaction is minimal or occasional, then separate workstations can create the office space you both need. As well as chairs on wheels, consider a large desk or an L -shaped home office desk each to create bespoke workstations.

Storage – consider what storage each of you needs but don’t assume it will be the same for both of you. If you don’t want a mismatched look, why not consider investing in a large sideboard, perfect for hiding away a myriad of documents, paperwork and other office paraphernalia?

Accessories and greenery – just because you work from home doesn’t mean you can’t opt for comfort. Accessories help to make the home office feel homely without feeling fussy or too corporate. And don’t forget a ‘social’ or relax area with sumptuous seating. Plants are also a home office must too. Why not place on an open shelving unit? Reclaimed wood shelves look wonderful in a home office.

COLLABORATIVE

Working together brings out creativity but there are times even in a collaborative home office, that you need privacy and your own space, especially when it comes to the home desk.

Facing each other – if you enjoy each other’s company, this is a great way to work or if you intend to work on projects together, arranging wooden large desks back to back is the ideal solution. If you have the space, two larger desks like the Colette reclaimed wood writing desk, would create an island with plenty of worktop space but also stop you feeling like you are more or less on top of each other.

Storage – choosing a desk with storage is part of your storage solutions and for many, this fulfils all their storage needs. However, if you need extra, as well as a large sideboard as suggested earlier, creating a bank of open shelving and cupboards is perfect for when you both need to store things.

Lighting – adequate office lighting is required in any office, whether you work alone or with a partner. Consider desk lamps as essential, with backlighting forming a pleasant backdrop, but always be aware of not working in shade.

Style and the home office

If there is one thing about the home office that is leaps and bounds ahead of ‘official’ workspaces is that you can ditch the anonymous corporate style and opt for your own stylish home office instead. Reclaimed wood furniture offers so many options, from the industrial look to the minimal, yet warm Scandinavian appeal.

All you need to do is agree with your home office partner on which style to opt for…

How to fit a small desk in the bedroom

Fitting in a workstation in your home can seem like an impossible task, or, for students, squeezing in a desk into a small bedroom at student digs or halls of residence is an even bigger ask.

There are some basics requirements you need to follow, but with clever design and style solutions, you can fit a home desk into a bedroom, a small desk, mind, and not have the bedroom looking cluttered.

Here’s how;

The desk

Before you get carried away and order the smallest desk you can find, you may be surprised at just what you can fit into the room.

But first, you need to measure the room and draw a plan, noting any nooks, crannies and recesses. Which of these can be used?

For example, a tall, slender bookcase or unit like a ladder shelving unit with a slender width of 48cm would make the best use of the space and offer plenty of storage in the bedroom too.

You may not always want to be looking at your work however, and thus, a foldaway narrow desk is the perfect solution. The lighter tone of wood also means it fits perfectly within a smaller bedroom without overtaking the space.

The chair

Office chairs have a tendency to be large and cumbersome, with high backs and a boxy style. It may be ergonomic design but that doesn’t mean there needs to be ‘more chair than you’!

Most people prefer a chair on castors to sit on at their home office desk. For a slimline finish when you are not at your desk, consider a desk chair without armrests to slip under the desk.

However, the right desk chair depends not just on your own preference but also on the work you do. Designers and artists will often work on a stool, supporting them in an almost-standing position at their workstation.

The storage

A wooden desk in a bedroom is all well and good but you need adequate storage. The last thing you need is a messy, cluttered desk in your eyeline as you fall asleep and wake up.

A desk with storage is an ideal solution but many can be too large to squeeze into the bedroom. The solution is separate storage that can be used for both work items and bedroom items too.

As well as the ladder shelving in a recess, why not consider adding a beautifully stylish low-height shelving and cupboard sideboard? By opting for lower height items, you can be sure it won’t overpower the space. Plus the fact, it doesn’t look like a home office item which means you don’t have to worry about a corporate feel in the bedroom…

The position

And finally, if the bedroom dimensions and shape allow, you need your desk to benefit from as much natural light as possible. Banish shade with a desktop light, choosing a similar style on your bedside tables to bring a sense of cohesion to the room.

How to create the perfect home office, study and homework area

From kids’ homework and projects to your paperwork to working from home, the modern family home has to offer so much to so many people.

But we can’t always be moving walls and neither can the household budget always afford to replace furniture.

And so, with space and budget in mind, we take a look at how to create a space in your home with reclaimed wood furniture where ‘work’ is done, whether it is your latest work project or your kids needing to get their homework done.

Vibrant and stimulating (but not distracting!)

This is the mantra that needs chanting as you create a study space in your home.

