Work envy is not a common phenomenon, but a designer desk will inspire both you and your colleagues. Hey, it’ll probably increase your productivity too!
Here are our top tips for creating a gorgeous and functional workspace, even if you are the ‘creative’ type that leaves paper and lanyards everywhere…
IF YOU HAVE A HOME OFFICE…
New uses
Take a shopping trip in your own home and see your dusty household objects in a new light. Old candleholders can make great penholders and unused jewellery dishes are perfect for collecting rogue paperclips and rubber bands. Not only does this give your space personality, it also injects life into something you may have otherwise thrown out.
Get mobile
Tea trolleys are a great storage solution if you do not like to sit still at home or you like to change your desk layout often. With tidy wheels, a trolley can be at your side whether you’re working from the desk, deck… or bed. Select a trolley that can fit under your desk if you like to put your work out of sight when finished.
WATCH: 20 times Khloe Kardashian proved she’s the queen of organising
Comfort is key
A plush faux fur throw looks delicious draped over a chair and will be so snuggly you’ll look forward to sitting down to work. White is beautiful and bright but if you are prone to smudging ink, stick to earthy browns that are just as cosy.
Look ahead
Put your inspiration right where you can see it by fastening inspiring posters and photos to your wall. Instead of staring off into space your wall will be an instant source of stimulation. Change your wall art for each new project or season and work like a designer would with a motivational moodboard.
Designer tip
A good chair supports more than your back. Director of Matisse, Alan Bertenshaw, says: ”85% of the ergonomic value of the average home office is embodied in the task chair, so choose well – for example, an Aeron or a Sayl Chair from Herman Miller.”
IF YOU HAVE A DESK AT WORK…
Incorporate marble
Marble is the homeware trend of the moment and it looks fantastic on an office desk. Be it a coaster, laptop cover or a small slab to put your grab-and-go items on, this stone is chic and has a calming quality. It is a feature to look at while you think up your next work proposal (and is not nearly as distracting as a Newton’s cradle!)
Get organised
Being organised can be cool with a host of tidy drawer separators and desk stackers on the market. To make the most of organisers, have a system and be strict. Make sure every item has its place and get rid of any paper you don’t need as soon as possible. Delightful dividers can earn you brownie points, by showing a pride in your workspace and a sense of efficiency. Pastel or monochrome colours are on trend this year, or one up them with dark leather
Add some greenery
Research has proven that plants in the office boost happiness and productivity by 15%. Add a bunch of flowers to a vase for an instant fix. Or cacti and their succulent friends are the perfect office pets as they are very difficult to kill. Pop one on your desk in a copper vase, little glass terrarium or even a jar of sand and they will survive, so long as you give them a water bath every so often..
Personality plus
You wouldn’t walk out of home without accessorising so why does the same principle not apply to your office desk? Choosing novel essentials, such as a fun stapler or gold scissors, instantly injects personality into your office space while also ensuring your stationery does not camouflage into a colleague’s desk.
Designer tip
Always be prepared for inspiration. A Kikki.K representative suggests: “Keep a dedicated notebook or vision board on your desk that you use only for ideas and inspiration. You never know when inspiration will strike.”
GENERAL TIPS:
- Clear the clutter weekly. Rather than letting it pile up before you do something about it, make sorting and tidying the last task you do each week. You might have a million things on your mind come Monday, but at least you’ll have a fresh, clean space to work from.
- Buy stationery that you like . There’s nothing better than a pretty new notebook waiting to be used.
- Hide those cords! There are loads of solutions out there for keeping your tangled cords out of view – and many are DIY. Shoe boxes are great for concealing or just use velcro or twisty ties to keep cords together.
