by Jemma Pearson The home office has become an essential component of today’s homes, whether you work full-time from the front room or just need a spot near the kitchen to write emails.

With many of us spending more time working from home, a suitable home office set-up has become as important to property owners as a decent kitchen and comfy bed. Getting the right look for you will depend on what you need the office for, who will be using it, your taste and the property’s existing decor. Whether your taste is minimalist cool, warm and cosy or bold and creative, it’s easy to find products and pieces to get your home office looking just right.

The professional

A sophisticated space with grown-up appeal requires a heavy wooden desk in a dark, highly polished veneer. A simple black office chair will work best. If you have the space, include a brushed aluminium floor lamp by a comfy leather chair in the corner. This sort of space needs plenty of storage to keep the clutter away. A painting or group of photos in plain black frames will add warmth – sophisticated doesn’t have to mean uninviting.

The creative type

A creative space does not have to be a messy one. If you’re the kind of worker who likes to include plenty of inspiring pictures on the wall, books and magazines and personal bits and pieces lining the shelves, the best way to create your home office is to start off with a base of white – a white desk and white walls with a simple chair. Plenty of shelving will keep your knick-kancks away from the workspace. Magazine holders are great for grouping magazines, books and paperwork together. And choose a big desk where you can spread out.

Plenty of shelving will keep your knick-knacks away from the workspace. Magazine holders are great for grouping magazines, books and paperwork

The modernist

If all you need is a desk, a chair, a computer and a printer, you may think that it makes the job easier. But a sparse space can look pretty cold and uninviting. And who wants to work in that? Warm up a cool room with a simple lamp, a small terracotta pot with some greenery or a colourful picture on the wall.

Warm up a cool room with a simple lamp, a small terracotta pot with some greenery or a colourful picture on the wall

The contented

Like your creature comforts, even when you’re sitting at your desk? A warm and cosy office should feel familiar, so surround yourself with photos of family and friends, a group of shells from your local beach and a vase of flowers from the garden. On old table made from recycled timber is a good way to go and shelving that matches will keep everything in order. Place your desk under a window, if you can, so you can look out to the yard while you work.