Fortunately, technological advances allow many to work from home all or part of the time. To do your best work, you need a space that is comfortable, pleasant, and above all, functional. There are so many options for designing a home office these days that all you have to do is decide on a configuration that will work best for you and create that environment.
Planning your Home Office
Careful planning is the key to arranging a home office that will serve you well. Think about how much space you have to work with and how you will be using the room. If others are sharing the space, you will want to organize the work space even more efficiently. Before ordering home office furniture, take inventory of the electronics you will be using and select furniture that will house the computer, phone, printer, fax and monitors in an organized fashion. Many office furniture units have sophisticated wire management systems and hidden charging stations along with built-in keyboard shelves and file cabinets.
Choosing the Right Pieces
Above all, a home office must be a functional, comfortable and efficient work space. Become familiar with home office furniture options and sketch out the room to scale on graph paper, taking care to allow access to doors and windows. A grand and ornate desk is perfect if you have a lot of space. Moving furniture pieces up against the wall will open up the room, especially important if you are sharing the office with others or if you meet with clients at home. Modular units give you plenty of choices while providing the appearance of a seamless built-in designed specifically for your home office.
- Desk space: There are multiple options for desk space, from elaborate free-standing desks to peninsula desks that protrude from the main unit and contemporary desks that are part of the surface area above the filing cabinets.
- Office Chairs: Make sure to select a chair designed for office use. The chair should have good back support and adjustable height and arm rests.
- Storage Units: Beautifully designed file cabinets in wood and other materials provide storage while blending with the furniture in the room. Credenzas and hutches offer storage as well to manage office clutter.
- Library Walls: Modular library wall units with decorative or functional ladders look impressive and offer storage for files, books and other items.
- Conference Table: If you meet with clients regularly, a conference table and chairs is a must. The table can act as additional desk space when not in use for meetings.
- Office Accessories: Make sure
not to forget the little things. Accessories do more than add
functionality to your home office. They add aesthetic value to the room
as well.
