Is work from home here to stay? Check out our home and office furniture inspirations

Will you continue to work from home after the coronavirus pandemic? Our concept designer Melia Abs shares her weekly dose of inspiration, envisioning her perfect home office, using residential and office furniture products from our Spanish partner Sancal.

So, let's join Melia as she re-purposes her living and dining area in her apartment in Dubai Marina, showing you how to incorporate furniture and accessories that can help you stay productive and work from home more efficiently.

"Many of us are going back to the office; however working remotely will not go away. Therefore, we need to make space for it, in our homes," explains Melia.

Working from home requires a place in which you need to concentrate, be efficient, and feel comfortable. Whether you are living with your family, alone, or sharing a space with a roommate, you need to first to start by defining how many workplace allocations are needed at your home.

Ideally, your workspace should be a quiet place, and private, free from distractions and interruptions. However, many of us don't have that luxury.  

MY HOME OFFICE DESK

Start by making sure you have access to natural light. I am planning to place the Nudo desk by our window bay, which will help me to concentrate and get inspired. 

Nudo range is an excellent example of versatility, as it can be used both as a table for your office or a hall and. Its natural finish is the rich oak veneer, but there are 18 colour stains to choose from, so it will fit perfectly in the decor room to be placed.

LET'S FIND THAT PERFECT HOME OFFICE CHAIR

Then, of course, you should choose the right home office chair for you. Sancal offers a good range of chairs, Magnum, Mullit, Collar, Nido and Tea, which can be height-adjustable and have a swivel base if needed. In addition to that, it can be upholstered in endless fabric, vinyl or leather options that can match your interior.

In case you have space limitations, these type of lounge chairs are always a good option as they can also double up as your dining chairs.

For my project, I've chosen a Magnum chair, designed by Estudi{H}Ac.

DON'T FORGET HOME ACCESSORIES

Always accessories your home office with a fun and chic ornaments. For my home office, I've added a shelf to put my daily working tools and accessories. Adding the Fabric Flower Power Vase with a beautiful plant will make it feel cosy. Floppy baskets are great to keep your stuff organized, perfect for your large roll papers if you are designer.

LIVING ROOM AS YOUR HOME OFFICE 

Placing a comfortable chair in the living room will allow you to change the work environment throughout the day or to attend phone calls or those Zoom meetings when your camera is switched off. It's a good way to break the daily routine and increase efficiency. I can't choose a better and more comfortable one other than Tortuga armchair. It's designed by Isaac Piñeiro and his team at Studio Nadadora.

Acoustic panels are becoming a necessity to improve the noise during video calls. Sculptural Beetle will do the job, and they are also very decorative.

MELIA'S TOP PICKS

• Magnum chair with height-adjustable swivel base and with castors that doubles as your task and dining chair
• Nudo table is made in oak veneer and can be used both as a table for your office or a hall. It comes in 18 colour stains to choose from.
• Nido chair - a Spanish word for nest, inspired Rafa García to create this small armchair.
• Tab Table
• Tortuga Table and Armchair - are part of the Jungla collection, designed Isaac Piñeiro
• Beetle Acoustics
• Alpino sofa - designed by Rafa García and is available in eight different models
• Rift laptop covers
• Sancal Paper vases

In case you're planning to return to your office and looking for additional information on how to rearrange your office, according to the latest health guidelines, make sure to download our "Back to Work" practical guide.