In the past year, our otherwise bustling work culture has effortlessly percolated inside our abodes. Home has become the playground for leisure, fine dining, gym sessions, business meetings, work and even weddings via zoom. The pandemic has turned our attention indoors and there is now a constant need to dress up the interiors in the most inviting ways possible. Now, when we speak of revamping our cosy quarters in 2021 – one corner that possibly cannot be overlooked is our home office because that is where we are spending most of our hours and days every week.
Entrepreneurs who have not stopped innovating and creating the best in the luxury industry during the lockdown have been cooped up inside their home offices, too. Check out useful tips and tricks from industry leaders on how to jazz up your work-from-home corner, as well as a guide to the artsiest yet ergonomic furniture for your work zone.
Kresha Bajaj, Fashion Designer & Creative Director – Kresha Bajaj
I like to call my home office a happy, hopeful and calming place.
Kresha Bajaj / Instagram
My workstation went through many changes during the last year. Before lockdown it had a cluster of beautiful frames, vintage stationary, candles, planner and a few other decorative things. But in the lockdown, I wanted to reset my mind. So, I decided to declutter my desk and keep it minimal in order to help me think better.
Currently, my workplace just has a mini-variegated Monstera plant, a Diptyque Baies candle (it reminds me of the ocean) and a couple of books I’ve been reading on business strategy. A few décor pieces at my home office that stand out include a Victorian crystal chandelier, my beautiful Satuario desk, and a 50-year-old heirloom that I repurposed. My super-comfortable chair is custom made to look like a coral and it’s fluted in blush velvet. One quirky element is a trash basket under my desk, which is made of ivory ceramic and a tiny sparrow that sits on the edge of the gold rim. A frame of golden tree with branches is my iPad stand that looks no less than a piece of art. I absolutely love flea markets and vintage stores around the world and that’s where I usually get my décor from. To name a few, Saint Ouen in Paris, little stores in Oshiwara (Mumbai) and Anthropologie are my favorite.
You can spruce up your home office setup by:
-Adding a beautiful plant or some fresh blooms.
-Using scented candles.
-Keeping a book, you believe in.
-Having a calendar and a journal with enough space to plan your weeks ahead and write notes in.
Nazneen Jehangir, Founder – Libellule
My work space at home is elegant, functional yet elevating
Nazneen Jehangir, Founder, Libellule
In the lockdown, we moved to our weekend home that didn’t even have a proper office space. So, I changed one of the bedrooms into a study-cum-office. I added a beautiful chair by Jeevaram Carpenter, a lovely flea market vase with dried flowers and some bespoke foraged material that I’d collected and dried like feathers, wild fruits, twigs. For staple interior décor, my go-to brands are Jaipur rugs, Mahendra Doshi’s furniture studio, ‘my mum’s house’ for heritage pieces and IKEA for odd things like cable managers and felt door handle cushions that you don’t find elsewhere.
You can spruce up your home office setup by:
-Hiding your wires and having sectional drawers to put folders out of sight.
-Not having unnecessary knick-knacks that may look good in photos but just clutter your space otherwise. I think a clean space is the best canvas.
-Adding a planter or small vases.
Sachin Gupta, Founder – Beyond Designs
My home office is an easy-going, non-pretentious place surrounded with some cherished collectibles.
Sachin Gupta, Founder & Principal Designer, Beyond Designs
I’m not much of a desk person. I usually work on the sofa or even my bed. However, I have aligned a desk right next to the balcony to get lots of light, views of greenery and of my balcony. I have done up the desk with a table lamp, a wooden sculpture and a backlit champa tree to create a soothing ambience. There are some artefacts, books and flowers that complete the look. I am old school, so I prefer not to have any high-tech gadgets.
You can spruce up your home office setup by:
-Following your own style and decorating with whatever you want – artefacts, books, plants.
-Getting natural light and a bit of greenery in the view.
-Arranging your stationery in a beautiful holder or a jewellery box to add an artistic touch.
-Having a table lamp that not only decorates the desk but also helps with light.
Tarang Arora, Creative Director – Amrapali
My work station is practical, comfortable and inspirational.
Tarang Arora, CEO, Amrapali
After adapting to a WFH routine, the first change I made was a new work desk that would accommodate my laptop, iPad and phone. My desk doesn’t have a high-tech gadget, but there are my regular tools that I need at work such as measuring instruments for gemstones and magnifying eyeglasses. Some visually appealing décor pieces adorning my home office include my family’s portrait in a silver frame, a beautiful Rajasthani painting, some silver articles and an emerald Ganesha. A Nespresso machine sits on one corner as well. For most of my décor related needs, Good Earth is my go-to.
You can spruce up your home office setup by:
-Keeping it simple and clean. Too much distraction can alter your focus.
-Decluttering is crucial. Don’t hoard up things thinking you would need them. It will only occupy space in your room as well as in your mind.
-Making way for a source of sunlight. Especially being in the jewellery business, it’s all the more crucial for me to see stones in natural light, so it’s a must.
-Adding your favourite painting, poster or a picture that interests or inspires you.
