The office is such a special place where important leaders, successful entrepreneurs and famous writers are “born”. It is at the desk that brilliant ideas come to people, successful projects are born and the most important work is done.
It is important that the design of the office in the apartment not only pleases the eye, but also puts you in a working mood.
Doing business and creative work in the kitchen, living room or bedroom is a real crime! Firstly, it is very inconvenient, and secondly, the atmosphere and energy of the space is distracting and conducive to relaxation or household chores, but not to productive work. So the house must have a beautiful office. Well, the design of the workplace at work, in the office, should also be given a lot of attention. How to create the right cabinet design in an apartment or office, and what tricks and features there are – we’ll look at it in as much detail as possible.
Depending on what functions will be assigned to the room, which will be called an office, its furnishings should be shaped.
Office in the apartment
If you work from home, be sure to set up a separate room for yourself to do things. The office in the apartment is the most important part of the home: you can close yourself in it and devote yourself to work, as in a full-fledged office, without being distracted by anything. When working in the living room, bedroom or kitchen, there will never be such an effect, and the work itself will be much less productive. The room in which the home “office” will be located should be spacious enough so that it does not feel cramped or cluttered.
In a small and cramped office there will be a feeling of despondency and isolation, and creative ideas are unlikely to come to mind.
It is important to have enough daylight. A spacious desk should be placed near the window. Its design and materials depend on the overall style of the room, but the dimensions should be sufficient to easily accommodate a work computer, necessary papers and small items on the table, and leave free space. The table should have additional drawers, shelves, sections for books, papers and folders - in general, everything for comfort and order. The table will be the center of the interior, and the rest of the objects will “dance” around it.
Here you should not overuse a large number of personal items - the atmosphere should remain official.
But an inseparable object, like a table, will be a chair or work chair. This item is not cheap, but you can’t skimp on it either. Here you have to sit often and for a long time, and your body should not suffer from such sitting. The chair must be of high quality so that you do not feel tired or uncomfortable from working for a long time. Well, his beauty and style is the second question!
The main requirements for furniture in this room are ergonomics, convenience and quick access to all necessary documents.
It’s good if there is room for a small sofa or soft corner. A cozy place to relax in the office is simply necessary to sometimes get up from the table, relax, and take a break.
Well, functional little things: shelves, chests of drawers, cabinets, racks - everything for use and comfort. It all depends on your imagination!
But the design of the future office in your apartment can be absolutely anything, not necessarily classic. Today there are a huge number of modern business styles that will emphasize the simplicity and elegance of the office. And we’ll talk about this in more detail later!
The color scheme should be selected in such a way that it sets you in a working mood and does not allow you to relax.
Disclaimer
- This text does not contain a single reference to SNiPs and GOSTs, so it can hardly serve as a guide for setting up an office that will have to report on issues related to labor protection.
- As far as the human body is concerned, two fundamentally different situations should be distinguished: a healthy person and an unhealthy one. In the first case, even bold experiments are possible; in the second, it is better to start any changes in planting with a consultation with your doctor. In this article we are talking only about the first situation.
- There is no single right solution. Many aspects are individual, depending on predispositions, previous injuries and the structure of a particular organism. But it is important to understand where personal preference ends and the reason for an objective diagnosis begins.
- Often, through the arrangement of the workplace, other remote issues are simultaneously resolved, for example, introducing sports into life. But we will only talk about the workplace in isolation from other problems; Read about other difficulties in other articles on our blog.
Cabinet Design Styles
So, the room in front of you is a blank slate. You already see in your fantasies how there will be a table, shelves with your favorite books, and maybe even a fireplace... But how to decorate the common space so that the interior turns out stylish, and the office is comfortable, warm and cozy?
To get started, choose one of the styles from among many options. If you are a conservative person, choose a classic design. Natural wood, massive simple furniture, luxury and simplicity, a lot of books and a fireplace, a massive table - all this will allow you to feel your status and importance.
Furniture that sets you up for business. It should be of high quality, comfortable and practical.
Neoclassicism is another option that combines strict classics and the simplicity of modernity. Or modern: everything is ultra-modern, high-tech, stylish. A modern office can be furnished in a fashionable high-tech style: choose modern flooring and wall coverings, focus on light, silver tones, flood the space with light and avoid cluttering with decor and details.
In essence, this is minimalism, but even more simplified, modern and as technologically advanced as possible, using advanced technologies.
Simplicity, high cost, quality and functionality. Everything should be monochromatic and discreet, no unnecessary details in the decor, modern furniture and technology. Why not?
