I’ll admit that I made a few mistakes when designing my first home office. On paper, it was beautiful — a gorgeous stone floor, a generous desk, stylish shelving and enough natural light to make the room feel wonderfully spacious.

Unfortunately, I only discovered its shortcomings after returning from a lengthy work trip and settling in for my first video meeting. My voice echoed around the room, sunlight bounced off my computer screen, and the power point was on the opposite wall from where I needed it. While it looked like something from an interior design magazine, working in it was another matter entirely.

That experience is familiar to anyone who travels interstate or overseas for business regularly. If you spend just a few days working from home between trips, your needs will be quite different from someone based at their desk every day.

Choose a Location That Makes Working Easier

Where you place your office relative to the rest of the home matters more than most people expect. A quiet room away from main living areas can make a real difference — especially when video meetings overlap with the times your kids have planned to battle it out on their Xbox.

A solid door that closes properly is also important. Glass doors look beautiful but won’t provide the sound insulation needed for confidential conversations or to limit distractions. Positioning the desk to face into the room creates a more welcoming workspace and a better background for video calls.

If you’re a frequent traveller, focus on creating somewhere comfortable and ready to use, even after arriving home exhausted from a long flight.

Think About How The Room Sounds

Many contemporary Australian homes feature hard surfaces and while they look amazing, they can wreak havoc on acoustics in small offices. Some of the most beautifully designed spaces — with polished concrete, stone flooring and bare walls — have a way of reflecting sound that makes it seem like the person has popped to the bathroom to have their meeting.

Fortunately, you won’t have to cover every wall surface with unattractive foam panels. You can reduce echoes by using timber panelling with acoustic backing, laying thick rugs, and adding upholstered furniture and curtains. It’s also worth thinking about acoustic performance early in the design process, when changes are easier and less expensive to make.

Get The Lighting Right For Video Calls

Natural light is something everyone raves about, but while it can make a home office feel nice and airy, too much direct sunlight can turn meetings into squinting sessions. Ideally, the desk should receive soft daylight from the side, rather than having a bright window directly behind the chair or sunlight shining onto the screen. It’s worth testing your desk in different positions before deciding where to place electrical outlets or any permanent cabinetry.

Adjustable blinds or curtains help control changing light throughout the day, while dimmable lamps provide more flexibility for early morning or evening meetings. Combine natural and artificial light thoughtfully, keeping glare, window placement and shading in mind.

Design Storage Around Frequent Travel

A practical office for frequent travellers needs to accommodate more than paperwork. Built-in cupboards or the space beneath a bench are good spots to stash luggage and keep suitcases out of the hallway.

A charging drawer is a useful addition — somewhere to keep laptops, phones and power banks ready for the next trip. Small compartments for travel adapters, cables and headphones can also save a surprising amount of time when you’re heading out the door at five in the morning.

Staying Connected At Home And Abroad

If you conduct meetings or manage work remotely, reliable internet is non-negotiable. During construction or renovation, consider installing a wired network point near the desk. A wired connection can provide greater stability than relying entirely on Wi-Fi, particularly during important video calls. A mobile hotspot or backup connection is also worth having in case the main internet service becomes unavailable.

Connectivity matters while travelling, too. International roaming charges can add up quickly, particularly across multiple destinations. Depending on the trip, travellers might compare a carrier roaming pass, a local physical SIM or an eSIM — a digital SIM installed without swapping a physical card. Compatibility and coverage depend on the phone, destination and selected plan.

What To Discuss With Your Architect Or Builder

Before finalising the plans, consider these practical requirements:

– Layout: A quiet location, a properly closing door and a comfortable desk position.
– Sound: Acoustic treatments, rugs, curtains and appropriate wall finishes.
– Light: Adjustable window coverings, soft daylight and dimmable lighting.
– Power and cabling: Convenient power points, a wired internet connection and concealed cables.
– Storage: Space for luggage, charging equipment, documents and travel accessories.

A well-designed home office should be a pleasure to return to, whether after a quick interstate trip or several weeks overseas. Before settling on the final layout, try taking a real video call from the room — it’s the simplest way to find out whether that beautiful desk position actually works.