Making repairs in an apartment or in a private house is a responsible task for every owner. But it is much more important to fill your own home with comfort and beauty. This is especially true for the desktop. Today, there are a lot of design techniques that can not only visually expand the existing space, but also give it charm and chic. This applies to small things, souvenirs, and handmade crafts for decorating your workspace.
It is very useful to have a designated place to work.
Furniture, in particular the desk, plays an important role. Stationary and online stores offer a lot of high-quality, stylish and modern furniture. But what to do if your financial situation does not allow you to acquire a new product? Decorate an old table! There are a lot of options - using decoupage techniques, paints and varnishes or self-adhesive film of any desired color.
Your desktop doesn't have to be big
Choose the most comfortable place where your desk will be located. It’s great if you can allocate a separate room for these purposes. But there is a solution for owners of small apartments. The workplace can be equipped on a balcony, window sill, in a niche and even in a closet.
Which style do you prefer?
Ideas can be varied. But remember, functionality, comfort and coziness come first. There are several styles that modern designers recommend using to decorate your workspace.
Minimalism:
- assumes a complete absence of unnecessary details in the design;
- furniture and decorative elements have clear geometric shapes, due to which there is complete variability in designs;
- the predominance of stylish colors, often contrasting with each other;
- the maximum amount of light in the apartment, which can be achieved with the help of modern lighting fixtures.
Nothing motivates you to work more than a bright, comfortable office, free from unnecessary details.
The color scheme should be extremely simple
Scandinavian style:
- use of monochrome colors: black, white and milky shades;
- a large number of photos and posters on the wall of the same color;
- many shelves, drawers, stands for books, documents and interior details.
The efficiency and understatement of Scandinavian style makes it an ideal choice for a modern office.
If desired, a monotonous white interior can be diluted with a bright lemon accent
The workspace will look no less stylish in the styles of pop art, contemporary, hi-tech, loft, avant-garde and eclecticism.
Workplace in loft style
Decorate your workspace with a houseplant
Cacti and other plants, which are usually placed near the computer, help create a comfortable atmosphere. There is an opinion that our green friends also absorb harmful radiation from technology. In the Shatura store you can choose a special hanging shelf for a flower pot.
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How to arrange an office in an apartment
It’s great if the size of your living space allows you to set up a workplace in a separate room.
A separate room is an ideal place for fruitful work
Where to start with the design and what needs to be taken into account?
- Choose the most neutral colors for arranging your work area: beige, white, milky, diluting them with bright accessories.
- Make sure there is enough light in the room and the room is well ventilated.
- Select furniture according to the principle: “the more things you can store in it, the better,” this will help avoid chaos on your desktop.
- Consider the location of the sockets; they should be located next to the table.
The chair should be comfortable and, if possible, beautiful
Decorate your workspace at home according to Feng Shui. According to this teaching, the front door should be in sight: from the front or the side. Do not place your desk near a window; this will interfere with your concentration and may distract you from your work process. It is recommended to place objects so that each of them can be realistically reached. Well, the most important thing is lighting. Install the lamp to your left, your eyes will get tired much less.
How to beautifully design your Windows desktop?
So, if you have decided which of the methods to use, then you can move on to the appropriate block. Otherwise, look at all the available options and then apply the ones that work best for you.
Standard Windows 7 tools
- The most global change that can be made using standard system tools is changing the design theme. Go to your computer desktop, right-click on an empty area, then select “Personalization.” In the design themes block, you can install any of the available ones. You can also download additional sets from the official Microsoft website. To do this, click the corresponding blue link in this window.
- Many people don’t know, but you can change the appearance of the mouse pointer. To do this, go to the control panel of your computer and click on the “Mouse” item. If you don’t have this, then change the “View” tab to “Large Icons”. In the dialog box that appears, select the Indexes tab and in the Outline window, select the theme you like for the index. Click “Apply” and OK. Note that you can download third-party pointers from the Internet, then select them by clicking under each view in the Browse dialog box and changing them to third-party. More detailed instructions are provided by the authors of third-party mouse pointer icons.
- In the Windows 7 Ultimate or Ultimate edition, the user can independently change the colors and transparency of the control panel and system windows. In other editions this parameter cannot be changed. Actions are done in the same menu as the first item above.
- And you can also install widgets on your desktop to make it not only more beautiful, but also more convenient in terms of work. Go to the desktop, right-click on an empty space and select “Gadgets” (or “Widgets”). Now simply drag the icon of the gadget you like, holding the left mouse button, to the desktop. Ready!
Third party programs
There's a lot more creativity to be unleashed here, with a ton of amazing apps available to turn your desktop into a truly personalized space. Let's find out what utilities offer us that allow us to make a beautiful Windows 7 desktop.
