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How to Successfully Share Your Workspace
Make room for side-by-side study and business with twin desks that maximise your home office space
If you work from home, you’ve probably carved out a little area in which to conduct business away from the hustle and bustle of family life, perhaps in the corner of the dining room or guest bedroom. But what if two of you need to share the space?
In an ideal world, most of us would prefer a dedicated area to ourselves, without the necessary compromise of dealing with another person’s irritating paperclip-straightening habit or untidy paperwork. But in reality, with more and more people becoming self-employed and an increase in flexible working patterns, shared home offices are becoming a necessary part of life.
Take a look at these ideas to help promote an inspiring and aesthetically appealing work environment and lessen the impact of all those dead paperclips.
In an ideal world, most of us would prefer a dedicated area to ourselves, without the necessary compromise of dealing with another person’s irritating paperclip-straightening habit or untidy paperwork. But in reality, with more and more people becoming self-employed and an increase in flexible working patterns, shared home offices are becoming a necessary part of life.
Take a look at these ideas to help promote an inspiring and aesthetically appealing work environment and lessen the impact of all those dead paperclips.
Swap your swivel chair
Characterful furniture, such as these Hans J Wegner wishbone chairs, can transform a plain home office into something with more personality. Stick to natural wooden finishes and white walls for a soothing space that you’ll both be happy to get to work in.
Characterful furniture, such as these Hans J Wegner wishbone chairs, can transform a plain home office into something with more personality. Stick to natural wooden finishes and white walls for a soothing space that you’ll both be happy to get to work in.
Love your layout
Consider the most effective way to make use of your available space – long, lean rooms like this can accommodate a home office for two if they’re laid out correctly. You may have to compromise on the depth of your desk, but the lateral work space should make up for that.
Consider the most effective way to make use of your available space – long, lean rooms like this can accommodate a home office for two if they’re laid out correctly. You may have to compromise on the depth of your desk, but the lateral work space should make up for that.
Alternatively turn your back on each other
If you’re considering a loft conversion or already have space in the eaves, this colourful office for two could be your inspiration. With desks situated on either side, facing away from each other, your study buddy will be close enough for conversation without visual distraction. Build in plenty of storage and keep a bottle of water on hand if it’s a long walk to the kitchen.
If you’re considering a loft conversion or already have space in the eaves, this colourful office for two could be your inspiration. With desks situated on either side, facing away from each other, your study buddy will be close enough for conversation without visual distraction. Build in plenty of storage and keep a bottle of water on hand if it’s a long walk to the kitchen.
Accessorise with art
When too much decoration leaves you feeling distracted, but you still want to accessorise your space, steal this office’s style. Using the wall behind your chairs to create a picture gallery will raise your spirits on entering the room without luring your attention away from work once you’re at your desk.
When sharing, desk surface area may be challenged – meaning there’s little room for desk lamps. Pendants are an option, but do install a dimmer – overhead glare does not make for a relaxing work environment.
When too much decoration leaves you feeling distracted, but you still want to accessorise your space, steal this office’s style. Using the wall behind your chairs to create a picture gallery will raise your spirits on entering the room without luring your attention away from work once you’re at your desk.
When sharing, desk surface area may be challenged – meaning there’s little room for desk lamps. Pendants are an option, but do install a dimmer – overhead glare does not make for a relaxing work environment.
Go bespoke
If your budget permits, there’s nothing more sleek and sophisticated than custom joinery that fits perfectly. Awkward nooks and crannies are incorporated into useful shelves and drawers, leaving plenty of workspace for two. For a desk with a view, build across the window. Iconic Eames office chairs, meanwhile, offer design and comfort combined.
If your budget permits, there’s nothing more sleek and sophisticated than custom joinery that fits perfectly. Awkward nooks and crannies are incorporated into useful shelves and drawers, leaving plenty of workspace for two. For a desk with a view, build across the window. Iconic Eames office chairs, meanwhile, offer design and comfort combined.
Play with print
For low-key office embellishment, choose a subdued printed wallpaper and use it to bookend the space behind your desk. This workspace also has organisation wrapped up, thanks to twin magnetic notice boards, floating shelves and matching storage bins. In a narrow room, make use of brackets to support the desktop from underneath, leaving more space for chairs – and legs!
Explore more ideas for incorporating wallpaper into your home
For low-key office embellishment, choose a subdued printed wallpaper and use it to bookend the space behind your desk. This workspace also has organisation wrapped up, thanks to twin magnetic notice boards, floating shelves and matching storage bins. In a narrow room, make use of brackets to support the desktop from underneath, leaving more space for chairs – and legs!
Explore more ideas for incorporating wallpaper into your home
Make it personal
Try incorporating mementos and accessories from elsewhere in your home to create an office that reminds you both of your wider lives. Keep a blanket draped over the back of your chair to soften it and for extra warmth if your co-worker doesn’t want the heating turned up.
Consider installing a shelf to add volume to your desk space and keep it free of clutter. If you’re messy, tuck one or two capacious baskets or boxes each up there so you both have a place to throw less important paperwork.
Try incorporating mementos and accessories from elsewhere in your home to create an office that reminds you both of your wider lives. Keep a blanket draped over the back of your chair to soften it and for extra warmth if your co-worker doesn’t want the heating turned up.
Consider installing a shelf to add volume to your desk space and keep it free of clutter. If you’re messy, tuck one or two capacious baskets or boxes each up there so you both have a place to throw less important paperwork.
Have bright ideas
If bright colours and bold patterns stimulate your creative juices, incorporate them into your office scheme. A supersized ribbon board in a contrasting colour provides masses of space for stashing inspiring images and useful memos – and allows both workers to add their own contributions.
For a desktop as long as this, look to laminates designed as kitchen worktops – and think about whether you can manoeuvre one successfully to its destination through your house!
Tell us…
Do you share a workspace in your home? We’d love to hear – and see – how you make it work in the Comments section.
If bright colours and bold patterns stimulate your creative juices, incorporate them into your office scheme. A supersized ribbon board in a contrasting colour provides masses of space for stashing inspiring images and useful memos – and allows both workers to add their own contributions.
For a desktop as long as this, look to laminates designed as kitchen worktops – and think about whether you can manoeuvre one successfully to its destination through your house!
Tell us…
Do you share a workspace in your home? We’d love to hear – and see – how you make it work in the Comments section.
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If your work requires referring to various books and documents, you need storage solutions that offer easy access. This simple shelving system doesn’t take up any valuable desk or floor space, but utilises the otherwise wasted back wall and stretches the length of the room to allow access for both workers.
A small filing cabinet does double duty as a divider between the two workspaces, so there should be no arguments about encroaching paperwork.
Find the right people to help with your project in the Houzz Professionals Directory.