Choosing the right layout and zoning
To maintain interior balance, the office is divided into a resting place, a work area, or sometimes a creative area. Each specific area may differ in its color design in dark or light pastel colors. To visually expand the room, use white furniture and textiles in light shades. A glass coffee table will add even more lightness to the design.
In the photo, the work area is separated from the living room by a partition in the form of a shelving unit.
The zoning plan is mainly carried out using partitions, cabinets, shelving, as well as through contrasting cladding of walls, ceilings or different floor levels. The main thing is not to overload the design of the room with a large number of furniture items so that the decor does not look cluttered.
Main mistakes when designing an executive office
In fact, even a large office becomes small if it is not planned correctly. The design of a small executive office should take into account:
Window location and size. The window is a source of light and potential draft. If the manager sits with his back to the window, there may be glare on the monitor and discomfort in winter. When choosing and arranging furniture, it is worth taking this point into account and either placing the table perpendicular to the window, or moving it closer to the center of the room, which will affect the choice of other pieces of furniture.
Door location. I walked in and immediately onto the carpet: usually the manager sits facing the front door so that he can see everyone entering and have a full view of the office. When the office is small, the table must be chosen so that, with such an arrangement, the width of the table allows you to go around it on both sides, and the cabinets standing against the walls do not interfere with direct movement to the exit.
Furniture dimensions. When we look at a catalog and figure out how a table or cabinet will fit, we are mistaken. Dimensions are not the pure size of the maximum protruding elements, they are volumes and room for maneuver. If you take a table with a width of 206 cm into an office whose total width is 3 meters, there will be little space. Because the walls have a plinth, a socket sticks out of the wall, there may be a window on another wall, from which a curtain with blinds is 10 cm away, and you have planned chairs at the conference console. Plus, if you estimate the size of an average person, the width of the body, and we calculate it by the volume of the hips, is approximately 50 cm, and this is with an average build. That is, to get around the table, you have to turn sideways, which is inconvenient.
What to do?
Visit the showroom. The arrangement of furniture in stores is carried out taking into account comfortable use; the basic requirements for the area of the workplace and the free space around are met. You can pull out a desk drawer, open a closet door to see how much room there is left for maneuvering.
Choose smaller furniture. If in doubt, don’t take it close. It is better to take a smaller table or give up a cabinet, but save space for the free use of furniture and equipment in your workplace. When you start moving a table or cabinet so that there is a larger passage or a cabinet drawer blocked by a nearby chest of drawers opens, new problems will probably arise - a chair won’t fit, for example.
Contact the designer. Most furniture showrooms offer a specialist visit to the office in the cities where they operate, as well as remote design of the environment based on the floor plan provided by the client. The designer works in a program that allows him to create a three-dimensional model of the room, try to “open” the doors, and look at the furniture from different angles. Given our extensive experience, mistakes are excluded.
If you follow these simple guidelines, designing a small executive office won't be a problem. The catalog of the online store of furniture and equipment for offices Prime Wood has various collections for executive offices, and designer services are provided free of charge.
How to arrange a home office?
Through proper arrangement, it is possible to achieve a space with the most cozy and comfortable design.
What curtains are suitable?
The selection of curtains requires a very careful approach, since the curtains should be distinguished by a more restrained and slightly strict design in order to create an ideal atmosphere for work. An excellent solution is the use of straight curtains with discreet decor. In the design of a dark office, it is better to hang curtains in lighter colors; roller or Roman models will also be an equally wonderful addition to the interior.
The photo shows a window in an oriental-style office design, decorated with a curtain ensemble with a lambrequin.
What wallpaper to choose for your office?
The wallpaper in this room most often has a print in the form of vertical stripes, geometric abstraction or natural motifs. Photo wallpapers with panoramic images of cities, night cities and other pictures are perfect for decoration. In terms of color, the walls can be made in any shade, but it would be best to give preference to pastel colors that promote relaxation after a stressful work process.