-Including smart storage. In my case, I need a compact safe to keep the jewellery.
Varuna D Jani, Founder – Varuna D. Jani Fine Jewellery
My work corner is a space where I feel relaxed yet the most productive and inspired.
Varuna D Jani, Founder – Varuna D. Jani Fine Jewellery
During the lockdown, I demarcated a separate room for my office because I did not want my work to intrude into my family’s space. A lot of furniture and décor pieces have been picked up from The Great Eastern at Byculla.
I work a lot with diamonds and gems. And since their shine changes with light, I have installed a mix of white and yellow lights in the space. An opulent chandelier also adorns my office as I frequently host meetings here. Of course, I have invested in a comfortable, elegant chair as I spend a lot of time in this room. I have also installed a Lavazza espresso machine to keep me recharged throughout the day. Every equipment in my home office works on smart technology and can be operated efficiently via my iPad.
You can spruce up your home office setup by:
-Choosing and adding an aesthetic rug or a carpet on the floor.
-Adding plants and flower arrangements to lend a peaceful mood to the office.
-Including a mild fragrance that appeals to you. My favourite is Mediterranean lavender scent as it enhances my creativity.
Deck it up – Furniture and accent décor for home office
DESKS
Plüsch Office, Desk by Yomei
s100-desk_01
Plüsch brings smart design and smarter utility to your space with Germany-based Yomei’s newly launched office desk S 100. Sleek and curvy, the desk can electrically adjust its height and comes with a storage unit.
Embellished with a sea-green marble top and antique-styled wooden and steel frame, Bent Chair’s Leon Secretary Desk is equipped with three drawers and an elevated shelf on top. It makes for an elegant addition to one’s workspace. Buy here
BoConcept,Cupertino Desk
Bo Concept
Called the Cupertino Executive Desk, it combines a lean but roomy walnut veneer table top to organise all your gadgets, journals and stationery. It also has large drawers that offer significant space to store away all your essentials and maintain a decluttered look. Buy here
CHAIRS
Artisera, The Curious Chair
Artisera The Curious Chair
Eye catching and comfortable, The Curious Chair by Artisera is an accent chair you must have at your home office. It features a vibrant two-toned palette in velvet and a sharp, artsy geometric design finish. Buy here
House of Things, Carpet Chair
House of Things Carpet chair
A heavy dose of art blends with functionality in this unique Carpet Chair by The House of Things. Shaped and handmade in steel, this one-person seater features a cool blue Persian rug pattern. Buy here
The Golden Triangle
The Golden Triangle
Painted in a bright green colour, this plush swivel chair is a stylish statement piece for times when you’re hosting online meetings or interviews. It also makes for a great company when you want to catch a quick 10-min nap. Enquire on 9768017017 or on Instagram @thegoldentriangleindia
BOOK SHELVES AND CABINETS
House of Things, Strings Cabinet
The House of Things Strings Cabinet
An epitome of understated luxury, House of Things presents Strings Cabinet, a tall and spacious storage piece designed by Nika Zupanc. The highlight is its slender steel strings that adorn the front, accented with a gilded metallic finish in the center. Buy here
Cattelan Italia by And More Stories
Andmorestories
And More Stories brings to India Cattelan Italia’s masterpiece called Fifty. A wall modular bookcase, it is furnished with a clean white finish and multiple shelves to store a mix of books as well as stunning décor pieces. Enquire here
Bent Chair, Infinity Shelf
Bent Chair INFINITY SHELF
A striking décor piece that doubles up for its utility, Bent Chair’s Infinity Shelf is a unique design by Leo Schlumberger. Best suited for modern and boho-chic interiors, this wooden fire satin-finish shelf will store your books, stationery and treasured artefacts. Buy here
STUDY AND FLOOR LAMPS
Tom Dixon Melt Floor Stand Chandelier
Tom Dixon Melt Floor Stand Chandelier
London-based Tom Dixon’s classic melt lights are designed into a floor stand chandelier in a bright golden hue mimicking sunlight. It comes with three mini and four regular-sized melt shades.Buy here
Aynhoe Park Feather Table Lamp
Ayhoe Park lamp
Ayhoe Park’s iconic feather table lamp is a gorgeous light to add to your work corner. Decked with a beautiful grey shade, the lamp shade resembles a palm tree made of hand-dyed ostrich feathers, completed with a silver-foiled base.Buy here
GADGETS
Vertical Grooves, Bluetooth Gramophone 2.0
VG Bluetooth gramphone
A refined marriage of vintage design and modern technology, Vertical Grooves’ Bluetooth Gramophone 2.0 plays all kinds of music and sounds wirelessly through a gramophone horn. It is equipped with micro-USB and stereo input, a 12-hour battery and an impressive Bluetooth range of 33ft. Buy here
Cedar & Jones, LED Wireless Charging Lamp
Cedar-and-Jones-Wireless-Charging-Study-Lamp
Cedar & Jones’ LED study lamp is built as a sleek, contemporary piece that also features a wireless charging pad for phones. It comes with a 360-degree smooth touch lighting control and can be placed anywhere, thanks to its flexible, shape-changing frame.Buy here
