With autumn we spend more hours indoors again, and for many of us that means working, studying or sorting out paperwork at the dining table. Setting up a home office doesn't require a whole room: a well-planned corner is enough, with good light, a comfortable chair and storage that stays out of sight.
The challenge is making that corner not look like an office. In a Mediterranean-inspired home, the desk blends in as just another piece: natural wood, fibres, linen, plants and pale walls that reflect the light. That way, when you close the laptop, the space is as welcoming as the rest of the house.
Here's how to choose the spot, the sizes and the materials, and which pieces from our shop will help you get there.
In this article
Get the look
The photo above sums up the idea: a solid wood desktop, a cognac leather chair, a brass desk lamp and a door onto the terrace to clear your head between tasks. These pieces bring you closer to that feel.
1. Where to put the desk
The golden rule is natural side light: place the desk at right angles to the window so the light comes in from one side and doesn't dazzle you or reflect on the screen. If you're right-handed, it's best if it comes from the left. Working with your back to the window casts shadows on the desk; facing it tires your eyes.
If you don't have a spare room, look for a corner you can visually "close off": the space under a bedroom window, the end of a wide hallway or a corner of the living room. In our reading nook article we explain how to define small spaces with a rug, a lamp and a bookcase.
Four places where a desk works
- In the bedroom: under the window and in white, so it blends into the wall and doesn't steal any calm.
- In the living room: with its back to the sofa, and a bookcase or screen to separate it without closing it off.
- In a hallway or through space: a shallow console (40-50 cm) doubles as a desk.
- In a guest room: a desk that can also work as a dressing table or side table.
Get the look
Here the desk is part of the bedroom: white, with drawers, floating shelves above and soft, textured bedding. You can recreate it with these pieces.
2. The desk: sizes and materials
Before falling in love with a model, measure the space and think about how you'll work: just a laptop, or also a screen, papers, a printer? These are the sizes worth remembering.
Sizes worth remembering
As for materials, solid wood (oak, mango, elm, cedar) ages well and adds warmth; white lacquer lightens small spaces, and rattan or cane details soften the whole look. If the desk is on show in the living room, choose one with a nicely finished front and no dangling cables.
A desk with a drawer stops the top from filling up with clutter, and one with slim legs lets you see the floor and makes the corner feel larger. For more shapes and sizes, take a look at our collection of desks and study tables.
Get the look
This corner by the window has everything we love: slim-legged wood, a cane-webbing cabinet, a fibre rug and plenty of greenery. The Varese desk is almost identical to the one in the photo, and the Potenza chest repeats the same cane front.
3. The chair: comfort comes first
If you'll be sitting for more than an hour, the chair is the most important piece in your home office. Look for a seat at the right height (feet flat on the floor and knees at 90º), a backrest that supports your lower back and, if you work long hours, castors and swivel.
The good news is that there are now office chairs in wood, leather or natural upholstery that look right at home in a living room. For occasional work, a dining chair with a cushion may be enough. To find out more, we have a guide to office chairs with all the ergonomic details.
Key idea: choose the chair first and the desk second. A beautiful table with an uncomfortable chair ends up unused; a good chair turns any corner into a place where you actually want to work.
4. Lighting: natural, task and ambient
Light decides whether a corner gets used or not. During the day, make the most of the window with linen sheers that filter the sun without darkening the room. When evening falls, which comes early in autumn, you need at least two light sources.
The three layers of light in a home office
- Natural light: desk at right angles to the window and light linen or cotton curtains.
- Task light: a desk lamp or wall light with an adjustable arm that lights the desk without glare.
- Ambient light: a table lamp with a fabric shade for short autumn afternoons.
Bulbs of 2,700-3,000 K give a warm, pleasant light; for the task lamp, a slightly more neutral one (3,000-4,000 K) helps you read without straining your eyes. You'll find more ideas in our article on table and floor lamps.
5. Stress-free storage
A home office looks calm when the desktop is clear. Keep the desk for what you use every day and store the rest in a nearby bookcase, in boxes or in fibre baskets. Cables can be gathered in a cable tray or a basket under the desk.
Open shelves are perfect if you alternate books, baskets and a few ceramic pieces so they don't look like a filing cabinet. In how to style shelves and natural fibre baskets you'll find ideas for tidying up without it showing.
6. Plants, textiles and details
What makes a work corner feel welcoming are the details: a plant to bring it to life, a rug to define it and cushion the chair's castors, a picture or a beautiful book and a soft scent to help you focus. A few well-chosen pieces are all you need.
Get the look
A wooden table with character, the window alongside and a few pots: that's all it takes. To recreate it, choose a desk with strong grain and add planters and fibre baskets.
Finally, a natural rug under the chair, a good interiors book within reach and a reed diffuser with citrus notes turn your home office into a place you'll want to come back to. For more rug ideas, read rugs that transform a home.
7. Quick checklist
Your home office, step by step
- Desk at right angles to the window, with light coming in from one side.
- At least 120 × 60 cm of desktop and 90 cm clear behind the chair.
- A comfortable, adjustable chair, chosen before the desk.
- Three layers of light: natural, task and ambient.
- A clear desktop: drawers, bookcase and baskets for everything else.
- A rug, plants and a personal touch so it doesn't look like an office.
8. Frequently asked questions
How much space do I need for a home office?
With a 120 × 150 cm space you can fit a 100-120 cm desk and a chair with room to move. If you have less, a 40-50 cm deep console and a wall light save a lot of space.
Which desk is best for a bedroom?
A light one, with slim legs or in white, that blends with the wall and wardrobes. Place it under the window and choose a chair that can also serve as an occasional chair.
How do I separate the work area in the living room?
With an open bookcase, a fibre screen or simply a different rug and its own lamp. That way the corner has its own identity without closing off the space.
At Pino & Jacaranda we believe working from home can be a pleasure if the corner feels like you: wood that ages well, natural light, fibres and a quiet order that lets you focus.
Because the home you work in is also the home you live in.