The photo shows the design of an office for two with a wall decorated with photo wallpaper.
Lighting organization
If there is insufficient natural light or its complete absence, additional light sources are used, for example, a table lamp, backlight, LED strips or lamps built into various furniture.
A particularly popular option is spot lighting, which can visually expand the space and raise the ceiling. This solution goes well with chandeliers of various shapes and sizes. Also in the design of the office it is appropriate to use sconces and floor lamps.
Advantages and features of home work
Before you finally switch to homework and start arranging your office, it would be a good idea to familiarize yourself with the pros and cons of this choice. Of course, working from home has many advantages:
- There is no need to travel to the office - a lot of time is spent on the road, sometimes 2-3 hours a day. This time can be used more profitably. Don’t forget about saving money: travel is constantly becoming more expensive. Nervous stress from crushes, crowds and traffic jams are also not the most pleasant companions that accompany you on the road. As a result, you arrive at work tired and irritated.
- It’s healthier – it’s easier to catch an infection in transport or at work.
- Flexible schedule – you work when it’s convenient for you, the main thing is to meet the deadline.
- Wide choice of customers and employers. You can work for any other city and even for a foreign company without leaving home.
- Housework is often the only option to earn a living. This is a help for mothers with children, pensioners and the disabled.
In addition, this is the absence of officialdom, a restrictive dress code and the opportunity to have a home-cooked meal.
However, for the work to be effective, we should not forget about the pitfalls of this work process:
- There are a lot of distractions at home, and you need to have a lot of willpower to force yourself to work.
- Communication with employees in the office energizes and stimulates them to work. There is no such communication at home, corporate parties, company news pass you by.
- In the office, everything you need for work is provided by your employer: desk, chair, computer, software, office supplies. If you work from home, you will have to buy all this at your own expense.
- At home there are more temptations to succumb to laziness, and productivity decreases.
To summarize, let's say that remote work requires a lot of self-discipline and responsibility.
Features of choosing furniture
Furniture items must be of high quality, comfortable and practical. Here, first of all, it is important to install a computer or desk, an armchair, a comfortable chair, a rack for office equipment, a shelving unit, a cabinet or a cabinet for papers.
Also, the furnishings of a separate workroom are often complemented by a sofa, serving table or minibar. This room involves storage systems with an orderly arrangement of things and their free access; for this, drawers, shelves, wall pockets or organizers for small items are used.
The photo shows a furniture option in the design of a modern office.
The main compositional center of the room is characterized by a table, which, taking into account the size of the space, can be made of valuable wood, MDF, metal, made in light or dark shades, or be a mobile folding transforming structure or a product equipped with wheels.
For armchairs, choose models that are upholstered with natural materials and have developed lateral support. The most comfortable work process will be provided by chairs with adjustable height and backrest tilt, as well as designs with functions such as relaxing vibration massage or heating.
Work office in closet
An unexpected solution allows you to create a comfortable workplace. The advantages of the idea include the ability to install:
- computer/laptop;
- printer or MFP;
- additional gadgets and accessories.
After “closing” the office, only the chair will serve as a reminder of the secret of the closet, which hides a comfortable workspace.
See also: Combine blue with other colors correctly
Color solution
Thanks to a well-chosen tint palette, it is possible to achieve ideal conditions suitable for both complex painstaking work and creative activities.
Interior decoration in white colors is especially appropriate in a small room. Such light colors set the mood for the work process and give tone. This range looks great in wall, ceiling cladding or furniture. Quite versatile is the beige shade, creating a soft, soothing atmosphere and stable design.
The photo shows an office with a design made in dark colors.
An equally interesting solution is the furnishings in green tones, which help reduce sensitivity to noise, increase efficiency and neutralize visual stress. In the design of a home office, use the color of lime, juicy apple or a shade of forest moss.
Gray tones are distinguished by particular neatness, minimalism, aristocracy and majestic tranquility, perfect for both background decoration and individual furniture items.