Another option is a loft. Arranging such an office will require creativity and bold decisions: brick walls, a worn leather sofa, everything is rough and stylish. This is an excellent option for creative individuals: a loft-style office will inspire new ideas, will resemble a creative workshop and will definitely not be conducive to serious, measured and routine work.
A sofa, serving table and mini bar will be appropriate only if we are talking about a separate room and not a dedicated area.
There are many more styles in which you can arrange a work room: American, Victorian, English, Scandinavian, art deco... Let’s look at the last three in more detail.
English style of interior design
If you prefer luxury and at the same time value simplicity, gravitate towards antiques and bygone eras, then your office simply must be in the English style and numerous photos will convince you of this. The English style seems to have been created specifically for the design of work spaces. What kind of style is this?
It is characterized by severity, aristocracy and restrained English luxury. It seems that everything is simple and without pretentiousness, but you can feel the royal hand. This is the property of real English aristocrats: to love convenience, luxury and the highest quality in everything, but with restraint and without pretentiousness.
Having such a room at home, you will no longer have to rent office space and waste time on the road.
An English-style office is not cheap. It is not enough to simply place antique figurines on the shelves. Because the English style is classic furniture of the best quality, from the best materials. A leather sofa, like the one Churchill sat on. A large oak table with a secretary, beautiful and expensive writing instruments, and, of course, a luxurious leather chair with a high back.
It is much more pleasant and productive to work in a cozy home atmosphere.
Massive bookshelves take up an entire wall, at least, and they are filled with the best volumes of classics, nonfiction, dictionaries and collector's editions. There is little decor, but it is chosen with amazing precision: armor or a tall antique vase, weapons on the wall or an antique tapestry, a large floor globe. There may also be a fireplace if there is space for it. And additional lighting devices are a must: a floor lamp, an antique table lamp in a cute lampshade, a sconce near the sofa in the sitting area.
When choosing the design of a study in an apartment, you should first of all rely on the tastes, wishes, and wealth of the owner.
The color scheme is dark, natural wood, amber, bronze. The light is warm, yellowish, but there is a large window for sufficient daylight. There is a small carpet underfoot, and natural parquet on the floor.
In such an interior, you will not be lazy to work tirelessly, and great things will be accomplished!
Art Deco
If you see in your dreams a modern and stylish office in which luxury, wealth and beauty of life in all its manifestations will reign, then your style is art deco. It arose after the First World War and became incredibly popular among wealthy families, and today is more fashionable than ever.
The owner must ensure that the interior of this room does not distract from work and, if necessary, creates a creative mood.
Art Deco is for people who can afford the best. It is not enough to buy a good table: it must be unique. The furniture should be ordered from Morocco, and the carpet should be handmade in Holland. Natural wood of rare species, skins of rare animals, precious metals - only the best materials have a place here.
When you are in the office, you should feel comfortable, cosy, and in a good mood.
But all this splendor should form a harmonious and seemingly modest ensemble. That is, in execution there is simplicity, brevity and no vulgar pretentiousness. Maximum lighting, space, light colors. The best of the best deserve to work in such an office!
Scandinavian
But the Scandinavian style is for those who value, above all, comfort and atmosphere, warmth and sincerity, and not luxury and high cost. A modern office in a fashionable Scandinavian style is comfort, beauty and cute little things around.
When choosing the design of an office in an apartment, you should pay special attention to the choice of materials for finishing the office.
The Scandinavian style “loves” white and cream shades, natural wood and simple natural materials - linen, wood, cork, bamboo, cotton, burlap... Everything here is simple, real, laconic, as if made by someone’s caring hands. But not to be confused with the rustic style: in the Scandinavian style everything is organized, there is impeccable order everywhere and there is a lot of space.
Wallpaper can be chosen in any color, but calm colors will look most appropriate.
A Scandinavian office should be spacious and bright. Required are live plants in pots or a tree in a tub, a soft rug under your feet, a lot of light and creative decor - paintings on the walls or a large statue in the corner. In such an office, the best ideas will come to you while you work!
Where to hide the wires
Wires often take up too much space on desks, interfere with paperwork, and create a feeling of clutter. But there are ways to curb them.
The simplest one is a paper clip: you pass a wire through the “ears” and attach the clip itself to the tabletop. The wires will remain on the table, but will not spread to the sides.
If you have a round hole in your table for wires, try to pass them all through it, and place the extension cord (aka pilot, aka surge protector) under the table or on the inside of the tabletop.
You can hide the wires in a paper tube from a folded magazine or in special boxes. Here's what it might look like.
Well, the main thing is to figure out whether you need all the wires. It happens that chargers that we use once a month permanently live in the sockets of an extension cord. If this is the case, consider whether it would be more convenient to put them in a drawer and take them out as needed.
