Tucked behind the couch in a corner of our lounge room, is my little office nook. In various houses we’ve had various set-ups for where the computer lives – just off the kitchen, in an altogether separate study-dedicated room, in my bedroom as a uni student, on my lap as a homeless nomad bumping along dusty outback tracks. Here at the farmhouse our lounge room is big enough to incorporate our two couches plus a desk. I like having the computer in the main living space – I look up recipes, blog, run my photography business, edit photos, study, talk to people on Facebook, Matt checks his emails and researches things for work of an evening, all without having to be squirreled away in another room (and still be warm in front of the fire).
But… the ‘nook’ area is tricky. It’s squished in between a window and a wall, the space is just a tad too narrow for a standard desk width of 120cm. So I’ve been on the hunt for a smaller desk, nothing fancy, something simple, something to blend in to our lounge room rather than stand out, something pretty but industrial, practical too. So here’s what is churning around in my head at the moment, just in case you wanted a peek inside. On the left is pretty Martha Stewart-esque, on the right is roughed up industrial, I’d like to be somewhere in between. I’m thinking simple white, touches of soft blue and kraft clipboards, recovering my desk chair in a textured linen, a lamp perhaps.
Do you have a desk and computer in a main living area?
Got a weird nook that won’t fit standard furniture?
What are your thoughts on in-tray vs. magazine files?
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Left desk / Right desk / Clipboard / Upholstery fabric / Lamp / Magazine file / In-tray / Mason jar
Ali says
we have a ‘nook’ in our new apartment, the desk is built into the wall and i love it. it’s perfect – and sits just off the open plan dining/lounge so im not isolated which i LOVE. we have an in tray – in an ikea filing ‘locker’ where all out stuff goes.
Emma says
Perfect. I’d love a built in little desk just off the kitchen, I’ve pinned many an image like that for ‘the forever house/kitchen’ one day!
sharon says
No, have separate office however as isolating as that is, we run two business and with the paperwork and the bills its far tidier to have it that way. That said I do use my smart phone/tablet to just browse in the evenings on the couch.
I use in trays – but have a special place for ALL of the mail to go – I normally have a wedge of invoices and business stuff to deal with so it all goes in a little metal upright bucket until its opened/dealt with. Otherwise I find things get lost in in-trays (which I use for filing of other stuff ie wage slips that I need to access reasonably often).
LOVE that metal little file on the far left of the right photo, wouldn’t THAT be handy!! Have you tried an old timber door (even cut to size? I’m thinking tongue and groove sort) with a big craft cutting mat (or like) as your writing surface? I’ve seen some great ideas, using trestles or stools to hold the door up.
Emma says
Yes was thinking about a door with trestles, would have to be cut down and the trestles would literally be right next to each other and lose the effect I think? We have a separate study as well which holds all our filing and Matt’s ENORMOUS amounts of uni text books and notes (which of course he never refers back to but insists on keeping), so everyday paperwork doesn’t find it’s way to lounge room desk nook thankfully. Having my desk out here does force me to tidy it up though which is good!
Emma says
Oh and I think Ikea have a similar metal file drawer, not that it is much help to you probably…sorry!
Kathy says
I love that look, I’m sure you’ll find the perfect piece for your study nook and I totally agree it’s more friendly to have it in the lounge. I do have a dedicated study which overlooks our backyard so I love seeing the outdoors when I’m indoors. Regards Kathy A, Brisbane, Australia