A universal and exciting classic is the black and white palette with a harmonious combination of two independent and elegant colors, which is very often found in Japanese style, or the combination of black and red, most appropriate in Chinese design.
Workplace in the pantry
In separate housing according to the project, there are additional household premises intended for storing things.
Most owners have closets filled with old and unnecessary trash that should have been disposed of long ago.
Clearing out cluttered space helps create a nice workspace. At the same time, the door guarantees silence and isolation.
The main nuance of the auxiliary room is the need for lighting. To accomplish the task, sconces with directed soft rather than cold light are suitable. At the same time, the storage room is located within the apartment, so it is enough to simply provide central lighting to it.
See alsoThe most common mistakes in interior design
Design and decoration
The fireplace, as a decoration, is the compositional center and accent of the entire room and an effective addition to the surrounding design, creating a warm and relaxing atmosphere. This solution is suitable for those who need a combination of a classic home library with a modern workplace.
The photo shows the design of a study room, complemented by a fireplace.
An effective decoration of the design is the use of geographical maps, which give the atmosphere a special seriousness, various rare collections, figurines, antiques or a built-in aquarium, which has an interesting decorative and therapeutic effect that promotes psychological balance. In the interior of the office it is also appropriate to use various original graphics, photos or paintings placed on one or two walls.
Mini office on console
With minimal space and no free space for a regular table, a lightweight version is organized.
A console with a table top is mounted on the wall, the width of which should not exceed 40 cm. The best option would be a sample with storage boxes (diaries, writing instruments, etc.).
To avoid interference from the structure when not in use, it is enough to remove the chair under the tabletop. Additionally, shelves for folders are located near the structure, and multifunctional lighting is installed in parallel.
See alsoLoft style in the interior of a small apartment
Office interior in various styles
Design options in popular interior trends.
Office in loft style
This style is especially suitable for creative people. The loft is characterized by a rough and even slightly brutal finish, in the form of brickwork, wooden floors with rough boards, exposed communications, cabinets or open shelves.
The photo shows a spacious office designed in a loft style in light shades.
In an industrial-style office design, the desk is generally placed next to a window to provide maximum illumination to the work area, and furniture, in the form of wooden or metal cabinets, is placed along the walls. To zone a space, a shelving unit or a partition cabinet is often chosen.
In the design of a men's workplace, you can use American vintage, which is reminiscent of a loft, but is more cozy, with an abundance of leather material, textiles, the presence of a library and execution in chocolate shades.
The photo shows the interior of a loft-style office with a wall decorated with wallpaper with a pattern of a geographical map.
Classic office interior
Classic and neoclassical interiors are distinguished by massive bookcases, rare tables, wooden chairs with leather or textile inserts and many antique items. For lighting, a luxurious antique multi-level chandelier is selected, complemented with crystal candelabra, and the floor is decorated with a carpet in noble shades.
In the Art Nouveau style, the presence of expensive materials and equipment is appropriate. This direction is characterized by smooth and free forms, finishing and materials with floral and animalistic motifs. Such an office should have space and large windows.
The aristocratic design in the Empire style is a solid professorial office-library with a high chair upholstered in leather. Columns, elegant stucco molding and expensive chandeliers are used here as decoration; the windows are decorated with heavy curtains, creating twilight in the room. The color scheme is made in brown, green or milky coffee tones.
The photo shows the design of an office in the Baroque style in the interior of a private mansion.
In English style
Distinctive features of the chic English style are the use of massive solid wood furniture, natural leather upholstery and stone finishing elements. This interior is made in natural deep blue, emerald, green or brown shades. To decorate the ceiling, coffered structures are chosen, the walls are covered with green, red or blue wallpaper, and the floor is lined with oak parquet.
Office in Scandinavian style
A similar design is distinguished by a light palette in white, cold snowy, light gray, milky, beige, and brown tones. Window openings are decorated with fabric blinds, and furniture items are chosen from natural materials. Scandinavian stylist, especially suitable for a woman’s office.
