Home Office Design Help: Resources, Products and Ideas

In a perfect world we would all have dedicated home offices but some just don't have the room.

Check out this picture...

The doors have been taken off of this closet and in its place a curtain hung. Then it was gutted of probably a bunch of pack rat sorts of things and reorganized and made into a wonderful, creative "home office". This is a fabulous way to have a home office that you can quickly close up with a beautiful curtain when unexpected friends drop by and you want or need to hide the mess of bills you were in the middle of paying.

Look at all the fabulous storage your closet will still have....Pay attention to the shelf and storage boxes along the top and the shelves down the side too.

I think replacing the "bare light bulb" in the ceiling with a chandelier/pendant light was a great idea. It really sets the mood of this office.

You don't even need a dedicated office chair, you could pull over a dining room chair once your office is "open" for business.

Beautiful solution for a home without a dedicated home office.

Not everyone has a dedicated home office, (my definition of a dedicated office by the way, is 4 walls and a door.) :) But with that said, I don't feel like most people really need a dedicated office, you have lots of creative places to set up your home office in your house depending on your space.

I think the worst place to have your computer and office set up is in your bedroom. That is a place for 2 things....Romance and Sleep, in that order! With the glow of your screensaver and your alert everytime you get an email going off all night isn't a peaceful, relaxing environment. Also, I think seeing your bills that need to be paid, or taxes that need to be done adds a level stress that I don't think you need in your bedroom.

The 2nd worst place for your computer and office set up is in your dining room, especially if its your only table to eat at in the house. If everyone is trying to eat around the computer and your paperwork that is probably not a good way to enjoy a meal, plus it's never good to spill anything on your office stuff either and at this location you run that risk.

Sooo that leaves us with some other options to consider....

Spare Bedrooms:
These make for great home offices. If you're like most people, you probably don't have a lot of guests staying overnight. On the occasions that you do, a desk and a bed fit in most rooms quite nicely so it's a very easy convert from one to the other. Just make sure to turn off that monitor before the guests sleep over.

Family Rooms (living areas):
Nowadays family rooms are a lot larger than they used to be. Having them serve as a dual function room is okay if the office furniture is complimentary to the rest of the room, (see picture).
The great thing, is you can interact with others while getting work done. The bad thing, is you can interact with others while not getting your work done.

You have to keep this area cleaner but it can be done. If you have the room I really like the looks of a writers desk behind a sofa. It's a great place for a lamp for the sofa, it also serves as a console table and it's a great place to park and work while being apart of the family.

This area must stay picked up though!!!! Usually where the sofa sits is a high traffic area and a focal point so you don't want to draw attention to a mess.

There is of course, a bit more to the logistics of choosing the proper space for your new home office, whether you're carving out space in your existing abode or moving to a new place. Here are some things you need to consider when choosing your location:

Electrical Wiring:
Most building codes require that electrical outlets be placed every 12 feet,". It's worth the money to install more outlets. I recommend installing them above desk level so you don't have to crawl around on the floor all the time. If your office is relatively equipment-heavy, zone your wiring on a separate circuit breaker--so even if you blow up your office, you can still watch TV.

Phone lines:
You should have at least two phone lines. Make sure your phone jacks are close to electrical outlets to support equipment that requires both. Personally I have one home line that can switch to fax depending on the call we are receiving. My second line is my cell phone and this arrangment works just fine for me.

Ventilation:
In a forced-air [heating and cooling] system, there's usually a vent on the floor and one on the ceiling. Don't put your equipment anywhere near them.

Lighting:
First, use as much natural light as you can. Then fill in with a mix of ambient lighting (ceiling fixtures) and task lighting (a desk lamp). "Some people really like track lighting and recessed lighting, but for work it actually stinks, it's too bright and too focused". Another no-no: Fluorescent lighting! It's very hard on the eyes. If you must use fluorescent, change the bulbs from cool to warm. They soften the light.

Another option, albeit more expensive, is a full-spectrum lighting system, which replicates natural light. The systems are sold in health-food stores or holistic living catalogs; They're best for those who need to see true color.

Sound:
Wall-to-wall carpeting is the best for reducing sound, but even an area rug will help as long as you spring for good padding. Other sound-reduction tools include weather-stripping, double-glazed windows, soft furnishings and solid doors.

Separate entrance:
This is always a good idea if you have clients visiting your office. Even if you don't, there is a real psychological advantage to having a separate entrance. It helps separate work from the rest of your life. It also creates boundaries, privacy and awareness for family members or roommates who might otherwise interrupt your work.

If a separate entrance is impossible, invest in a separate phone line and a partition, screen or armoire so you can "close the door" on your office at the end of the day.

This is a great website for some eye candy...You'll be inspired to hang art up in your office.