Many people have discovered that the best way to keep work from invading a living space is by setting up a home office; the ones featured here share a few key elements, including well-organized files and shelves, and an overall design that is both efficient and elegant.

The essential components of a home office are a desk, shelving, and file drawers. If you don't have an entire room to spare, consider using an alcove or a corner of the attic for your office. Or better yet, outfit an armoire with all the necessary accoutrements, as we have done (left). The desk insert, made of medium-density fiberboard (MDF), has a hinged front that serves as a desktop when open; the surface is spacious enough to hold a laptop computer, which could be stored inside the cabinet when not in use. The original top shelf and pegs (below, left) were left in place, and new shelves of 1 1/4-inch poplar were stained to match.

A bronze lamp illuminates the armoire, its cord running out of sight through a gap between two boards (cords can also be tucked away through holes drilled for that purpose). Crisscrossing ribbon creates bulletin boards with a minimum of holes. Wide cubbies (below right), were designed for letter paper, others are just right for envelopes or pencils.