An under-used spare room
wardrobe can be repurposed
as a space-savvy study
Tilly Roberts, stylist
To encourage creativity, use a
wire mesh panel and cute pegs
to make a board of inspiring
images, textures and colours
Sort out your space
If your job takes you out and about, your
kitchen table may be where you tackle
admin and invoicing. Look around to see
if there’s somewhere you can carve out
a work area. John Harrison of Kaboodle
Kitchen says a great way to maximise
space for a home office is to extend your
wardrobe or kitchen cabinetry. “Create
a cohesive, seamless look by using
benchtops or shelving that match existing
joinery to make a desk extension or to
add floating or open shelves,” he says.
If you already have a dedicated area
for business, think about how well it works.
Improvements could be as simple as
redecorating, moving furniture and
investing in a few key pieces. Try fresh paint
(blues are said to be good for productivity)
and place your desk to take advantage
of any natural light. Position it side-on to
a window to help reduce screen glare.
Good artificial lighting is a must. Engage
an electrician to install downlights for
general illumination and a professional
look, but anyone can add a stylish desk
lamp for a targeted glow – perfect for
both close work and a hit of personality.
Find the right furniture
Your desk should be big and comfortable
enough so that you can spread out, but it
shouldn’t take over the space, says stylist
Tilly Roberts (tillyrobertsdesign.com). Make
sure there’s enough room to easily access
your chair and move around the desk in
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APP ASSISTANCE
Holly Shoebridge of
Oceans Accounting
(oceansaccounting.
com.au) suggests four
apps to help smooth
your working life.*
Xero Cloud-based
accounting app for
small-to-medium
enterprise (SME)
businesses of all sizes
and structures.
Rounded Costeffective accounting
app, targeted to sole
traders. “The team at
Rounded are very
responsive, and the
platform is really easy
to use,” says Holly.
QuickBooks
Accounting package
mostly aimed at SMEs.
ATO app “There’s a
motor vehicle logbook
within the ATO app,”
says Holly. “Tradies can
be among those who
benefit the most from
having a MV logbook,
to boost motor vehicle
expense claims.”
bunnings
comfort. “Face it towards something
inspiring, like an artwork, photos of loved
ones or a moodboard,” she suggests.
When seated on your chair, your thighs
should be parallel to the ground and feet
flat. Chair back support is important, says
Tilly. “Make sure you can lean against it
– a short back can be restrictive.” The
seat should be deep enough for you to
sit back while having clearance behind
your knees at the front edge.
Stash your stuff
Paperwork tends to hang around, but
switching to digital record-keeping can
help tame the paper mountain. Plus, says
Jessica Haslem of Flexi Storage, “One of
the easiest ways to optimise home office
storage is to declutter.”
Review your current storage options – if
you need lockable cabinetry for valuable
items, now could be a good time to
invest. For documents you may need to
keep, such as for tax returns, try archive
boxes or lidded plastic tubs. Store them
somewhere accessible but out of the way
to keep your workspace clear.
Some storage systems let you mix and
match pieces. “Pair a Flexi Storage Clever
Cube unit with a range of inserts, like a
two-drawer insert or wire undershelf
basket, to store important paperwork or
hold frequently used items like pens,”
suggests Jessica. “Use the remaining
compartments for smaller electronics such
as chargers, headphones and flash drives.”
*This information is of a general nature only and should not be regarded as financial or
legal advice. It does not take into account your individual circumstances or objectives.
You should always seek advice from a suitably qualified professional.
“Could your office be relocated
to a better place on your home’s
floorplan, like near an entryway?”
