How To Create A Contemporary Office

With the ongoing recession causing salaries to be frozen, and with record numbers of applicants for vacant jobs, more and more of us are discovering our entrepreneurial spirit and starting businesses from home. If you have just embarked on a new commercial venture, you'll need surroundings that reflect your new business ideas, so we've come up with some great ideas on how to get maximum inspiration from your home office.

There's no doubting Sir Alan's business skills,
but what about his choice of decor?

If you've ever watched the BBC's show The Apprentice, you'll be familiar with the ultra modern glass-and-steel look of Sir Alan Sugar's boardroom. It makes a useful example of a contemporary work space, as your reaction to its super-sleek interiors will dictate the direction that you want to take with your own office. Some may find the reflective surfaces and unbroken lines of Sir Alan's office to be an inspiration, while others may still yearn for a modern look, but will want more warmth.

If the shiny, clean lines of Sir Alan's board room appeal to you, then you'll want to carefully plan your ultra-modern home office, otherwise it could end up looking like a cheap imitation, and your dreams of running your empire from a sleek, professional workspace may become a nightmare of peeling foil wallpaper and mismatched textures. The key to this style is to keep it simple - avoid flashy wall coverings and stick to a muted slate grey paint for the walls, and pick out a desk in glass or perspex. The only problem with a glass desk is that it works as a kind of display cabinet for clutter - invest in some stylish designer filing cabinets to make sure you have enough storage to keep surfaces clear. One of the keys to getting this look right is lighting - you won't be able to achieve that ultra modern look if you have a traditional lightbulb in the centre of the ceiling. Go for recessed halogen spotlights, with a separate switch for lightng over the desk.

This workspace mixes contemporary design and
lighting with traditional materials for an inviting feel.

If you want a modern workspace that is stylish while still being warm and inviting, why not mix traditional materials with modern style - look for a desk in oak or pine that has been made to a contemporary design, and you'll be able to achieve a harmony between sleek professionalism and homely comfort. Pick matching wooden filing cabinets and shelves to continue the harmonious feel. You can use your wooden furniture to select your wall colour by holding up a paint catalogue to the wood and finding a sympathetic tone. For example, oak contains hints of many different shades, and you can pick out burgundy, umbre, or even flecks of royal blue. This will create a unified and inviting room, where it is easy to concentrate and let yourself be inspired.

This home office manages to combine sleek
modernity with a hint of warmth

If you're having difficulty visualising your new workspace, head over to hgtv.com, where their designers have put together some truly inspirational home offices, including the two above. If you're working to a tight budget, then why not check out the BBC design inspiration site's range of affordable ideas for studies and home offices, and give an early boost to your profit margins.