- First of all, you can install themes as in the same paragraph of the previous block, but having a completely different look. That is, there will be no Windows windows, Start button, and so on. You can download a theme for the MacOS operating system, a theme with a futuristic design, or a completely transparent one! To do this, you can use the website https://7themes.su/load/windows_7_themes/21. Here, in addition to themes, there are also packages of skins, cursors, icons and other elements to decorate the appearance of the system.
- BumpTop Pro. This utility turns your simple desktop into a 3D desktop. You can place icons in any direction. It turns out that you have not one platform for icons, but several! And all this is possible with the BumpTop Pro app. Download link https://drop.me/BxJ5Na.
- Wallpaper Engine. The program allows you to install live wallpapers on your desktop. It has its own wallpaper package, as well as a store with them. But you can also install any video file from your computer or even a website! In general, you will definitely need to try this miracle program. Download link https://drop.me/Mz9ena.
- MetroSidebar. This application is a sidebar with live tiles, like in the Windows 8 and 10 operating systems. There are quite a lot of tiles, and they all have a flexible system of personalization settings and setting parameters for work. An excellent solution for those who want to try a tiled control system, but cannot update their Windows. You can download the utility here https://drop.me/o2X0EM.
- RocketDock. This is perhaps the most popular program for beautifully designing the Windows 7 desktop. It is a panel with software icons that can be changed. That is, RocketDock will arrange desktop icons in one place. This panel, by the way, can be placed absolutely anywhere: the application has a very flexible settings system. If you know what the desktop looks like on MacOS, then RocketDock can be said to imitate the bottom bar of the Apple operating system. You can download it here https://drop.me/BrpAqa.
Workplace on the balcony
There is catastrophically little space in the apartment, but do you need to place your desk somewhere? Right! Place it on the balcony. Please note that the balcony must be well insulated, otherwise you risk catching a cold while sitting in a draft. And furniture in such conditions will quickly become unusable.
The spacious loggia can accommodate a medium-sized desk
When organizing a workplace on the balcony, choose a small table. But where to store documents and various useful little things? An excellent solution would be shelves nailed to the walls. You can put a small cabinet under the table to store office supplies.
You can also get quite comfortable on the narrow balcony
Be sure to protect yourself and your property from direct sunlight. To do this, just hang blinds on the windows. Well, a prerequisite is the presence of sockets. It’s good if it is possible to take them directly to the balcony. This will eliminate the need to purchase an extension cord.
Make your workplace cozy
The work area should be pleasant to be in. In offices, employees try to decorate their desks with photographs, vases and trinkets. This helps you feel comfortable, and the result of your work depends on your mood. In the Kreslo catalogs you will find a wonderful selection of decorative items that will lift your spirits and create an atmosphere of warmth. Elegant accessories await you on the Neopolis Casa website.
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Design of a workspace in a niche
Is your balcony of modest size or not insulated? There will always be a way out. The desktop will look great in a niche. The main thing is to clear it and get rid of the trash that has accumulated there.
The working surface will be a countertop installed in spacers
The vertical is used as much as possible. An excellent option is to place boxes with important little things on the shelves that are often already in the niche, and hang several small but spacious shelves on the wall. They are suitable for storing folders, books and more.
A small workplace in a niche, decorated in the spirit of the 30s
Regarding the pantry doors themselves, it is possible to decorate them with a real organizer for scissors, tape, pencils and other useful little things. The idea is good if you are doing handicrafts and have nowhere to put your tools. Ready-made organizers hanging on the door are sold in stores. If you wish, you can choose beautiful nails, hammer them into the niche doors and hang the necessary items there. As for the table itself, it can be made from solid wood yourself or made to order.
Separate your workspace from other spaces
The main problem of those who are not used to working from home is the inability to concentrate due to a relaxed environment. To get rid of all temptations and feel like you're at work, separate the space from the rest of the apartment.
You can do this with a little rearrangement. For example, move a closet or shelves with books so as to visually separate your work area from the main room.
Photo: Nikolay Maslov / Lifehacker
Another option is a temporary workplace. For example, a folding table that will fold out when you begin your official tasks and put back when not needed. This solution will help to clearly separate work time from rest.
It is important to remove from the focal area everything that you associate with relaxation: a game console, musical instruments and any other things that you will grab as soon as you get tired or bored.
Installing a table on a windowsill
This desktop design option is very popular. It does not require a lot of free space, and it is inexpensive. Basically, narrow window sills are found in apartments. But they can be easily extended. To do this, you need to use a tabletop that is installed on the window sill and fixed to the wall on the sides. If the tabletop is long enough, it needs to be secured at the bottom in the middle. A cabinet installed under the table is suitable for these purposes.
Even a small window can create a comfortable workplace
When organizing your workspace, make sure that the battery does not get in your way. It's better to move it to another place. Considering that you will be working opposite a window, think about how to protect yourself from the sun. A light curtain or blinds work great.
Window sill table in the children's room
Nail shelves to the side walls. This way you will save precious square meters from the need to install a cabinet, and everything you need will always be at hand.
