How to create the perfect home office: Great tips from a fashion expert

When you work so much now from home, revamping your office space can feel almost as good as a holiday. Furniture and fashion designer Jonathan Saunders has some good tips.

When you work so much now from home, revamping your office space can feel almost as good as a holiday.

I bought a new stand up desk and my wife took great pleasure in replacing my ‘daggy’ office shelf with a bright white new one from Ikea.

I could say we really enjoyed putting it together, but that might be a stretch, though my wife and daughter, who are a lot better at following instructions than me, did seem to get some satisfaction out of the mini project.

One of the hardest things to do was to cull down the books, videos, DVDS, music CDs to a more respectable collection of stuff we might actual use. Then my wife decided to colour co-ordinate it all.

It looks great, but I’m not sure I will find any book I need soon, while I’m under firm instructions that I need to put things back where they came from, otherwise my wife will quickly know.

For their part, technology companies like Apple, Samsung, Dell, LG, and Acer are also creating products which are more about work and play than just work.

Apple’s newest iMacs are super slimline and could easily look the part in the kitchen as in your office.

Samsung recently launched its Smart Monitor M8 for work and play.

Samsung recently launched its Smart Monitor M8 at Semi Permanent in Sydney bringing in New York-based Scottish furniture and fashion designer Jonathan Saunders to create an experiential habitat to showcase the benefits of technology offering a stylish match for the hybrid life.

The 32 inch warm white 4K UHD monitor can be used as an internet-based workstation without the need for a computer, or a great smart TV with its own little remote control to watch the latest streaming services.

It offers HDR 10+ resolution, Bixby and Alexa voice assistance, can connect your various smart devices, and even charge your phone or tablet through a 65 watt USB C charger. Samsung has 11 different monitors including the M8, M7 and M5 models in various sizes and colours.

New York-based Scottish furniture and fashion designer Jonathan Saunders

According to Saunders, the key to creating a great work and play environment is to opt for products that ‘go beyond pure functionality and instead offers a more holistic experience in the way they make us feel when we look and interact with it’.

‘Just because more of us are working from home, it doesn’t mean our jobs are less demanding. We need our technology and work-from-home setup to help us streamline the constant transitions necessary for our hybrid lifestyles,’’ he says.

“By using devices with multiple built-in capabilities like a webcam and Smart TV functionality, you can seamlessly make the switch between work and life, enhancing productivity on both fronts.’

Smart Monitor M8 features a SlimFit camera which can be tilted for your best look.

He says it’s also a good idea to pick out interiors for the home that are both inspiring and multifunctional

“Take advantage of products with high-level connectivity where you can connect your mobile device and view on a bigger screen. That way, you can change your living environment regularly without taking up too much space to suit this lifestyle.”

Saunders says to create a clean “deskterior”, you should avoid clutter.

It’s advice my wife also gave me and I must say after removing much of the junk around my desk (old notebooks, boxes, laptop cases and the like), going into a clean looking office each day is far more enjoyable.

Experts also say a splash of colour is a great way to express personality.

Tech companies are creating products that look better in your loungeroom.

“Use it as a punctuation within a neutral space to add character without it becoming overbearing or a distraction,’’ Saunders advises.

Samsung says its M8 has received global recognition for helping to end the era of dull and lifeless desk.

While you can plug a computer into it, you don’t necessarily need to for things like browsing the internet, checking email, or working via cloud-based services on documents, spreadsheets or basic presentations.

It comes equipped with a SlimFit camera with tilt functionality to create the perfect angle while using different video call apps like Google Duo, which can be accessed directly through the monitor.

Samsung recently launched its Smart Monitor M8 at Semi Permanent in Sydney.

When you switch to a TV, M8 owners can enjoy a variety of streaming services, including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+ and Apple TV via Wi-Fi without having to connect to a PC or TV, depending on what you have a subscription for.

Samsung’s Senior Director of Display, Brand and Memory, Phil Gaut says: “What makes Samsung’s Smart Monitor M8 so special is that it can seamlessly switch from a smart TV to a monitor, in seconds! From streaming your favourite content to hosting a

video call, it’s clear this monitor is more than meets the eye.

“In a new ultra-slim flat design in a warm white colour, dedicated wireless camera and built-in video communication apps Samsung’s Smart

Samsung's Smart Monitor M8 is a 32-inch display that works as a computer screen or a smart TV.

Monitor offers all the features for clean and modern desk set-up. Featuring HDR10+, the latest 4K processor, 400 nit brightness and 99 per cent RGB it offers a premium viewing experience, and with access to popular streaming services such as Netflix and YouTube, it’s the ideal companion for work and play.”

You can also watch content from your mobile on a much bigger display by using Tap View or Screen Mirroring to show off photos or videos you have taken.

The Smart Monitor series also boasts Apple AirPlay2 integration, which allows users to enjoy movies, music and photos saved on their smartphones or laptops on the big screen. Samsung’s Smart Monitor M8 has a recommended retail price of $1119 AUD.