The photo shows a study room for a girl with a design in Scandinavian style.
Italian style
In Italian design, furniture must be of very high quality and made from solid wood. As decoration, brass and bronze linings, gilding, carvings or forged elements can be used. A crystal multi-lamp chandelier with numerous pendants and a base in gold or silver is perfect for lighting.
Art Deco style
The refined and expensive art deco style especially favorably emphasizes the status of the owner and is especially suitable for the design of an office in a country cottage. The design uses genuine leather, ivory, metal and bamboo. A room in this direction will harmoniously complement a sofa with beautiful unusual armrests.
High tech
For futuristic ascetic design, materials such as metal, plastic and glass are appropriate. Characteristic shades are black, gray and white. For furniture, choose metal shelving and coffee tables with glass tops.
The photo shows the design of a spacious office, made in high-tech style.
Provence
The interior in Provence style is dominated by blue, milky, lavender, beige and other natural tones. The floors are often finished with bleached oak or other light woods, and plaster is used for the walls. In the manufacture of furniture, artificially aged wood and fabric upholstery are used.
Minimalism
This direction involves functional, simple, but not cheap furniture, with standard geometric shapes without unnecessary decoration. The decoration of a business office is done in monochrome colors or includes a maximum of two colors. Decor is chosen here, in the form of black and white photographs or plain paintings.
What are office furniture made from?
This is what the minimum set of furniture for your office should look like. Different materials are used for its manufacture. Most often this is:
- Wood is the most environmentally friendly, strong and durable. This is always high status and prestige. It is resistant to moisture and can be repaired, so it will last you a long time. Such furniture is quite expensive, and this forces many buyers to opt for cheaper materials.
- MDF is made from waste wood, compressed under high pressure and impregnated with carbide resins. This technology makes MDF boards durable and moisture resistant. They do not emit harmful substances and are suitable for use in residential areas. They are easy to process and perfectly imitate wood. They are practically not inferior to it in terms of strength and environmental friendliness, but are significantly cheaper.
- Chipboard is the cheapest material, its manufacturing technology is similar to MDF, but if MDF uses melamine, which reduces the emission of harmful fumes, then this is not always done in chipboard, so pay attention to the labeling before purchasing. For residential premises, the coefficient of emitted substances must correspond to the designations E0 or E1. Chipboard is inferior in strength to other materials, is afraid of moisture and can become deformed under heavy load. As a result, purchasing furniture made from chipboard is a dubious saving.
Of course, you can buy furniture made of metal, plastic and even stone, but this is very rare in home offices.
Small office design examples
A small room in a Khrushchev-era building should not be overloaded with furniture and other interior elements. You can visually increase and adjust the proportions of the room through zoning or using light shades in the cladding. It is also important that a small or narrow rectangular office has sufficient lighting.
The photo shows the interior of a narrow office in a rustic country style in the design of a country house.
Furniture items in a given room should be functional and compact; for example, pull-out or folding tables and small shelving are often chosen.
Office on the windowsill
Design companies often use the idea of arranging space near a window to create original solutions.
The advantage of creating an office on the windowsill is a sufficient amount of natural light, periodic rest for the eyes due to the distraction of the street landscape.
The only negative is that the idea of minimalism is not suitable for the south side because the sun is too bright.
For evening work it will require additional lighting in the form of adjustable lamps. If you increase the space and install a metal or plastic tabletop on the window sill across the entire width of the room, you can get additional space for installing office equipment, shelves, etc.
See also Design of a one-room apartment 30 m2. Basic principles
Two tables in the letter "L"
A corner table, as you know, takes up little space and allows you to optimally arrange the rest of the furniture in the room. A great idea is to place two identical tables at an angle in the letter “L”, where two people can sit quite comfortably. The main thing is that there is enough space for chairs.
