Let's get to work

Whether you work from home every day, here and there, or maybe you just need a little place for taking care of business after hours, a dedicated space for focus (and filing) may be what you need. With a little planning, and some great storage solutions, you can transform a corner, spare room, or even the edge of a kitchen table into a centre for productivity. Let's go!

The home office

Working from home can be an attractive job perk for some; a place to focus, away from the bustle of the open-plan office and without the stress of commuting. Although for others, nothing beats a healthy dose of office gossip and an excuse to get dressed in the morning.

According to the IKEA 2024 Life at Home Report, people who work from home are more likely to be happy with their life at home (67% vs 61% global average). But how do we create a space at home that's just right for the job of balancing work and home life?

A person sits with their foot up on their desk in an industrial loft-style apartment in front of a window.

A calm, neutral, natural feel home office with walnut coloured shelves, a cork pinboard and green plants.

A bright, creative, artistic workspace with a large arched window.

A creative desk area in a bright windowed room, with double monitors, a laptop and photo equipment in the background.

A touch of green

A workspace for one can get lonely sometimes. A leafy green companion may be just the kind of co-worker you need! Colourful and calming, a plant or two on the desktop can promote positivity and focus.

A corner or less

When you're short on space, the reality of working from home can be the dining room table, or even a laptop on the sofa. That's when a pull-out or drop-down desk can come in handy. Both the BILLY bookcase and IVAR storage system feature foldable tables, transforming them into a makeshift desk in a jiffy.

A laptop stand next to the sofa can double as a side-table after work hours, but sitting at a proper desk is better for focus and posture. However, finding a spot big enough for a desk can be challenging in small spaces. Narrow desks like TONSTAD are slim enough to fit in tight or overlooked spots like the hallway, transforming them into the perfect work spot.

The BILLY bookcase with foldable table has a nifty pull-out table on castors that simply slides out when it's time to go to work, then back in when it's time to log out.

An area near the stairs with a dark wood slim desk in a neutral coloured room.

A soft, natural coloured dining room with a green dining room set, wood cupboards and plants. — If your idea of a working lunch is sitting at the dining room table, a closed storage unit in the dining room, makes it easy to pack things away, before mealtime.

Focus on a fold-up table next to yellow sofa in a living room. — The BJÖRKÅSEN laptop stand provides a sturdy spot for your laptop. The table can be tilted or folded down for easy storage.

A wooden IVAR shelf filled and table filled with objects in a light bedroom. — IVAR is now even more versatile: this two section storage unit with a foldable table combines the beauty of pine with the functionality of our iconic storage system.

A home office area in the hallway. Bags and accessories hang from hooks above the desk on a blue tiled wall. — Measuring just 60cm deep, this small RELATERA desk is perfect for narrow areas or limited space.

Do not disturb

A dedicated work zone can help you to stay focused. The FRYKSÅS rattan desk has a subtle divider built in. What about a decorative room screen or a curtain? An acoustic divider like the EILIF screen or the portable ÖVNING desk divider not only keep out prying eyes, but also help absorb surrounding noise.

Store and order

Even if documents are mainly stored on a hard drive or in a cloud these days, it's amazing how clutter can accumulate while we're busy working away. Stationery and notebooks, bills, papers and folders can stack up and create unwanted piles, so a bit of well-planned storage can come in handy for keeping work stuff out of sight. Think about what you're storing; is it big and bulky like files and books? Or maybe lots of smaller items, like art supplies? A filing cabinet by your side may be enough to keep the clutter at bay, and trolleys are great for temporary work spots – simply stack away everything and roll it away when you're done. For larger items, go for compact, wall-friendly storage or shelving units.

A white brick wall in an industrial style home office. The wall is lined with colourful storage cabinets and trolleys filled with stationery.

A white themed storage area with open and closed storage and white accessories. — Combined open and closed storage, like the LASTARE wardrobe combination, allows you to hide away the things you don't want on show behind closed doors, while open shelves keep the things you use the most, close at hand.

An open storage area filled with boxes and objects against a terracotta wall. — SVARTTRÄDA storage boxes with a lid are ideal for packing away everything from important papers to tax returns and receipts.

