29 March 2024
  • 29 March 2024

Working 9 to 5…

on 1 November 2019 0

As we continue to adjust to our ever-changing world, interiors editor Kike Pawlik unveils her tips for an inviting makeshift office.

Working from home is the new norm right now. Every house needs a place for work, homework, admin and, where required, home-schooling. Given the circumstances, more and more of us intend to have a workstation at home where we can carry out these tasks without being disturbed. Having an office space at home might seem like an impossible thing to achieve, but in reality, you don’t need a substantial amount of space to make it plausible. Whether you are trying to unobtrusively squeeze in a small desk or fashion a dedicated home office area in your living room, dining room or even bedroom, you can easily set up a stylish and practical workspace at your abode. A little creativity and thoughtful planning are all it takes to carve out more room, no matter how tight your home is on space.

Table lamp, www.cuckooland.com

Table lamp, www.cuckooland.com

Desk, www.nest.co.uk

Desk, www.nest.co.uk


You can start by changing your living room layout. A new furniture arrangement in the living area will create the space to accommodate a place to get things done. A workstation within a living area should coexist with rest of the design as we don’t want to lose its central purpose. It should still be a space for family time and relaxing activities. Find space in an alcove in your living or dining room. Or if you have to use a corner of your living space, add a small desk or choose bespoke furniture that can be designed to work in these awkward crevices. Choose a wooden desk and chair for a classic look or create a nook for your home office using a curtain. The fabric “wall” will separate the work area from the living room and prevent them from blending together in your mind. 

 Invest in a narrow, but tall desk with enough space to store a laptop and plenty of shelves for storing stationery supplies. A stack of floating shelves will create a wall for storage and display, while the bottom shelf will create a perfect spot for a compact printer. Meanwhile, keeping floors clear and clutter-free will help to create the illusion of additional space.

Ghost chair, Michael Murphy Home Furnishing

Ghost chair, Michael Murphy Home Furnishing

Chair, Michael Murphy Home Furnishing

Chair, Michael Murphy Home Furnishing

Ladder desk, Wilko

Ladder desk, Wilko


One of the most creative and smart ways of setting up a home office is to enlist the underutilised space under the stairs. While there are exceptional workstations and ‘ready to use’ products in the market, you might think of getting one customized for the space you have. A comfortable office chair is a must when sitting in front of a computer for hours on end and a perfect piece to enlist in small spaces is the “ghost” chair because the seat is nearly invisible. 

If you’re limited on space, you may try to fit a desk in a bedroom. However, making a desk double up as a dressing table would mean that it becomes multipurpose. Make the most of every inch of valuable wall space with a wall-mounted unit and a flip-down surface. Try putting your desk up against a window in your bedroom. That way, you will have a view to look at to separate it from your sleeping area.

Some days, it can be hard to find the motivation to get to work. So, attach pinboards and pegboards as a place to keep notes, inspirational images or quotes to keep you going during the working hours. 

Well organised working spaces inspire productivity in addition to looking good. Whether you’ve got an entire room to play with or a tiny corner, be sure to try to optimise your workspace to lighten, inspire and energise.


Kike Pavlik is a Paisley-based interior design student at The Glasgow School of Art. Follow her on Instagram kike.pavlik.

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