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Working the corners


From the Resene colour inspiration – latest looks gallery

When you’re trying to use space efficiently, adding a small desk area to serve as a home office will often leave you staring down a wall.

While it may help some to focus, facing away from the door can feel uncomfortable to others.

This fun and vibrant space – inspired by an old schoolhouse – shows that there’s more options for a home office than just facing the wall. One solution is to position your desk diagonally, cutting off a small corner of the room and putting your back to it. Then, you can add a narrow bookcase or wall-mounted shelves behind you to make the most of every square metre – just be sure to choose an open-backed desk that looks great from every angle.

An tidy office space at home
An tidy office space at home with painted accessories

Another option is to place the desk adjacent to the wall, so that you can still see the door, but it offers up more options for placing storage solutions behind you and the ability to put guest or client seating in front of you. For parents who work from home while also caring for children than aren’t school-aged yet, you could also use the space in front of the desk to create a special workspace for your kids alongside your own work area so that they feel included. To keep little hands busy, make a simple magnetic chalkboard by removing the glass from a picture frame and painting the backing with two coats of Resene Magnetic Magic followed by two coats of Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen – ours was tinted to Resene Family Tree - for a classic look. Once dry, your kids will be able to write on it with chalk, which can be wiped off with a wet cloth or hang strong magnets on it. We painted wooden letter magnets using cheerfully coloured Resene testpots in Resene Pohutukawa, Resene Daredevil, Resene Cleopatra, Resene Away We Go and Resene Moana – which were chosen to match details within the artwork.

Of course, facing the wall is always a viable option if floor space is at a premium. Having an extra chair around leaves space for visitors to sit and a space surface to put books. We painted ours in Resene Moccasin on the seat and back and Resene Noir on the metal legs and back support to match the Resene Moccasin coat hooks, vases and desk organiser and the Resene Noir shelf, desk legs, picture frame and plant pot.

It’s worth noting, too, that surrounding yourself with the right colours can aid your concentration and stimulate creativity while you work. Identify those colours that have a psychological impact on your energy and well-being. If you’re a confident type, surround yourself with orange. If you’re a strategic thinker, go for muted blues. Greens are often soothing, which can help to relax an overstimulated brain. If you’re easily distracted, cool neutrals are always a safe bet whereas warm colours like yellow, red and orange are stimulating and can inspire creativity.

The walls are painted a warm soft yellow, Resene Moonlight, and the tongue-in-groove wall panelling is painted Resene Untamed for an eclectic antique feel. Resene Moccasin details were brought in to play of the tone of the leather straps of the wire noteboard. Resene Mystery, used on the hex patterned vase, was matched to the sky in the artwork while the Resene Noir details play off the colour of the chair, rug and metal organisers.

Paint: Wall: Resene Moonlight. Tongue-and-Groove Panelling: Resene Untamed. Shelf (on top of panelling): Resene Noir. Floor: Resene Colorwood Mid Greywash. Spare Chair: Resene Moccasin and Resene Noir. Hooks: Resene Moccasin. Pencil Holder/Desk Organiser: Resene Moccasin. 4-Drawer Organiser: Resene Noir with Resene Cleopatra, Resene Family Tree, Resene Daredevil and Resene Pohutukawa drawers. Plant pot: Resene Noir. Tall Textured Vase: Resene Moccasin. Rounded Dimpled Vase: Resene Mystery. Low Plate (with apple): Resene Family Tree. Chalkboard: Resene Family Tree. Letter Magnets: Resene Pohutukawa, Resene Daredevil, Resene Cleopatra, Resene Away We Go, Resene Moana. Kids Table: Resene Noir with Resene Family Tree legs. Kids Chair: Resene Pohutukawa. Corkboard: Resene Noir.

Accessories: Atelier Desk, Melibu Floor Rug, Brandon Dining Chair in Black from Freedom Furniture; Webster Throw in Coral from Nood; Black Wire Urban Memo Board, Black Wire Desk Organisers,Wooden 4-Drawer Desk Organiser, Pencil Holder/Desk Organiser, Office Stationary/Supplies, Corkboard and Chalkboard Frames, Wooden 4-Hook Set from Kmart; Napier Masonic Hotel Print by Contour Creative Studio from Endemic World; Blue Purse from Miniso.


Resene Family Tree

Resene Cleopatra

Resene Away We Go

Resene Moana

Resene Noir

Resene Moonlight

Resene Untamed

Resene Mystery

Resene Colorwood Mid Greywash

Styling by Laura Lynn Johnston. Photography by Bryce Carleton. 2019


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