Whether you have a space under the stairs, a separate room or you’re incorporating an office corner into your living room, your desk will be the focus.

Even if you are working in a limited space, if you choose the right kind of desk, you can absolutely create the kind of inspiring workplace you need.

Choose a beautiful piece of furniture, but remember to go for functionality as well as style. Keep your favourite books and art close by to add to the appeal of the home office.

There are also plenty of options for cleverly designed ‘hidden’ desks that disappear into the general ambience of the room when you’re finished with work. This is particularly good if you are working in a corner of another living space.

A console table against a wall can work really well as the desk, or you could try retrofitting an existing piece of furniture.

When you have your desk in place, it’s crucial you get the right kind of seating. Corporate offices tend to supply the ergonomic extras that make life easier for employees and even if you work at home 100% of the time, it’s still important.

Working at a desk can cause all kinds of health issues that detract from our ability to work well. From RSI to the aftereffects of poor posture, your wellbeing depends on sitting properly and feeling comfortable.

So, put some thought into getting a chair that will allow you to do all of this. If you have a job that needs you to stare at your laptop for eight hours a day, you could consider a standing desk. These are great for ensuring your posture is correctly aligned, and can make a big difference to how you feel at the end of each day.

If you have a dedicated home office, it’s definitely worth picking out a sofa that fits the space. Taking regular breaks from the screen is important for mental health and wellbeing, and having a welcoming sofa to sink into helps you recharge in between meetings.

A two-seater in the corner is ideal, or for a more opulent twist, you could go for a chaise longue. This also adds a bit of design flare to your working space, and will make your home office cosy and inviting.

Corporate office spaces tend to be dominated by the practical – strip lighting, air conditioning and uniform décor.

When you’re creating your very own home office, however, you can make it as luxurious as you like. Step right away from the commercial style of office lighting, and go for a bit of luxury. Pendant room lights along with some carefully placed bookshelf and desk lighting will create an ambience you’d never get in a commercial office.

Combining some of your favourite vintage or antique pieces with new, practical shelving and furniture helps to create a lived in feel for your home office.

Give some of your older pieces a new place to shine, whether that’s through recovering or revarnishing. Match them up with a new sofa and desk, for example, and you’ve already made the space your own.

You may not have a particularly inspiring view from your home office – or you may not even have a window. However, there are ways to create your own view. Try placing some favourite houseplants on the far side of the desk, or on the shelves nearby.

This flash of green can make all the difference to a home office, moving it from drab to bright and fresh in a second. A ‘plant first’ approach to the space will ensure you have all of the benefits of a beautiful view from the window, even if it’s not a possibility.

Many people automatically feel they have to go light and bright with decoration choices for a home office. Perhaps this is partly the conditioning from working in corporate offices. And while neutral tones can work well for studies, there’s no reason you can’t mix it up a bit with some darker choices.

Dark wall shades, such as a strong blue or grey, can be lifted with lighting and given interest with artwork and styling. They can also be soothing and creatively inspiring in a way that beige or white isn’t.

Above all, your home office design choices should be a reflection of you and what makes you happy. Some of us work best in clinical, paper free zones, while others are all about the clutter. Make deliberate decisions to make your home office your own, and you will feel the benefits in your mood, productivity and outlook.