Designing a home office for two people is something you probably never thought you'd need before. But as the way we live and work has changed, a home office has become a necessity in many households. Designing this space needs to take into account the priorities and work habits of the person you'll be sharing it with (often a partner). Sharing a home workspace can be distracting, so it's important that your design creates a space that allows two people to work side-by-side and harmoniously.
“The traditional home office was a study, a place where characters on shows like 'Mad Men' retreated to do their work,” says Eugene Kolberg, principal at Kolberg Architecture. “Home offices have always been around, but historically they were spaces for one person. Now that two adults are working from home, most households need a home office for both working adults, especially as the world explores remote and hybrid work arrangements.”
From clever multi-person desks to lighting and storage solutions that suit everyone, there are plenty of ways to put home office ideas to work and create a productive, creative hub for everyone.
How to Plan a Home Office for Two
Gideon Mendelson of the Mendelson Group, a New York-based interior design firm, recommends considering beauty as well as function when planning your home office ideas for two. “We believe a room can't be beautiful unless it's functional. There's beauty in function!” says Gideon. “When designing an office for two, it's important to have what both people need: desk space, storage, lighting, comfort.”
Once the priorities are clear, it's time to think about the details of design and style. “Then, choose materials, colors, and items that both clients can agree on. And finally, make sure to incorporate the client's favorite collections: mementos, art, books, etc. These final additions give the office a more personal feel, which is also beautiful,” says Gideon.
1. Think about your desk
(Image courtesy of Patrick Williamson. Design by Patrick Williamson)
Whether you're designing a collaborative workspace for multiple people or a home office for one, a desk is one of the most important elements of a home office. If you work with multiple people, you might want to have your own desk, with your own storage space and enough space to lounge, relax and go about your daily life. Or, like this example from interior design studio White Arrow, you could choose a larger dining room-style desk to open up your workspace and encourage collaboration and creative collaboration. Think about how you and your office colleagues will be working and whether you plan to work together or prefer to work completely separately.
Gideon of the Mendelson Group also suggests partner desks as a good solution: “Partner desks are a great way to allow two people to work in one space, and they can also be the most efficient layout for a home office.”
Finally, an L-shaped desk, like this example from Albion Nord, might be a good option for your work-from-home setup, giving you your own space with one large piece of furniture that fits neatly into a corner of your office. “This study was inspired by Ernest Hemingway and, within its green cocoon, features a beautiful bespoke wraparound desk made from natural English pippi oak. It's perfect for two people and is atmospheric and cosy,” says Camilla Clarke, creative director at Albion Nord.
2. Lighting for two
(Image courtesy of Eric Piasecki. Design by Mendelson Huang)
Think carefully about your home office lighting ideas and how they can accommodate the needs of the people who work in the home office. A task light at your desk can help illuminate your work, but think about how it works for both of you. Here, the Mendelson Group chose a modern home office feature: a wall-mounted swing-arm sconce, chosen specifically for its flexibility, helping both people focus with evenly distributed, appropriate lighting. “These work for everyone and allow for more flexibility around the desk,” says Gideon.
3. Use a shelf as a window desk for two
(Image courtesy of Lindsay Salazar)
A window ledge acts as a desk for you and your partner, a cozy spot to look out the window, a place to get creative inspiration while sipping your morning coffee, and a smart home office idea for two when you're short on space. This window office space was designed by Alice Lane and makes the most of the unused space in the room.
4. Divide your space
(Image courtesy of Frenchie Cristoatin)
Separating spaces is key to creating a home office that works for both of you. You need clearly separated and demarcated spaces to stay focused on your work. Even if you share the same desk or work station, you can still separate the spaces with a few design touches, like a few green plants, work furniture, office resources like a printer, or even a clever use of color to create the illusion of separate zones.
If this kind of setup doesn't provide enough separation, try splitting your entire home office in half with a room divider, which softens the space and is perfect for closing off an office area at the end of the day.
In this example, storage that stretches to the ceiling provides a great divider that is both functional and practical, minimising distractions and making you feel like you have your own personal space to focus.
5. Design a space that suits both of you
(Image courtesy of House of Honey)
If you work with a colleague, think about how your space reflects your personality and creativity, and use their design as inspiration. When Tamara Honey, Creative Director at House of Honey Inc. designed for power duo Sarah and Erin Foster, she wanted to create a space they both looked forward to going to. “Sarah and Erin Foster are a multi-talented, powerful duo, so it was essential that the space could comfortably accommodate their two creative and dynamic personalities,” Tamara explains.
In this example, by transforming the space from a typical office environment into a room suitable for creative people, Tamara wanted to create a playful atmosphere and create an inviting and vibrant environment.
“We wanted to create an unexpected, cheeky atmosphere that matched their humorous outlook on life,” says Tamara.
“We laid warm, textured rugs on the floor and layered soft, neutral furniture to open up the space. We selected art that reflects nature and used a soft color scheme that stimulates the eye without distracting. Finally, we sprinkled the office with everyday luxury items like velvet, sheepskin, brass, plants and candles.” The result is a space that's comfortable for both parties and helps people work effectively from home.
6. Create a separate storage space
(Image courtesy of Fiona Susanto. Design by The Stylesmiths)
When designing a work-from-home space that meets the needs of multiple people, it's all about storage. “It's important to have storage that works for both people — that means having enough storage space for both people's belongings and having a system that works for both people,” says Los Angeles-based interior designer John Linden of Mirror Coop. Giving each person their own dedicated storage space separate from coworkers can help maintain routine and order, giving them a sense of organization that may be missing when working from home instead of in the office. Consider under-desk drawers, floating shelves, making the most of wall space, or even drawers with docks to charge tech devices in their own zone.
Also, think about how you'll tidy up your small items at the end of the day: “Put your laptop and work phone away from view when you're done working,” explains Irene Gunter of Gunter & Co Interiors. “If it's out of sight, it can easily be forgotten.”
“We work with highly skilled carpenters who create incredibly practical, yet beautiful, storage ideas to suit your style and the way you organise your life,” she adds. “Successful storage always requires plenty of advance planning – think about how you want to use the space, what you want to hide and what you want to proudly display.”
7. Make the most of your hallway length
(Image courtesy of Alfonso Calza. Design by Oneside)
A home office is often an entirely new area of the house that was once a spare bedroom or dressing area. A home office is often small, which means space is at a premium, especially when designing for more than one person. Think outside the box and look for spaces in a long hallway around the home where people can sit side-by-side. In this case by Valencia-based architect and interior design studio Oneside, finding the space in a tiny home was a challenge during the design phase.
“When we were looking for ways to solve the problem of lack of space, we considered reducing the size of the rest of the rooms, but that came at the cost of reducing the size of these rooms. In this way, we consolidated the office in the hallway, which allowed us to keep the size of the rooms the same, increase storage space, and use a part of the house that was previously only used as a hallway as a part of the home.”
How can you work effectively from home in a shared office?
The key to creating the right home office space for two is ensuring there's privacy between the two of you. “Creating an environment where one person can work quietly and focus while the other is on the phone or in a meeting can be a challenge,” says Eugene Colberg of Colberg Architecture.
A well-designed space will help, but the rest is down to technology: “You can buy noise-canceling headphones and microphones so you don't have to shout and people can't talk down to you when you're trying to concentrate and get work done. You can also invest in acoustically appropriate materials that can absorb sound and reverberation,” adds Eugene.