In this home office scheme, interior designer Charu Gandhi of Elicyon (opens in new tab) chose a modular joinery piece from the 1960s to create a statement and added contemporary pieces of art which inject colour and interest. Don’t feel beholden to one era, a mix of styles will look more natural and collated. Seek out pieces of vintage or mid-century office furniture and lighting for a characterful result. A bone china shade will create a soft welcoming environment you’re eager to spend time in,' he adds, which is important when your home office is positioned in a room also used for relaxation. 'Lighting is an effective way to zone your living space, defining areas for different activities and making every corner count. A perfectly positioned wall light, overreach floor light or clip light can provide an immediate solution to illuminate targeted areas for the performance of specific tasks or activities. If you are creating a workspace in a living room it's particularly important to consider additional task lighting for that area, too. 'Simple and refined, our lights sit comfortably on all manner of desks, from impromptu working-from-home corners to traditional studies.'

'If you’re working from home, a good desk light can lift the spirits and increase productivity,' says Peter Bowles, founder of Original BTC (opens in new tab). It goes without saying that lighting is essential for a home office.

This desk checked all those boxes which still allowing for some storage and the gorgeous, sculptural brass leg details are proportional to the desk but light enough to elegantly help tie in the other brass elements and help give this relatively small space some breathing room.

We also wanted something modern and fresh since the owner is on the young side. ‘The client needed a large surface area but, with the heavy built-in, we wanted the desk to have a lightness to it. ‘We wanted this office to have a stately, masculine feel and the dark built-in office storage gave that sense of confidence and strength while also being very sophisticated,’ says interior designer Corine Maggio of CM Natural Designs (opens in new tab). If you’re looking to create a luxurious and sophisticated home office for him, consider decorating with black and white and combining furniture with strong angles and streamlined shapes. (Image credit: Interior by Corine Maggio of CM Natural Designs)

Designing a home office questions