Unless you’re a freelancer, it’s unlikely you were able to work from home prior to the pandemic. And if you did start working from home during that time, you probably realised your space wasn’t fully equipped to become a makeshift home office overnight. For me, and many other people I know, the main issue was – and continues to be – a lack of space. I have a small-ish bedroom, and there’s not really any other room in my house with enough space to accommodate an office set-up. In search of some practical design ideas for a working-from-home area that’s limited space-wise, I enlisted an expert.

Jessica Bellef is an interior stylist who spent nearly eight years as the style director of Temple & Webster, so it’s safe to say she knows a thing or two about getting the most out of your home. So how does she make small working-from-home spaces stylish but functional? Like most things in life, it all starts with keeping everything organised. “Mess and clutter can quickly swamp a small working-from-home space, so keep your work-related equipment and tools in pretty storage boxes or baskets. Clear surfaces give a calm, streamlined look and help you feel organised and ready to tackle the to-do list,” she says.

Next, Jessica emphasises the importance of finding a desk chair that balances style and comfort, saying it’s “essential for a compact home office”. Run of the mill, black, bulky office chairs can quickly overwhelm a small space and aren’t always designed with aesthetics in mind (just scan the chairs next time you’re in an office and you’ll see what I mean. They’re usually not easy on the eye!). So what type of chair should we opt for? “You might be tempted to add a sleek dining chair to your desk set-up, but discomfort will set in if you work long hours. Shop around for chic office chair styles that are padded, adjustable and ergonomic. Coloured upholstery can add an element of fun to your space,” Jessica explains.

She tells me that when desk space is limited, anything that’s added to it needs to be both functional and beautiful. “For instance, choose a handmade pottery mug to hold your pens or stack your notebook and Post-it pads on a vintage tray. These little additions will bring a dash of joy to your work zone.” As with any space in your home, good lighting is also essential.

“It’s so important to get the lighting right at your desk. Natural lighting is always best, but if you can’t position your desk near a window, add a lamp to get that glow. Take the time to select a style you love, whether a desk lamp or a floor lamp. Textured shades in natural materials create a cosy feeling or if colour is your thing, choose a lamp base that is boldly hued,” she suggests.

But what about those of us who don’t have a separate area for working? I know many people whose home office is in their bedroom or lounge – how can they create distinct areas within the one space? “Laying a rug under your desk will help to delineate your work zone. Choose a rug size that allows all four chair legs to sit on the rug when you are sitting at your desk,” she says. If you have some cash to spare, Jessica recommends a wall of custom joinery with a built-in desk, but emphasises that it’s “a huge investment”. If you’re pinching pennies like me, she says you can get a similar look by affixing a floating shelf on the wall in front or behind your work table. “It will provide storage space for books and cute boxes hiding stationery and tech bits and bobs. Styling the shelf with a pot plant, a piece of art or collected treasured objects will inject the area with personality, which is nice if you have to see the space outside of work hours.”

To really bring the space together, she says it’s worth paying attention to scent. “Certain fragrances can improve your focus and productivity. In addition, the ritual of lighting a scented candle, incense stick or oil burner can help you get into work mode. Look for scent blends featuring citrus, peppermint, eucalyptus and sage. My favourite scented candles are by Southern Wild Co and I love the Aesop incense range.”

Finally, she tells me that displaying visual inspiration around your work desk can help trigger creativity – something that can be hard to come by when working from your bedroom or lounge. “I’ve covered a wall in magazine tear sheets, like a life-size Pinterest board. I also hang artwork in the space and love rearranging the pieces now and then. When I swap the artwork around, the space feels refreshed, which makes me feel totally reinvigorated and inspired to work.”

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