use these ideas to create a home office that works for you, from choosing the ideal room to getting a desk, chair, filing system and lighting.
Creating a comfortable and functional home office is much easier than you might think. All you need is a plan of action and some valuable guidelines to get yourself started. In this design Lesson, we’ll take you through the entire process of setting up your own home office. These ideas are also helpful if you only require a small family work space for household management or school projects.
Choose a site
Your first and a lot of crucial decision will be choosing the location of your home office. The space you select can be its own room or part of another living area. here are a few spaces to consider:
The Attic
Provides privacy, space and a view
Side walls may supply good seating space even if the ceiling isn’t high enough for standing
Must meet provincial building code requirements for head space and loads; may be expensive to renovate to meet structural and working needs
A finished Basement
Offers privacy and quiet for concentrated work; can shut door to rest of the house
Good choice as amenities are usually present
Can be damp and cold with low ceilings
A spare Bedroom
Makes an optimal office space, uses privacy, access to natural light and electrical outlets
More likely to offer ample square footage for a desk with computer and storage needs
A Closet
May be a candidate if you do not require a large space
Work surface and storage can be easily incorporated
Can be easily hidden away behind a closed door when not in use
May not accommodate privacy
Master Bedroom
Convenient location, privacy needs can be met if space not used during the day
Sleeping and working areas can be separated with a screen
If bedroom is shared, may disrupt others, especially at night
Kitchen
Best suited for household management work
Can be comfortable with good lighting
Near food preparation and easily accessible to other family members so chance of damage to equipment or materials
Living/Family Room
Suitable if you’re able to create a work corner away from other activities
Simple to organize
Offers little privacy
Dining Room
If dining room not used on daily basis this is a popular choice
Dining room table supplies good work surface
May require extra maintenance to keep tidy when not in use
Garage
Only if space is not used for automobile storage; good idea if you require large space and privacy
May need restorations to make comfortable
Can be expensive to insulate and make weather tight
Addition
Can design space from scratch to meet requirements
May take a long time to construct
Is expensive and must be well-planned
Separate Structure
Can be an existing garden shed, artist studio or pool house
Can be expensive if built from ground up
Costly to maintain with separate heating/cooling, electricity, etc.
Assess your needs
Once you have made a decision on a location for your home office, compile a list of all your equipment and furniture requirements to help figure out the layout of your space.
Equipment
Potential requirements include : computer and peripherals, telephone, printer, scanner, fax
Determine amount of space needed and location for all equipment
Furniture
Workstation, chair and storage are basics
Consider locations of electrical outlets and phone jack (if needed) when laying out workstation
Lighting
Good lighting is vital in a workspace, types include ambient, task and accent lighting
Plan your space
Most workstation configurations are figured out by the position of the computer (if one is used). Computers must always be placed with the screen facing away from windows to stop glare and eye strain. several normal workstation configurations include :
In-line
Work surface and storage furniture are placed against a wall side by side.
Useful layout for user who does not require access to lots of materials or equipment at once
Uses least amount of floor space
Corridor style
Desk and credenza are positioned parallel to one another with a corridor between them
Credenza is used for filing and surface top can supply storage space for office equipment (fax, copier, etc), books, magazine butlers, etc.
For maximum functionality of this configuration, the minimum space between the desk and credenza must be 42”
L-shape
Desk modules are configured to create L-shape
Corner of the “L” is usually used to accommodate computer monitor
Adjacent worktop surfaces supply ample space for spreading out
Suited to computer work
Stations can measure from 6’ x 6’ to 10’ x 10’
U-shape
Desk modules are configured into U-shape
Practical configuration if conference space needed
Takes up a lot of floor space
Select a desk
There are lots of options to choose from when selecting a work surface. select a desk that will a lot of easily support the type of work that you do. here are a few types of desks to consider:Computer Desks
Designed specifically to support computer work
Variety of shapes allows for work surfaces to be used together in different configurations (in-line, L-shaped, U-shaped)
Available in modules that can be configured to desired size
Can be added onto in the future
Built-in Desks
Work surfaces are customized to fit existing space
Smart space-saving solution
Can be customized to fit certain work and storage needs; design can be integrated effortlessly into a home’s existing style
Traditional Desks
Usually larger than office furniture; normal size is 30” d. x 60” l.
Supplies large space for spreading out work
Best suited for home management than computer work
Work Tables
Almost any type of table can be used as a desk
Ensure that height is comfortable for type of work performed
Work table types include : kitchen tables, dining room tables and drafting tables
Shop for the ideal chair
Your chair can be an expensive yet crucial part of your home office set-up. depending on the amount of time you will be spending at your desk working, look for a chair that supplies firm support and adjustability. For maximum mobility, chairs with a five-star base and casters allow for easy movement between work surfaces. always test-drive a chair before you purchase it. the most common work chairs include :
Executive Chairs
Typically have a high back with arms
Tend to be large in size
Not necessarily the most comfortable chair when used over a long work period
Task Chairs
Available with or without arms
Typically created with a lower back than the executive chair
Better suited for performing computer work than executive chairs
Look for chairs with adjustable arms, seat and back
Kneeling Chair
Ergonomically right chair with no back — user sits in a kneeling position, with knees resting on a cushion to keep back straight
Not recommended as primary seating
Add storage
You can never have too much storage, so be sure to plan for future needs when making your selections. a lot of office-style storage products are made of pressed steel and must have smooth finished edges. An boosting number of products are being made from plastic and MDF. storage products come in stationary or mobile models. normal storage includes:
Lateral Files
Easier to use than vertical files
Depth is around 19” with widths between 30” and 42”
Take up a lot more floor space than vertical files
Only one drawer opens at a time to stop tipping
Available in one to five drawer heights
Vertical Files
Various heights available depending on number of drawers needed
Depths are 14” to 25”
Flat Files
Deep large drawers accommodate large scale sheets of paper
Commonly used by architects and designers
Bookshelves
Can be purchased ready-made or custom-built
Allow for display of books, binders and other materials for easy access
Available in a variety of materials including MDF, wood and steel
Wall-mounted Shelves
Inexpensive and easy to install
Can be mounted anywhere on a wall
Underside supplies surface for mounting task lighting
Miscellaneous Storage
For items that are used frequently, bulletin boards, small storage boxes and cups or pretty glasses make helpful storage containers
Layer in lighting
Good lighting is vital in a office to stop eyestrain and headaches. To adequately meet your lighting needs, a variety of sources must be used together. There are three types of lighting to consider for your home office:
Ambient
Ambient lighting supplies a uniform level of light to a large space
Several ambient lights are preferred to a single ambient light: use recessed down-lights, flush-mounted pendants, large hanging pendants, or track lighting
A dimmer switch allows for easy variation of light level
Task
Task lighting concentrates illumination over a certain area
Adjustable task lamps are a popular method of supplying task lighting
Halogen or fluorescent fixtures can be mounted underneath shelves or cabinets to supply task lighting over a work surface
A desk lamp must be positioned so as not to create a shadow on your work
Accent
Creates ambiance, not absolutely needed for a workspace
Common types include wallwashers, hidden soffit tubes, and table lamps