Workplace in the storage room
Making the most of your workspace is the main goal of many owners of small apartments. It sounds surprising and unusual, but it’s quite possible to set up an office in a closet.
The office in the pantry can be decorated in a modern or classic style
Pay attention to the walls. To set up a home office in a closet, you need to choose the right shade of wallpaper. The pantry is a fairly dark room, so when covering the walls, choose wallpaper only in light shades.
Secret room under the staircase
Experienced designers recommend using several useful tips:
- dismantle doors to expand space;
- install shelves or a cabinet up to the ceiling to save money and make the most of your workspace;
- since there are no windows in the pantry, take care of good lighting, preferably if there are several light sources.
As you can see, setting up a workplace at home is not at all difficult. The final touch is choosing a chair. It would be great if it was a small office chair.
Organize comfortable lighting
For convenient work, ceiling lighting and table lighting, local lighting, are important. Choose cool light, it promotes concentration. It is better to give preference to frosted light bulbs so that the light does not dazzle. Position the lamp so that the vertical angle between the light source and the eye line does not exceed 30 degrees. In you can find stylish and reliable lamps.
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How to restore an old table: decor ideas
To set up a workplace at home, you need to think about choosing furniture. If it is not possible to purchase a new table, you can always decorate the old one.
A shabby wooden table can be sanded, decorated with stencils and varnished
There are several techniques that will give old furniture new life and turn it into a real work of art:
- Decoupage.
You will need several napkins with any pattern, PVA glue, a wide brush and furniture varnish. Prepare the table, clean it of dust or other contaminants. The lower part of the napkins must be separated from the upper, after which the design is applied to the surface, generously lubricated with glue. Make sure that the top of the napkin fits tightly to the table. After the glue has dried, cover the surface of the table with several layers of varnish. Ready! Using decoupage you can turn an old table into a real masterpiece - Slate paint.
A great option for those who love minimalism. In this case, the table will take on a black or dark green hue. The main thing is to apply the paint thinly, in 2-3 layers. A regular roller with a not very wide surface will do the job. The advantage of paint is that you can take important notes directly on the table surface with regular chalk. It looks incredibly stylish and very comfortable. By the way, a slate board is an interesting idea for making a homemade table - Adhesive tape.
The market offers a wide range of different films. Choose geometric or floral prints for the table. It would be good if the film had a bright, saturated color. Glue it carefully onto the surface, gradually, while smoothing every centimeter. This will avoid unevenness, film breaks and other troubles. The advantage of this method is that “self-adhesive” can be found for every taste
Pay attention to non-standard places for organizing your workplace
A home office is located in the bedroom or living room, sometimes in the kitchen. However, you can create a comfortable and private place to work in the pantry or on the balcony (if, of course, there are conditions, glazing and heating there). This will save space in your living rooms and isolate yourself from those who like to distract you during the work process. You can choose compact furniture.
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Accessories and decorative elements
Setting up a workplace is easy. The secret is in the details. Properly selected accessories will give an aesthetically attractive appearance to the work area. Have you installed a table or cabinet, but don't know how to make the space look larger? Use various figurines and vases. But remember that they should be as round as possible; avoid oblong accessories in this case.
Organize your personal moodboard - a kind of “mood board” that will decorate the interior and become a source of inspiration
Bright shades are appropriate in small details
A great option to spice up your workspace at home is to build a vision board. It will not be difficult to do this even for a person who has never done needlework. This is not only a great decoration, but also a way to motivate yourself to achieve what you want. Take a sheet of whatman paper, print it out or cut out the pictures you like from magazines. Do you want to soak up the seaside soon? Great, look for a picture with the sea and the beach and glue it onto paper. Do you want to buy a new car? All that remains is to find a picture of the car you like and pin it on whatman paper. Place the sheet of paper itself on the wall, directly in front of you. You'll see, this kind of workplace decoration will come in handy.
Need a holder for pens and pencils? You don't have to run to the nearest store to buy it. Take an ordinary tin can and open it in several layers with slate paint. It looks incredibly stylish and modern.
Collect your stationery in a convenient box
Organize your wires
You can use regular shoe boxes to store small items. The only thing is that they need to be slightly refined. Wallpaper or self-adhesive film of any color you like will help here. After the “upgrade” it would not be a shame to put the boxes on a shelf or any other prominent place.
Workspace in the kitchen
In the kitchen, the proximity of the stove and sink is dangerous for papers. In addition, the area of the room is usually small, and everything that is needed for cooking can hardly fit there.
The only option for placing a work area in the kitchen is to use a double table: on one side there is a kitchen table, on the other there is a work table.
Source
Organizing a workspace in an apartment is not as difficult as it seems. To “unload” the table, use shelves on the walls for all sorts of things. Choose beautiful, high-quality furniture, accessories (flowers, slates), and do what you love without leaving your favorite home!
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