A homework area needs to be stimulating and vibrant, a comfortable space where your kids will want to do their homework and other projects but at the same time, not provide distractions that prevent this happening.

You also need to make the best use of space because, as every parent knows, the pain of homework on a reclaimed wood dining table can, in many cases, be made even more of a trial with wails of “he looked at me!” or “she’s touching me!” … Far better to get a home desk that provides enough space for both of them to work together – or separately. Along with industrial shelving that works to separate everything they need into their own spaces.

Repurpose furniture

When the budget is tight, spending may not be an option. Rather than trying to kit out the whole space and thus, compromising on the quality of items, invest in high-quality, essential pieces.

For example, a reclaimed wood desk is the ideal base for a homework area and can afford you plenty of personal space between warring siblings.

Repurpose a lightweight, low height bookcase, giving it a spruce up with paint and adding a basket or coloured plastic box for each child to keep their stuff in.

If you want to replace your dining table and chairs, this could be the ideal solution;

·Use your current dining table and chairs as the new base for the homework area. Paint the chairs in the same colour and reupholster the seat pads too to give them a different look and style. Create name tags to hang off the back of each chair so there are no arguments that someone pinched someone else’s seat…

·Invest in a new dining table and chairs for your dining room or kitchen/diner!

Give it a distinct design appeal

Cute accessories

Wall art is never a wasted invested but that doesn’t mean everything has to come in primary colours or look like an extension of school. In fact, you want the opposite style.

As children grow, they appreciate being treated less like children and more like young people, so turn your eye away from anything that looks too school-like and opt for home-style instead.

For example, a small chest of drawers no longer in use in a bedroom or another room can be easily re-purposed for the homework area. Sand it down and use chalk furniture paint to give it a pleasant and stylish finish. Replace the drawer handles to give it an updated look too.

A tall chest of drawers can also work with the slender drawers being perfect for pens, pencils as well as for keeping crafting material such as A4 sized paper and card.

Lighting

As well as stylish accessories, you will need to consider lighting. Not only is it a practical need, lighting also helps to create the ambience to a space.

This is just as important in a homework area as it is in the rest of the house. As well as table lamps and floor lamps. Hideaway LED string lights behind furniture to provide a warmly illuminated backdrop.

What kind of homework area would your kids like?

How to choose the perfect boardroom furniture for your business

The boardroom is the place where deals are struck, and a business is propelled onto bigger and greater things. It needs to be a versatile space – comfortable, yet stylish, functional and sumptuous. There is no reason why you can’t create an impressive boardroom. And here’s how…

The boardroom table

Its dimensions impressive, its sturdiness sends a message to visitors and potential trade partners – and so you need to choose wisely.

We have some stunning options but two of the most popular (and you’ll see why) are;

The Oldman industrial table

This range is a stunning homage to the industrial style, still popular among customers. And no wonder, the clean, uncomplicated lines are perfect in any home, but they lend themselves well to the boardroom too.

And the Oldman industrial table certainly doesn’t lack character. Like most reclaimed wood furniture, it is an impressive combination between the old and the new. The tabletop bears the scars of its past but this adds to its beauty, rather than detracting.

The ambience of a boardroom is a place where decisions are made, where people collaborate, and progress is made. It needs to be comfortable, not only in practice but is aesthetic too. Wooden floor works well in the industrial styled boardroom and with the Oldman table custom made to any dimensions, you can create the right impression to the room from the moment people arrive.

Great for a boardroom…

… where productivity and comfort are key elements. Team with Allegro leather chairs or Dolomite leather chairs to continue to streamlined but warm approach to styling the boardroom.

The English Beam industrial table

Another stunning example from an industrial style furniture collection, there is a refinement to the English Beam range that makes it hard to ignore.

The table top of the English Beam boardroom table is more refined and worked than the Oldman table finish. There is a delicacy to the wood that is simply gorgeous, but this delicacy is not traded for sturdiness or robustness.

With a slightly more refined edge comes the opportunity to pair it with industrial chairs that have a starker feel to them. The faux leather chairs, for example, continues the cohesion of the style by matching its metal frame with that of the table, but the softness of the smooth upholstery provides a welcome connection with the table top. As a leather office chairs go, this simple chair offers the lumbar support you will look for too.

Again, this table can be made to your exacting requirements, introducing yet more flexibility and versatility to a boardroom.

As well as floorboards, this table and matching chairs works well with a carpeted floor – choose light and natural materials – and with a few finishing touches here and there, it is a boardroom that is stylish and refined.

Great for a boardroom…

… where creativity is essential. Keep accessories simple, offering detail without clutter and let this elegant boardroom table sing in the chorus of supporting pieces.

Industrial style furniture is the perfect choice for the boardroom, so which pieces would you choose?

