You can also get some really neat fold away desks which are great if the room needs to become multi functional and you want to fold work away at the end of the day.’ 5. Shelving up to the ceiling can look great if files are styled together with some lovely accessories. If the space you’re able to carve out is narrow and small, Emma’s got a couple of tips to maximise space, ‘Consider the full height of the wall area to maximise storage. It is also a great way to add pattern to a space in small doses creating interest and character.’ 'By introducing a contrasting colour or pattern to the walls you are creating a visual divide and therefore suggesting that the areas have different functions. Emma Gurner of Folds Inside explains the logic, ‘Using wallpaper and paint to zone an open plan space is a really effective way to define an area,' Emma says.

Home office wall decor is an important tool for this approach. GOT A MULTIFUNCTIONAL SPACE? GET IN THE ZONEĪnother way to make your desk feel like a separate space within a larger room is through the way you decorate, and more specifically by zoning. ‘Just be sure to take into account the overall design aesthetic of the room when creating this new space, as the hidden desk still needs to flow seamlessly within the space when the doors are open as well as closed’. Roselind Wilson offers an inspiring option ‘When it comes to mastering the art of discretion for your desk, hiding it behind pocket sliding doors is an effective way to enhance the functionality of a room, while also enabling it to be closed away at the end of the day or concealed quickly if necessary, when guests arrive,’ she says.

‘This multi-functioning approach to designing spaces has become increasingly popular in today’s busy, family households where there are multiple demands on one room’.īut what happens when you want to switch off for the day? It can be difficult to leave the office behind if you can see it from your sofa as you’re trying to relax. Under the stairs in a hallway,’ notes Roselind Wilson of Roselind Wilson Design (opens in new tab). ‘A popular option is to incorporate a workspace into the design of a living room, kitchen or into the compact space

When space for a dedicated home office is lacking, it’s time to get creative.

Designing a home office without a desk