1. SHOWCASE COLLECTIONS AND PERSONAL TREASURES
Designed for 'a professor who surfs', this ocean-side Californian home is a collaboration between Commune and Feldman Architecture. It's lined with locally salvaged Monteray Cypress and filled with commissions from artisans and artists, which sit alongside vintage pieces and collected treasures.
2. INVEST IN STORAGE THAT KEEPS TECH OUT OF SIGHT
Unless you're designing a home theater, you'll probably need your den to be as versatile as possible. Focusing on flexibility means the area can serve as a study, family room and entertaining space all rolled into one. And if you'd rather the TV didn't take center stage, then clever cabinetry is the answer.
3. USE A STRONG WALL COLOR
'For our family room, I craved a formal library, but with the comfort to slouch into a plush sofa and watch movies,' says Athena Calderone of this cocooning space in her Brooklyn home.
4. INCORPORATE AN ELEGANT DRINKS CABINET
If you love the idea of using your den for pre or post-dinner drinks, then take inspiration from this exquisite yet understated whiskey cabinet designed by Retrouvius. This ingenious solution is ideal for keeping spirits close at hand yet tucked away: a great option if the room functions as a family space during the day, the idea of a bar trolley feels a touch passé, and a whole wet bar seems too much.
5. HIDE YOUR HOME OFFICE
While many of us love having the opportunity to spend more time working from home, not everyone wants to sacrifice a whole room to create a dedicated home office space. If you need your den to double as a study, it's worth considering how you can downplay the impact your work has on that space.
6. ENCOURAGE DOWNTIME WITH A BUILT-IN DAYBED
While open-plan living is undeniably practical, it can make it hard to switch off and relax. That's why, in our opinion, a den should be dedicated space where you can kick back and tune out from work and chores. As such, we couldn't resist sharing this window seat from Commune and Feldman Architecture's Santa Cruz project: this bespoke daybed, which flanks a fireplace and occupies a cozy nook that's built into the custom timber shelving.
7. ADD SUBTLE PARTITIONS TO CREATE A SECLUDED FEEL
As per our previous point, if your floorplan means your den is closely connected to other spaces in the house, then consider a means of partially screening or partitioning the space with a room divider.
8. ELEVATE YOUR DEN WITH CONSIDERED LIGHTING
When New York firm Gachot were commissioned to overhaul this 1893 rowhouse in the city's Upper West Side, they included an inviting library complete with a custom lighting scheme designed in collaboration with Wald Studio. 'We are quite passionate about lighting and consider its placement and tonality with the same level of care whether we're designing for a personal library or a public space in a hotel,' says studio co-founder Christine Gachot.
9. CHOOSE SOCIABLE SEATING TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER
Whether your den is designed for family time, entertaining, or both, it's worth giving some thought to the layout and whether it's conducive to conversation. Think beyond the typical sofa-opposite-TV set up to create a space that allows people to congregate easily.
10. CARVE OUT A SNUG WITH CLEVER SPATIAL PLANNING
'This space constituted the rear section of a double reception room,' says HÁM's creative director, Kate Cox, whose aim was to establish an area that felt distinctly different from the adjoining living area, thus preventing it from feeling like a thoroughfare to the kitchen.