These days, office work isn't only reserved for the workplace. Between answering phones, attending meetings and other daily obligations, who has time to actually finish all of their tasks from nine to five?

    "People work far too much and often have to take their work home. They want to have nice surroundings that are also comfortable," explains Rob Everitt, principal of Everitt Design Associates Limited. "Your home office has to function perfectly for you so you're going to want to work there."

    For some, this may mean hanging inspirational artwork on the wall or having plenty of storage space so they're not distracted by clutter. "In a lot of cases, people want their home office to 'close away' so it doesn't look like a home office if someone was to sleep there or watch TV. You could have an armoire that hides the computer and the printer so that people don't see it all the time," Everitt says.

    One office his company designed sets a perfect example of 'closing away.' The computer monitor sits atop a desk that houses two touch-latch doors, concealing the additional computer equipment. "They wanted a comfortable space and an interesting living space but again, they wanted the computer to be really downplayed," Everitt says.

    The room includes a sitting area, with an Ultrasuede sofa and Eileen Gray tables. "The style of this space is what I would call transitional. It's contemporary but with a slight traditional quality to it," Everitt describes. "Eileen Gray was a very famous designer from the 1920s so we combined the tables with more contemporary furniture and a slightly more traditional use of colour, too - darker woods, darker wood cabinetry, then we highlighted with lighter colours - creams and grays."

"Your home office has to function perfectly for you so you're going to want to work there."
- Rob Everitt

    Texture is also an important factor. Another office Everitt worked on incorporated hardwood flooring, a sheer, perforated vinyl blind and a desk with a vertical beaded detail. "With the different textures, we made the space more contemporary with a traditional twist," says Everitt.

    Rob Cunningham of Cunningham Business Interiors says the choice of furniture can make or break the comfort factor of a home office. "It depends on the amount of time someone will be spending there and the type of work they'll be doing," he says.

    But first things first, start with a high quality chair, Cunningham recommends. "If there is more than one person using the same work station, it should have adjustability. This helps to prevent repetitive stress injuries if you're going to be sitting at a desk for long periods of time."

    The other furniture that occupies a home office should also depend on who will be using the area. If it's a space that will be frequented by children, laminates are a durable option. For those that are more concerned with projecting a stylish appearance, wood furniture may be the way to go. "Whether you choose wood or laminate, it will have an effect on budget but it's a matter of what will work better for you," says Cunningham.

    Regardless of the style you settle on, your home office should be a private abode that encourages your best work and makes you feel just as its name suggests - at home.