How To Create A Colourful & Rustic Home Office

As I work from home, my office space is one of the most important rooms in the whole apartment. I need it to be colourful (OK, that was a given!), practical and energising for all those long hours in front of the laptop. So, when I happened upon this colourful and rustic home office, I knew I had to share it here on Bright.Bazaar. The scheme is an effortless mix of weathered, rustic materials like metal and bare wood. paired with brightly painted gloss pieces and rag-like textiles. It's these colourful additions that give this room it's heart and personality: the visual surprise of the two colourful chairs brings a new angle to what would otherwise be a generic, paint-by-numbers industrial meets rustic scheme. The two chairs also serve to soften the harder, rougher vibe that flows through the rest of the room. Laying the rag rug in the centre of the room makes good use of the free space to bright another hit of hue into the scheme. By opting for a rag-style rug, as opposed to a high pile wool rug, it means this key textile piece sits comfortably alongside the heavier industrial furniture. This is because it brings just enough comfort and tactile texture without being too much of a juxtaposition with the more rustic pieces; pushing this contrast further would compete with the statement already created between the gloss bright chairs and the metal and wooden desk.
// Hus&Hem | Photography by Carina Olander

Home Office: How To Add Subtle Colour Accents

I've been redecorating my home office recently so my design eye is continually looking out for relevant spaces to inspire as I continue with the project. Happening upon this simple yet colourful work space led me to thinking about making colour statements and how they don't have to mean a huge overhaul. Taking this space as an example, simple additions of colour through fabric swatches, a vase and the typewriter are all ideal pieces and ways to brighten an otherwise pared-back room. I'm always happy to see Ferm Living's To Do wall sticker, but it's the combination of the yellow typewriter, House Doctor task lamp and rustic wooden table that are inspiring me the most. How do you add colour into your home office, friends?
// Country Homes & Interiors | Photography by Jeremy Baile

Stationery Essentials: Happy Home Working

 

ONE | TWO | THREE | FOUR

No matter what we use our home offices for - writing bestselling novels or just paying the bills - we undoubtedly like to have stationery essentials nearby. After blogging about Joules' new bedding collection recently I was super excited to discover their stationery collection. I'm a massive paper geek and already have a little stockpile of notebooks, pencils and files that have caught my eye over the years. It's ironic, I spend so much time working online and using new technologies yet I always opt to make lists and organise myself with the traditional pen and paper method. I've never found online organisers or list apps that useful. Does anyone else find that you can't beat pen and paper for list making? As well as using stationery for all my list making, I like to keep copies of my expenses and receipts filed away by month to (attempt to!) keep organised ready for the dreaded tax return. I find drawers work really well for this as I can label them by month and keep other relevant paperwork inside as well. Boxes with lids work well for storing press packs, which I also group together by season for easy access when working on features. My final essential? OK, so it's not stationery-related, but I spotted these dog beds and they were so adorable I couldn't resist including them. After all, a pooch this sweet is a sure fire way to a happy workspace, right?! How do you use stationery to organise your home office?
// Home office photographed by Rachael Smith for Style at Home | Shopping products by Joules

Three Ways To A Statement Home Office

1. Dominic Blackmore (Ideal Home) | 2. Ferm Living | 3. Livingetc

When it comes to the home office I'm always on the lookout for new ways to make the space more productive and inspiring. These three different spaces are great examples of how to add your personality to a space to make a great statement whilst maintaining a workable environment. The first, Colourful Industrial, shows how you can add warmth and depth to a rustic look with the addition of a single bright hue. I love how the hot red colour draws the eye to interesting vignettes created from necessary office stationery - and how great are those wire baskets on the wall?! The second space, Graphic Stripe, demonstrates how a classic black and white stripe can create a sophisticated and timeless statement in a light and airy room. Here it's best to let the stripes do the talking and keep the rest of the scheme simple yet functional. Finally, Temporary Colour, is a perfect solution for renters who are looking to add colour, personality and storage with minimal lasting effect to the space. Multiple colour block box files add all of these three elements, coming together to create a quick and easy statement feature with no lasting effect - ideal! My vote goes for Colourful Industrial, but which space gets your vote?

Scouts Honor Co. Studio & Shop Discount

Happy Holidays | Winter Supplies | Tractor Holiday | Lantern

Wahooo! We made it to Friday, folks! And if the forthcoming weekend wasn't enough to be excited about the lovely Anne Marie from Scouts Honor Co. is kindly offering all Bright.Bazaar readers 10% off her entire stationery and print shop. Just enter the code 'WILLUK' at the checkout and you're good to go! As well as a peek at some of the paper supplies in her store (hello, that lantern card needs to come home with me!) I've also shared a peek inside the studio where the products are created. It's refreshing to see a workspace that's real and not contrived. Rather, there's a feeling of stylish practicality to how the products and supplies are stored in old trunks and printer's trays that gives the space a functional yet welcoming feel. I also like how gentle additions of colour are added through quirky accessories and soft textiles such as flags and scarves. Be sure to check out Anne Marie's illustration, hand type, and custom design work and why buy a few last minute holiday cards, or stock up for next year while you can take 10% off! Which card do you like best?

