There’s a great deal of wiring and cabling to be hidden away, too, so make sure that this can run easily to the power point, and that there’s no chance of anyone tripping over it. If you are converting a cupboard or desk, you may be able to drill holes down the back to keep all the wiring stowed away. If you are installing the equipment in a cupboard, make sure that you can switch off anything electrical or that there are ventilation slats or similar. Electrical equipment always generates considerable amounts of heat. Other ways of disguising the equipment if it is part of a family room is to pull a curtain around the computer at the end of the day or strategically position a screen or two around the work area. Vary the décor on each side as much or as little as you like.

Lighting is the next important element. A traditionally lit room probably won’t have a good enough light for working, but the addition of an Anglepoise-type lamp at the desk is all you need. As well as checking that you have enough light to see clearly, you also need to ensure that it doesn’t shine onto the screen and cause reflections. The same is true of strong sunlight if you sit near a window, you may have to add a blind – vertical, roller or roman are the most versatile – to stop glare.

The home office has become an integral part of the home – not just for work purposes, but because every home needs some kind of a center for correspondence and bills. Working fully or partly from home has become a reality for many people, so the ownership of personal computers and fax machines has made some kind of a mini-office more of a necessity. Home offices don’t need to be large, but they do need careful planning. If you work at home, even for a few hours a week, then it will be irritating (if not impossible on busy days) to completely clear work away at the end of every day in order to use the room for something else in the evening. And, once installed, PCs cannot be moved lightly. So if you are creating a dual use room a home office-cum-dining room, for example you will need to plan both uses equally carefully, and don’t expect daily miracles of tidying from yourself.