Interior design options for the office
To choose furniture, decor and other office design elements, you should decide on the style. After this, you can begin to develop the design of your office, taking into account the size of the space, its specifics, ceiling height, budget, and so on. And of course, each item should “response” to your heart and please you. After all, you have to work here!
The material for the floor, as well as for the ceiling, should be the same as in other rooms.
Selecting curtains
When choosing curtains for your office, you should decide whether textile curtains or other options are needed. Here are the most common ideas:
- Heavy textile floor-length curtains are suitable for classic or English style. They should be classic, a little antique, made of luxurious dense fabric, dark in color. It is possible to use fringe and lambrequins, but you should not overdo it: curtains that are too luxurious will attract all the attention and overload the interior. It is better that they are dark, but at the same time simple. They should reach the floor and move apart to the sides so that the windows are fully open during the day.
- Light curtains made from natural fabrics are suitable for styles such as minimalism, loft or Scandinavian. They have a purely technical function: to close the windows in too sunny, hot weather and to create comfort in the evening, in conditions of artificial lighting. No flowers or patterns, only solid, simple designs.
Wood will give the room comfort, sophistication and a businesslike mood.
- Roman blinds are ideal for an office in a modern, Scandinavian, loft or high-tech style. Simple and functional, they will add charm to the interior and, most importantly, will not overload it. Let them be monophonic, a little lighter in color or, on the contrary, a little darker than the wallpaper. Contrasting ones are also possible: for example, for a Scandinavian style or minimalism, you can decorate the walls in white and Roman blinds in black. But this trend must be maintained in the choice of furniture.
- You can also use blinds, but they can create the feeling of an uncomfortable office. Therefore, if the blinds are stylish, very high quality, and not snow-white, but cream or another color.
The design of a modern apartment office involves an almost complete rejection of straight and sharp angles in favor of smoothness and unexpected lines.
The main thing is that the curtains cover the windows and look harmonious, do not attract special attention and fit into the overall style of the interior.
Wallpaper selection
Walls need to be designed carefully and not rush into choosing a material. In the interior of your office, everything should be as harmonious as possible, so even if you really like bright blue wallpaper with yellow stripes, this does not mean that they are suitable for the room.
For your workspace, you need plain walls: this way they won’t distract you from your work. No swirls, flowers, stripes, polka dots or patterns. Texture is possible, for example, it could be textured vinyl wallpaper, natural cork, wood panels, decorative plaster.
The space should be light, airy and filled with light.
It is better to take a neutral color. For a classic or English style - brown in all its splendor of shades, for loft and minimalism - noble gray, for art deco white, cream, ivory and gold, for a modern interior - beige. Nothing superfluous and soft, soothing shades that will not distract from important matters and pleasant work.
Examples of office furniture
The most important thing in decorating an office is the furniture. It must be of high quality, practical and convenient, as it will be used almost daily.
It is best to rely on good quality natural wood. It is better to order furniture from the same collection so that the desk, shelves and chest of drawers are made of the same material, so they will look especially harmonious and beautiful.
The chair should be very comfortable, high and of high quality. Select it to suit your height and posture, “try it on” for yourself: you can sit in this chair for long hours!
Bookshelves and cabinets are also important. You shouldn’t overload your office with furniture, but if space allows, it’s better to choose full-wall shelves. You can place not only books there, but also examples of your work, awards, souvenirs and what motivates you. The design of even the smallest compact office can be very stylish, the main thing is to select furniture that will be of the same style and not skimp on its quality.
Desktop selection
In the center of the office interior is a desk. How to choose it? Here are the basic tips:
- The material must be good. Ideally wood, especially if you choose a sophisticated style - classic, art deco, English. But cheaper materials can also look quite decent.
- The more massive and heavier the table, the more spacious and luxurious the room should be. And for a modern style, hi-tech and minimalism, it is better to take a table that is lighter, more elegant, made of light plastic or even metal.
When choosing furniture for such an office, you need to focus on sophisticated and solid options.
- The size should be selected solely according to your height - the health of your back and your condition after a working day depend on the height of the desk. The more comfortable the height, the more productive your work will be.
- Design is a matter of taste. For example, if you love luxury, look for a massive table, with many drawers and carved doors, with gilded stucco elements. And if you gravitate towards everything simple and modern, then the table can be with smooth flowing lines, on curved legs, with a shiny surface.
The main thing here is convenience. Don't skimp on space and quality, and the table will be your favorite item in your office!
Office lighting options
There should be a lot of light in the workroom: this is the only and main law. So it is extremely important that the wall is decorated with a large window through which daylight will flood the room.
As for the overhead light, it should not be too festive; the office can have a cozy atmosphere in the evening. Which is easy to achieve using warm yellow lighting. A table lamp and a floor lamp near the sofa for reading are required.
