Social distancing and self-isolation measures have meant that everyday Aussies are encouraged to now work from home. But not everyone is set up with a ready-to-go home office space. At Balnei & Colina, we love creating home office spaces that support working efficiency so you can be as productive as possible. Unprecedented times has meant that many of us are simply unprepared to work from home, using makeshift dining tables, kitchen benchtops to double as a home office space. Perhaps viable in the short term these spaces are not going to deliver for the long haul.

Being productive requires high self-discipline and is tough on the best of days, so you need to create a home office that supports being productive. This is why it is important to construct a home office that is functional and inspires you.

The renovation team at Balnei & Colina can create a dedicated home office space that will have you productively working from home in no time. Our custom home offices are designed to help keep you organised, work optimally, and by incorporating your personal style will maximise your productivity at home, and have you breezing through your workdays.

To help you on your way to creating a productive at home office, in this month’s B&C Home Journal, we share steps to create a home office that is both practical and stylish. Enjoy!

Robert Fonti,

Director Balnei & Colina

Custom home office by Balnei & Colina

STEP 1: DEDICATE A SPACE TO WORK FROM HOME

Allocate a spare room in your home, dedicated to work or if you don’t have an additional room select a space in your home specifically for work purposes. Choose a space that is less frequently used, with low traffic to remove distractions, for example, a guest room, dining area or bedroom. High traffic zones and noisy areas, like living rooms may not be the best for your productivity.

Custom Study Book by Balnei & Colina 

Image via Real Living

STEP 2: CREATE FORM & FUNCTION WITH CUSTOM HOME OFFICE JOINERY

Your custom designed office including desk, shelving and storage should serve your unique requirements as well as reflect your personal taste. An architect, for example, will have a different home office work flow and space requirements to an accountant. Office ergonomics also play a  critical part in ensuring a safe home office working environment. The height of your custom desk, location of key work tools, like your laptop, analysis of your workflow and ease of accessibility of workplace utilities like your printer or filing cabinet, will all impact your home office design. 

A Balnei & Colina home office design consultant, will work closely with you to create a home office layout that supports your everyday work tasks whilst meeting your personal style preferences. 

Whatever your design preference may be, having a purpose built custom home office, will always make you more organised as well as increase your productivity.

Design Tip: Your custom home office design should complement your remaining home style. If your home has more traditional elements like shaker doors, these can be duplicated in your custom home office joinery, similarly, in a contemporary home, design elements should be replicated and extended to the home office so that your home office space complements the look and feel of your home. Whether you're working through spreadsheets or keeping track of the family budget, having the right home office joinery can make all the difference.

Home Office by Balnei & Colina

SELECTING A HOME OFFICE CHAIR

Design Tip: A chair is one of the most important equipment items in your home office, and key in keeping you comfortable and safe whilst working from home. Invest in a good quality chair with adequate back support and adjustable levers. Chairs with a high back offer greater support, are considered more ergonomic and will help align your back correctly whilst working long hours.

Image credit: Inger Marie Grini Photography

STEP 3: CREATE STORAGE WITH STYLE

There are plenty of options for custom storage solutions that can be designed to suit your specific work requirements, as well as your taste and budget. 

Storage keeps your home workspace tidy and organised, and can make all the difference in creating a beautiful, clutter free space. 

Custom floating shelves are an economical and practical storage option and can also be used to display decor, personal items like workplace awards or licences, as well as essential books all within easy reach.

Smart custom home office storage solutions like drawers with inner dividers allow for greater organisation. A Balnei & Colina design consultant can work with you to create efficient storage solutions to maximise your home office space whether it be a small home office nook or dedicated room in your home.

Image credit: The Designory

Image credit: Tom Ferguson Photography

STEP 4: LIGHT THE WAY

Whether you're preparing for tax returns for the previous financial year, or catching up on work after the kids have gone to bed, creating an appropriate home office lighting scheme that best suits your everyday work tasks, is crucial to having an optimal working environment. Lighting location, intensity, and disbursement can all effect how well and how comfortably you work.

Lighting isn’t purely functional and can double as added decor for your home office.  A retro table lamp in chrome or brass can inject personality to your home office space or a large statement pendant can be used as a stand out feature. 

Built-in, recessed or task lighting, can also help to illuminate spaces for visual ease and help create mood. It is important that all lighting is balanced and on independent circuits to enable you to switch each on or off depending on the work your completing or mood your trying to create. 

A Balnei & Colina design consultant will create a lighting scheme that encompasses both task and general lighting to ensure your home office space is easy and pleasurable to work in. 

Image credit: Anson Smart

Image credit: Tess Kelly

 STEP 5: BRING IT HOME BY ADDING STYLE

The perfect home office will balance function and style. While a quality custom desk, storage, supportive chair and ergonomic design are important, so is creating a space that you actually enjoy working in. And a custom home office space provides you with the perfect opportunity to customise every element in keeping with your specific work requirements, and personal taste. 

Unlike attending work at an office, such as within a corporate building or complex, you can tailor your home office to be a reflection of you in every way. 

From chic stationery, family photos, lush indoor plants to your favourite decor, ensure you fill your office space with things you love and you'll find working from home much less of a chore.

Still unsure how to create a functional and stylish home office? Book a design consultation today with one of our design experts on 1300 450 320, contact us via balneiandcolina.com.au or email info@balneiandcolina.com.au. You can also send us your project details via this contact form.

If you’re looking for further inspiration and ideas for your next home renovation, signup to our newsletter or connect with us on Instagram and Facebook to stay up to date with the latest design trends. 

Image credit: Tess Kelly

HOME OFFICE ERGONMICS FUNDAMENTALS

Image credit: Zapier

Image credit: Martina Gemmola

Image credit: Armelle Habib