Home Office Ideas & Colourful Stationery

Officeworks | Styling by Mr Jason Grant

When my Aussie mate and Stylist fellow Mr. Jason Grant dropped me a line about his new super colourful stationery line that he designed and styled for Officeworks, I couldn't wait to get my blogging paws all over it! Isn't it fun? I've been a stationery addict for many years and seem unable to stop buying notebooks despite the ever-increasing pile of them on my desk at home. This collection is split out into colours and makes it easy to opt for a colour coordinated look, or mix and match across the hues. Which office spaces and stationery colours are you drawn to? I love the red and grey magazine files, but the kitchen-cum-work table is so adorable, right?! If you enjoyed this, be sure to check out this tour of Jason's home!

Three Ways: Home Office Ideas

1 (photography by Jose Mandojana) & 1 | 2 | 3 & 3

When it comes to the space in which we work I think there are three key factors: options for both task and mood lighting, inspired, personal surroundings and practical, comfortable furniture. Each of these three spaces have the three elements but execute them in different ways. First up, the Weathered Glam office (Mr. Bazaar's fave!) uses soft, sheer drapes and white furniture so that the character-packed beams remain the feature of the space. I love the dash of drama from the chandeliers and hot pink accents. The second space, Loft Chic, details sophisticated grey hues and pared-back furniture. Those windows bring two of the most important elements to the space: lashings of natural light and that view. The final space shows how you can use colour to add interest to a blank canvas - don't be afraid to mix old with new to bring a new twist to the scheme. Which space do you like best, folks?

Artistic & Industrial Home Office

Styling by Karine Kong | Photography by Francois Kong

Isn't this desk space a goodun'?! It's featured in the first ever catalogue by lifestyle brand Bodie and Fou and was by far my favourite tear sheet from it. The desk has been styled with a subtle arty feel, yet still maintains a masculine edge thanks to the metal shelving units and rustic wooden textures. Up close you can see the level of detail that has gone into the inspiration board that stretches the length of the desk; I think I even spot a bag from one of my favourite stores in Paris, Merci! You can see more beautiful interiors inspiration by viewing the Bodie and Fou catalogue online here or ordering it here. What inspires you about this home office space?

Sneak Peek: Where I Blog From

Yesterday I guest posted over on Jane's wonderful blog Ill Seen, Ill Said, where I shared the little space from which I blog. If you wish, please do head on over to Jane's blog to hear my thoughts on why I decorated the space in the way I did. In the meantime, here's a peek into my workspace.

Images and layout | Bright.Bazaar

{Office Inspiration: A Stationery Studio}

What do Kate Spade, Linda and Harriet, Jonathan Adler and ABCD Designs all have in common? They each design awesome stationery that's what! I admire each and every part of their creative paper work because fine stationery is so lovely, and for me I treasure a card much more than a present. So why am I banging on about stationery? Well, Mr. Boddington is another fine stationery designer working out of New York City and his studio is enough to make the coolest card in the pack weak at the knees. Guys, check this place OUT! Such a delight from whatever angle you look at it. First up there's the desk, a lovely bureau-style piece (find similar at Three Potato Four and The Peanut Vendor) with a vintage typewriter and globe to complete the look. Plus, look closely and you'll spy copies of our favourite shelter mag. Anyone who drinks tea out of a bright orange tea cup and reads Domino is a dude! Later on there's more warm wood vintage finds, typewriters and a Keep Calm Gallery print that works well in this unusual space. Finally, that view? Yeah, I died a little bit too.

Brooklyn Bride | Mr. Boddington

{Decor SOS: Bulletin Boards}

I've been meaning to start one of these for quite some time and with moving to a new place (with new home office space included - errrrm major yay) it seems the perfect time to start. But how? Where? What should it look like? What works best? Judging by the swoonalicious blogs so many of you have, I bet lots of you stylish bloggers have bulletin boards more worthy of being referred to as inspiration walls. So, please share your tips and suggestions for what makes a good (and super stylish - obv) bulletin board. Here's some to die for examples that I like of varying styles. P.S. Hope to share pics of my home office soon - it's coming together nicely...I'm going for a masculine meets feminine space.

Images: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12