I’ve worked from home for a few years now, so even before lockdown I knew how important it was to work from a space that feels inspiring, comfortable AND functional. I mean, this year has taken things to a whole new level though, right?! Many of us have seen the importance of adapting and making small spaces really work for us.

Last October, when we moved into our rental, I knew that I needed to put my own Sofie stamp on the box room, while keeping it multifunctional. And I transformed it in just one weekend. I’m still crushing on it now.

Without further ado, here are my top ideas for transforming a small space into a home office with some serious interior POW!

My rental home had a box room that was perfect for transforming into a home office. But, as I’m sure you’re aware, decorating a rental brings its own challenges. At the end of the day, it was going to be a temporary “pop-up” office (well, that’s my spin on it anyway!) so it needed to be done on a budget, without the need for any major DIY or decorating.

But I still wanted to create a colourful space. You know me well! I was itching to do something with all that white space. I needed to literally think outside the box and find a way to add some fun, focal features and use my favourite hues creatively.

The other thing to consider was that I don’t work from home alone. We needed to fit a couple of desks in there to allow both me and my PA to have our own spaces. Plus, my husband occasionally works from home too, so he also needed a properly designed workspace where he could join us without being banished to the kitchen table.

I started by tackling the vanilla walls. I chose to add Déco Chic It removable wallpaper with a windowpane design. Those geometric lines make the perfect backdrop for a colourful explosion and beautiful office stationery – basically, everything you need to get those creative juices flowing without having to pick up a paint brush! I then used washi tape and pins to fix inspirational posters. They really make the space pop and I can change them up whenever I fancy. They’re also cost effective and rental-friendly too – a win-win for me.

There’s no doubt the right furniture can make a huge difference to your office space too. Choose the wrong pieces and they will distract you more than they help you. I went for this spacious IKEA work desk with a corner piece. It maximises the space and also has all the support at the back and sides, so you can shimmy your chair up to reach for your notebook without having to coordinate around table legs! Then I finished off the space with plush, vibrant cushions and textured soft furnishings. All those fun little details really make a difference, layering up the room and bringing in some sunny personality. I think we can all agree we need all the sunshine we can get right now 🙂

I’ve spent a bit more time working up here recently, and it truly makes me smile from ear to ear! The vibrancy of it all sparks my imagination – the perfect inspirational setting when you’re starting your working day.

Removable wallpaper is a great alternative to painting a room with bold colours: it’s quicker, cost effective and you can always change your mind later down the line! There are so many options to choose from, it’s a great way to start playing with cool prints and bright hues if you’re new to it all.