How to create a flexible working from home space

How to create a flexible working from home space

With flexible working now ‘the norm’ for so many of us, creating a stylish yet functional home office is more important than ever. Working from home has an abundance of benefits for workers, however, when you’re surrounded by your home comforts, it can be difficult to stay motivated. The key is to create a space that is flexible enough to transition between a working environment and a place to switch off when you need it. When designing a home office, it’s important to always consider your work life balance. You should always be able to make clear definitions between work and home, however, this can be tricky if you’re unable to dedicate a whole room to your home office. We’ve asked our experts for their tips on creating a flexible workspace that will help you manage your boundaries, while staying motivated in chic, stylish surroundings.
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Embrace the multifunctional

Whether you have a dedicated office or you’re trying to fit your workstation into a living area, dining room or bedroom, it pays to think smart with your furniture options. Multifunctional furniture is a great way to maximise your space as well as helping to create those all-important boundaries when you’re ready to switch off. A slim console desk offers both style and function to any space, transitioning seamlessly into a decorative surface when you’re ready to put away the laptop and unwind on an evening. Opt for a design that suits the aesthetic of your space, whether it’s a Scandi-inspired wood design like the classic Madrid Desk  or a sleek contemporary model such as the Hamilton desk  

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Your desk chair is another opportunity to embrace the multifunctional. Instead of opting for a standard office chair, look for something that combines style and functionality. A sleek velvet desk chair will work perfectly in all interiors, letting you work in comfort while also providing additional accent seating for the room. Our desk chair collection combines on-trend neutral hues with bold, striking designs, with something to suit every home office set up. 

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Reduce Clutter

As you start to create your flexible working from home space, it’s important to avoid clutter. As the saying goes, ‘a cluttered space makes for a cluttered mind’, and there’s nothing more demotivating than having to clean before you start your daily workload. To keep your workspace free from clutter and junk, try and stick to just having the essentials around you while you work. That’s not to say you can’t add your own decorative touches to your home office, but you need to be smart about where you store them. Storage units such as bookcases are ideal for displaying personal items, especially those with additional closed storage areas. The Cookham bookcase and the Ripple display case are great examples.

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Not only is there enough space to store personal items, photo frames and ornaments, there are also cupboards for you to keep paperwork, computer equipment, and other work orientated items when you’ve clocked off for the day,

Inspire with artwork

Your home office should be a place where you want to spend time, and if you’re working from home for the foreseeable future, it’s important to create a space where you feel inspired. Whether you have an entire office to decorate, a single wall, or simply a space to display framed photos and prints, you should aim to create a space that reflects your personality. There’s no right or wrong way to choose wall art for your workspace; however, if you’re looking to create an office that works as a living space too, opt for a cohesive theme that matches your overall interior decor. Whether it’s modern monochrome prints, nature-inspired vistas or bright abstract colours, anything is better than spending your workday looking at blank walls.

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Change the mood

It’s not just what you put in your home office that makes the difference; it’s the vibe that you create when you’re working in it. To create a truly flexible space, this means getting creative with elements that will make you feel that you are stepping away from the office and back into your living space. Lighting is a one of the easiest ways to do this, and by adding different lighting levels around your workspace, you can change the ambience to suit your mood. Poor lighting in your workspace can lead to headaches, eye strain and lower productivity, so it’s important to try and place your workstation as close to a natural light source as possible. Once you’ve established your natural light source, it’s time to supplement it with different lighting options. 


To illuminate the space properly, you need to combine different types of lighting. A stylish desk lamp is a great way to bring functional lighting to your desk. We love the sleek designs from Zuiver, Elstead and Gallery Direct, perfect for contemporary workspaces where task lighting is essential, but so is style!

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Finally, add a tall floor lamp to your space that you can switch on when you’re no longer using it as a workstation. The difference in ambience will go a long way in ensuring your work and home spaces remain separate. 

Focus on wellbeing

One of the main benefits of working from home is creating a space that is truly yours. Your home office should help promote a sense of wellbeing, so look for items that will make you feel ready to take on the day. Houseplants are a great way to bring calming energy to a space; whether they’re real or you invest in some convincing faux-liage, there’s nothing more motivating than a sense of the outdoors. It’s also important to feel comfortable throughout the day, so don’t be afraid to add soft furnishings to your space to keep you relaxed as you focus on the task at hand. You can easily repurpose your throws and cushions by placing them on the sofa or footstool at the end of the day. 


Creating a flexible home office space is really about creating a space that reflects your individuality. At Olivia’s, our home office collection is designed to inspire, with everything from sleek office furniture to those all-important finishing touches to make your space your own. Discover the complete collection today and design your perfect workspace for the New Year.