A white desk and drawers are positioned behind a pale coloured sofa in a classic style living room. — Measuring just 65 cm high, the HELMER drawer unit on castors is easy to roll around and fits snuggly under the desk.

A green office chair sits in front of a desk with mesh baskets, wooden storage drawers and a wall organiser filled with stationery in a creative style workspace. — Wall hooks keep tools and stationery within easy reach.

Four white SKÅDIS wall organisers filled with colourful stationery hang on a pale grey wall above a white desk and storage unit on the landing. — Add hooks, shelves, trays and even pots and pegs to SKÅDIS pegboards to create just the right spot for everything.

Put colour to work

A dash of colour can inspire, motivate and add personality, enlivening any workspace. It can be as dramatic as an entire colour scheme, or something as simple as colour-coordinated accessories, but a little customisation can go a long way to creating a work area that's uniquely you.

A place for everything

A tidy desk can be as inspiring as the blank page of a favourite notebook; inviting you to dive in and get your tasks and thoughts in order. Desk organisers, monitor stands with drawers and wall organisers are great for keeping pens and sticky notes close at hand. Even placing a few small pots on the desk for stray knick-knacks is an easy, affordable way to keep clutter at bay.

With a bit of cable management, you can liberate desktops from rogue cords. Attach the SIGNUM cable trunk to the underside of your work surface to keep cables tidy and out of sight. Cable trunking also makes it easier to add new cables and get rid of old ones.

An aerial view of a wood desktop with notebooks, sticky notes and paper clips neatly organised. — HAVSKÅL USB anchors keep USB cables in place on desks or other surfaces. No more feeling around on the floor for charging cables every time you need them.

A wooden desk with its drawers open, revealing stationery organised in small containers.

Aerial view of a wood desk with a shelf. A keyboard, chargers, cables and colourful notebooks are placed on the desk. — The TRAVSPORT desk has a built-in shelf, so you can tuck pens, pencils and small books beneath your monitor.

Close-up of an orange retro style lamp next to an orange monitor stand on a white desk. — A raised monitor helps reduce strain on the back and shoulders. The ELLOVEN monitor stand with drawer adds height and storage.

Headphones hang from a hook on a black desk frame. — The MULLSJÖ desk has a handy hook on the side, for headphones, cables or even your work bag.

A desk with a black storage shelf filled with stationery, nestled between a white brick wall and a thin framed black desk. — It even features a handy add-on unit on the side for an extra surface and storage.

A desk beneath a window filled with plants. The desk is accessorised with a white lamp and shelves for a fresh, tidy feel.

A bright idea

Natural light is ideal for boosting your mood and focus. But for late work nights and dull, dark days, a table lamp or task light can help reduce eye strain. For extra functionality, go for a combined desk lamp with charger, like the NYMÅNE work lamp.

Home ergonomics

If you're deskbound for hours each day, comfort and regular movement is important. Office chairs have come a long way, both in terms of style and ergonomic features such as height-adjustable seats, armrests and lumbar support. And, space permitting, a desk is much better than the dining room table for getting into work mode. Height-adjustable desks allow you to alternate between sitting down and standing up. Just a few minutes on your feet every half hour can help relieve back pains caused by sitting for long periods.

A colourful home office space with a white height adjustable desk with a cosy rug below.

The corner of a white office desk with a laptop sitting on a stand. — The DUBBLA laptop stand is the next best thing to a height-adjustable desk. Simple and smart it allows you to switch from sitting to standing position while you work, in seconds!

A red office chair dominates the corner of a desk area. On the wall hangs colourful prints. — If you're sitting down all day, go for a chair that's comfortable and fully adjustable. Look for features like armrests, a backrest and lumbar support.

A spacious work area with lots of wall storage and colourful accessories, such as blue and green storage and colourful curtains.

Take a break

Step away from the desk: Short breaks regularly keep energy and focus levels up. Got a business call or a virtual meeting? Why not take it outside? A short walk in the fresh air can clear the head and boost productivity – and you might just find inspiration along the way!

Upgrade your workspace

Create a space that works

An inspiring workspace can improve productivity and make home working more fun. For more home office products, ideas and inspiration, visit your local IKEA store.