Decorating a den
This is likely to be your favourite room and should be warm and inviting. This is also a room for enjoyment, so choose a room design you love and that you won’t tire of quickly. Pick a theme, go for something contemporary, minimalist Zen or sporting, for example. Then decide on the paint colour, bearing in mind the previous general considerations. A muted monochrome palette looks very attractive, alternatively try all pale blue, or blue grey, or go for colours that have equal intensity and which all reflect equal brightness without making the room seem smaller, like pink, yellow and orange.
Painting your den walls in vibrant colours gives it more character, so, as we’re in Asia, perhaps a tropical theme might appeal, or if you and your family are manic sports fans, decorate the walls in your favourite team’s colours.
Remember to mix and match the furniture to boost the spaciousness. Again both contemporary and minimalist Zen themes enhance living area and space, rather than allowing many pieces to clutter the room. Generally, it’s best to keep items off the floor by putting them on wall shelves. Another feature which maximises spatial illusion is a large focal piece, like a picture, a home theatre or an oriental work of art, which, by focussing the eyes, helps the room appear less small, while simultaneously adding atmosphere.
Fabrics can also contribute a great deal of colour and atmosphere.
A sofa cover or throw in a solid colour saves recovering the sofa, embellished by printed fabrics for your accent pillows and curtains.
Wall hangings, like oriental carpets take the edge of plain walls and also add considerable interest, likewise sports, hunting and tropical prints, or just hang sports memorabilia on the walls instead of pictures. Team jerseys, caps, and pennants make colourful wall hangings.
For a tropical look, you can go for wall plaques, Thai villages, or a nice scenic picture, though don’t use too many water pictures because they depress.
It’s also relatively easy to find lamps and other décor items in both sports and tropical themes. If you really want to impress, try decorating your bar or your window arrangement to look like an Isarn thatched hut! With a touch of imagination, you can give the impression that your den was designer created.

Home Office
If you don’t already have a room suitable for a home office, you can easily convert a garage, or use the space under the stairs, a walk-in closet or the 3x1 metre space near a window in an open- plan living room.
You should also distinguish clearly between your work and home space.
The biggest mistake is trying to put a home office in the bedroom. The area should ideally be distraction-free and above all comfortable and obviously able to accommodate the basic office equipment: desk, computer chair and filing cabinets or storage. The latter item is essential; clutter radically decreases the efficiency of any area and makes concentration difficult, as well as creating a bad impression.
It also renders the best interior designs ineffective. To avoid this, it’s vital to have adequate storage.
Office equipment, files and supplies should have their own allocated storage spaces.
On the same note, ensure you have enough power points and phone/fax outlets for your equipment. Use junction boxes and keep the cabling neat and tidy, attach it to the walls and use cable trays below the desk top and cable cut-outs in the desk.

Decoration
Aesthetics play an essential role in deciding on home office decor because you not only have to impress clients, please family members and also create a space which is conducive
to work. Try to create a distinctive look that reflects your personality. The same rules to create a sensation of spaciousness apply as with a den, use a monochromatic palate, or a theme such as
moss green. If you want to use bright or deep colours, don’t forget yellow, hot pink and orange all reflect identical tone and intensity and make a room feel undeniably fresh and hip. You may decide to keep the home office in visual sympathy with the rest of the home, especially if it’s open-plan, in which case, try painting your walls in the same colour as the adjoining rooms, but in a slightly darker or lighter hue.
You can also create the illusion of additional light by finishing your wall with a glazing technique.

Furniture
Ideally, you don’t want to spend vast amounts on setting up the home office, leave that until you become successful. However, a good desk is worth splashing out on. The desk is the centre of the office and should dictate the remaining furniture location and requirements. Put it near a window, if possible, to take advantage of natural light and any views. Desk height should be ergonomic (72-75 cm) and the computer keyboard should sit on a height-adjustable surface. Buy a computer chair with an adjustable-height seat; office chairs should also be ergonomically designed to support your spine to avoid back problems and muscle tension.
Pale-coloured furniture reflects plenty of light and helps prevent claustrophobia, and the right style of furniture can make the home office feel attractively cosy.
Bright patterns and elaborate detailing are best avoided; rounded shapes make minimal intrusions into the space and provide necessary, yet stylish storage.
Create a space that flows well with functionality, has ample passage ways, but still remains consistent with the rest of your home. Above all, remember to keep it shipshape – a place for everything and everything in its place – that way nothing gets lost.
Accordingly, it’s worth investing in a work-station with purpose-built shelves where you can put the computer box, printers, computer discs, manuals etc., rather than in your desk, which you should keep clear, especially, by having adequate drawer space.
You can go for furniture pieces rather than formal office equipment, especially as a focal design point, like an armoire for storing files and media equipment, or a roll-top desk to add a more individual touch.
It’s also worthwhile having a comfortable, overstuffed chair and ottoman nearby for those necessary breaks from the computer; it also creates a comfortable reading area and adds a touch of charm.