No fancy chandeliers, everything is restrained: this is an office, not a living room.
Lighting fixtures should harmoniously continue the overall style of the interior and not stand out from it.
Is it worth enclosing the table?
When large open-plan offices appeared, many began to separate themselves from their colleagues with partitions. They do not protect from noise and prying eyes, but still give a feeling of intimacy and at least some kind of security. In addition, this at least a little disciplines everyone who “just ask”: when your territory is clearly marked, it is more difficult to invade it.
So if you feel uncomfortable in an open space, think about it, maybe you should separate yourself at least this way? The function of a partition can be performed by shelving, large indoor plants or a floor lamp.
Photos of cabinet design examples
If you are ready to decide on the interior design for your office, look at numerous photos of a beautiful office in this style in your apartment or office to get inspired, get ideas and make the final choice.
When thinking through the design of a modern apartment office, pay special attention to the selection of various accessories and lighting.
Photos of finished designs will definitely inspire you! You will be able to understand in advance what kind of wallpaper you want to cover the walls with, what will be on the floor and where to put the table. Or maybe you’d like to place an easy chair near the fireplace so you can read there during your free hours!
Approach the issue from a creative side, don’t listen to anyone’s opinion and decorate your office the way your heart tells you. After all, only you can work there, which means that you should feel good in this space, and it should reflect your unique personality!
The best way to develop a competent interior design for an office room is to contact specialized studios.
Do I need a second monitor?
Here, too, it all depends on what exactly you are doing. Most often, having two monitors is convenient for those who work a lot with data - for example, bringing together data from several sources.
For example, an accountant might use two monitors like this:
- on one, open the source database in the accounting system, on the second - analytical and verification tables in Excel;
- primary on one monitor, accounting system, for example an OS card with all tabs, on the second;
- accounting program - on one, mail, news, internal CRM, chat for communicating with the client - on the second.
Even if your manager now refuses to buy you a second monitor, insist and convince: water wears away stones.
Furnishing features
A table and an armchair are the main furniture in the office. A separate cabinet for storing documentation, shelves for personal belongings and jewelry are installed. The office is furnished with simple furniture. The requirement for the table is versatility and size (to fit a computer or laptop, printer and personal work tools, office).
Recommended desktop dimensions
L-shaped models are most often chosen. The printer is placed on the left, the main items for work are on the right. A multifunctional table will allow you to work comfortably, having all your things at hand. It has a retractable keyboard panel, space for a monitor, and additional shelves for books. The cables can be secured to the legs or tabletop.
The chair on wheels has an adjustable back and the ability to “roll” to the desired place without unnecessary inconvenience. The seat is chosen to be of medium hardness so that the furniture is not conducive to sleeping.
The height of the chair back should be adjusted no higher than human shoulders.
Women often choose a table made of glass, plastic or metal, with a glossy surface. There is an option with a hinged front cover. This table takes up little space and looks beautiful.
It would be good if it was a chair with a headrest, armrests and adjustable height
Do you need water?
“Recharging our batteries” in a timely manner is our personal responsibility to ourselves. These are simple things that you just need to remember, no matter how many things pile up. This includes breakfast so that you have enough energy until lunch. Lunch - so that the batteries last until the end of the day. For some, a snack is important. And, of course, water.
Making tea is an ideal option, but there is not always an opportunity to get distracted. So it’s better if the drink is always at hand - in a bottle, thermos or favorite mug.
Materials and finishing
The classic style does not tolerate fakes and cheap imitation of luxury, so you should not skimp on finishing materials. Natural walnut, oak and other types of wood, ceramics and marble are out of trend and are unlikely to ever go out of fashion. For walls, you can use luxury textile wallpaper and wood panels, or clad the surfaces with stone.
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Popular choices for flooring include parquet, stone, or large tiles. The ceiling is painted or plastered, complemented with decorative trim to match. Such additional elements include moldings, medallions, stucco molding and half-columns - usually made of plaster.
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- Interior styles
7 ideas for creating a classic interior unlike everyone else's
Which chair is more comfortable?
In an uncomfortable chair, we overexert ourselves, get tired quickly, and if things get really bad, we suffer from back and neck pain. So if you can order a chair of your choice, take advantage of this opportunity.
But I don’t have a ready-made recipe for what kind of chair would be ideal. What is touted as super ergonomic options most often does not suit me. But there is another way: try, and not only in stores. If you see a nice chair at a colleague’s place, offer to swap chairs for a couple of days. Yes, at least for a couple of hours! If there is something wrong with the chair, you will quickly understand it. And don’t waste your money or your company’s.