Are these the best ways to declutter an office space?

De-cluttering – the throwing of everything away to start again… or is it? De-cluttering is something we all do, some more frequently than others. It isn’t just about ‘getting rid of stuff’, although that is the crux of it for many people. It is, in fact, about streamlining storage, creating solutions that work that allow us to live and work effectively and efficiently in a space.

And this is no more needed than in an office. But how do your de-clutter and stay streamlined in such an important and productive space?

Storage shelves

Frankly, a set of two or three storage shelves is an absolute must for keeping your desk clear of clutter. The secret to effective storage is being to access it quickly and easily and frankly, there is no better way than shelving.

As well as wall-mounted shelves, consider a freestanding shelving display case or bookcase as an alternative.

Drawer organisers

Your wooden desk may be clear on top but what state are the drawers in?! in many ways, there is nothing wrong with a messy drawer but seriously, when was the last time you found what you were searching for in here? You can probably count the times on one hand.

Get it organised with drawer organisers, from small baskets to cutlery trays for pens and pencils.

Go cord-free

If you like a streamlined office, styled along Scandinavian styles – white walls, light wood furniture offset with natural fabrics – then going ‘cord-less’ is the ideal solution. That means investing in Bluetooth enabled or wireless gadgets to do away with cords clogging the eyeline.

Colour code

Another great tip from people who are uber-organised – and stay organised – is to colour files in your office cabinets. Use coloured file ‘tips’ or stickers, assigning a colour band to a category that you can then effectively organise your files under.

PS Did you know that TV cabinets and media cabinets make fantastic storage for the office?

Establish office zones

In many ways, this emulates the home: the kitchen is for cooking, the living room for lounging etc. – and you can use a similar means of zoning areas for key activities in the office.

Your reclaimed wood desk is where you produce work, the office cabinets where you file, the display unit or shelving where you store items you need to access frequently… you get the drift.

Vertical storage

In smaller spaces, utilising the space up above your head is a great way of adding extra storage space, especially when it comes to working boards and noticeboards etc. Get creative too with your cork boards and whiteboards, two things that you can easily customise.

And finally, tidy up regularly.

If there is one key element of a de-cluttered off is that once you have de-cluttered, zoned and organised things, you need them to stay this way. Being organised and regularly tidying your workspace is not just important for your physical comfort in the office but you may find it is an important emotional task too.

Add shameless luxury to your office with aluminium

First impressions: a 7-second window of opportunity to send the right message to potential clients, employees, stakeholders and so on. Who would have thought that such a small gap of time could have such a lasting impression?

And last it does. It can take months, even years, to claw your way back from a negative impression. Thus, it pays to spend time, effort and money on getting the right look – and impression – about your office.

Corporate Offices

Take no more than a quick glance at corporate offices online and you will notice similarities: clean, today, efficient. You may also think clinical but, there is no denying that they meet expectations. Does your office do that?

Impressions are essential for meeting or exceeding expectations. When your clients visit your office, what do they expect to see? What do they expect to feel?

Are you meeting these standards or falling short? Is it time for a change? Is it time to ramp up the luxury and the impact of when people visit your workspace? If it is, we have the range of office furniture with the wow factor.

Practical and functional, the Aviator range is beautiful, different and elegant. Better still, it ‘fits’ the modern office look or the traditional appeal of a workspace. You can add one or two key items or deck out the whole office in the glinting Aviator range. The choice is yours…

• The desk

In an office, possibly the most important piece is the desk. You need desktop space for your PC or laptop, for your written work and so on, but an expanse of desk also indicates a certain sense of grandeur.

You want your desk to have character and a presence. The Aviator wing desk is simply phenomenal.

• The Chairs

As well as your own desk chair, you need chairs for your clients and they too, with the Aviator range can make an impact.

The Aviator wing chair is no ordinary, casual leather office chair. It too has an impact that people will find hard to resist. For more ‘informal’ seating – many offices now incorporate this kind of informal space – the Aviator leather armchair is ideal.

• Remaining space

From the Aviator large sideboard for storage, matching coffee table and console table, to industrial shelving, the Aviator range has everything you need.

But if all that shiny aluminium finish is too much, you can dial back the impact to a dull roar with accessories, such as a blue rug or large modern pendant lights.

The End Result

Designing and dressing an office is not for the faint-hearted. There is a mix of ergonomic design and style that must seamlessly blend to give a smooth overall finish. And then there are those customer expectations to think about…

Designing your office space is not about your customer ‘liking’ it – it may not be to their personal taste – but that is not the root of a first impression. Impressions are expectations, and whether the décor sadly misses the mark or sends the right signals of professionalism and expertise.

So, what does your office say about your business?