Storage
Here the ideal for flow and efficiency is to have streamlined and multi-functional storage, like well-designed mobile units that fold out to form additional workspace. Have many types of storage to accommodate different sized equipment, like files, books and folders. Bookcases and filing cabinets are necessities. Cupboards are best for multiple items, whereas shelves are useful for objects that need to be handy.
If you have a storage unit or wall behind your desk, you should ideally allow a 85-100cm space between it and the desk. Gather up any unused chest-of-drawers and cupboards from around the house. Plastic boxes with front openings and roller wheels are great, as are the stackable variety, which also come in cardboard and cane; check out Lotus, they’ve got lots of choices.

Pictures
Brighten up your working area with some prints and photos, perhaps of Isarn scenes or the Buddha, for good luck, either on decorative wall shelves on the wall.
Office wall space can also be used for useful reference charts, maps and diagrams. Putting artwork on the wall based on your business logo can help you feel positive and impress your clients.

Floor
A laminate floor is easy to clean, or strip and paint the boards or stain them. A dark colour is best, because it won’t show marks and is easily swept.

Accessories
You need to be constantly well motivated, so it’s imperative that your home office allows you to feel both comfortable and energised, a place which helps you be creative and develop your ideas.
Personalise your home office with a few ornaments and framed photos and by buying accessories which exude your own charm.
Lighten up your office area with some brightly-coloured plastic accessories to keep you alert and content.
Choose bright yellow or shocking pink, and buy a mouse mat, a staple and some folders to match.
Large houseplants or trailing vines relieve the formality, as do vases of fresh flowers, as well as exuding a pleasing aroma.
Create a warm cosy atmosphere by introducing some brightly coloured throw cushions, or neutral coloured mats or short pile rugs.
Outdoor lighting provides an excellent source of light for your workstation. Use translucent window shades in soft colours to allow the light in, while minimising glare.
Buy a good lamp that not only brings appropriate mood lighting into your work space, but also makes a design statement.
You will need task lighting, like an ‘angle-poise’, over work areas for adequate illumination and to protect your eyes from the glare of your computer screen and to protect you from the headaches and eyestrain.
You might also want to go for a definite theme, like a vintage 1930s or Art Deco look, in which case decorative items which show a nostalgic style ambiance will be necessary. These will almost certainly include large vintage
geometric, chrome pieces, standing lamps and vintage curtains.

Study-library
The picture illustrating one of designer Neville Johnson’s study-libraries (top left) is an ideal one can only aspire to, with its floor to ceiling storage, integrated study area and designer coffee table. However, it is possible to replicate some of its features on a small scale. The study-library’s focal point should obviously be a wall-mounted, preferably wall-length bookcase-cum-display case, which doesn’t need to be rectangular but can be off-set.
Opulent leather armchairs are pleasant, but only comfortable armchairs are necessary.
Contemporary or antique styling for other furniture items like coffee tables and other occasional tables and chairs are both acceptable, dependent on your taste and budget.
Paint the walls in a warm, but still light colour to bring out the richness in the woodwork, and add vertical-striped opulent red, gold and taupe (brown tinged grey) drapes to add some height to the space, soften the room, add texture and colour, making it more intimate
at night.
One of the easiest ways to turn just a corner of the room into your miniature library is to buy an oriental area rug. Oriental area rugs will not only give the space a classy look, but will also separate it from the rest of the room.
But the essential thing is just to create a space, where you can read, relax and enjoy the ambiance.
Relaxing and feeling good also goes for a den and a home office. Ω