3 Tips for Designing the Ideal Home Office
When COVID-19 first started keeping us home, a lot of people did what they could to quickly create a functional workspace. Maybe that meant using the dining room table as a desk, or moving boxes out of a basement room to set up your computer.
However, if you haven’t created a dedicated home office space yet, now’s the time! Not only are people continuing to work from home for their own safety, but many employers and employees are realizing how productive and cost-effective this setup is.
Even if you’re retired, a dedicated home office is still a wonderful space to have. You can FaceTime or Zoom with your grandkids, pay bills or read a book without distractions.
To clarify, a dedicated home office doesn’t mean you need a spacious, separate room — although it’s amazing if you have that. All I’m saying is that I’ve turned closets into work spaces for some of my clients!
No matter how big your vision or square footage is, before you get started, you’ll need to ask yourself a few questions:
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What will you be doing?
- To help visualize the layout and design, think about your typical day:
- Do you need tech to video conference and print documents, or will you be using your space to sketch out ideas and relax?
- Will you be in there for eight hours a day or a few hours here and there?
- Do you want a closed-off space or are you imagining something more open?
Here’s an example: Recently, I was at one of my supplier’s houses to help design an office for his wife, who is a mortgage broker and wants to start working from home.
She sent me the room dimensions drawn out on a piece of paper, and I transferred that to my graph paper so that I could work out a proper ‘scale’ and layout for her desk and storage requirements.
She loved the U-shaped work area I designed. Because she has two young boys, we also came up with adding a cork board so the kids can put their art up. And we brought in comfy guest chairs so the kids can keep Mom company — and she can keep an eye on them!
By talking with her to understand her day-to-day life a bit more, I was able to come up with home office ideas that meet all her needs.
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What are your storage requirements?
Storage space always seems to be at a premium. Carefully consider what types of shelves, cupboards and filing cabinets will keep things organized without overpowering the area.
Fortunately, there are so many space-saving storage options out there. Floating shelves and cube storage that doubles as decor can do wonders to prevent clutter.
If you have a tangle of cords at your feet, invest in some fabric cord covers or cable ties to keep your tech tidy.
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What do you want to look at?
You may be looking at the same four walls (or fewer in an open-concept area) quite a bit. So, it’s essential to think beyond furniture, tech and storage solutions.
Here are a few tips to help you decide on an aesthetic:
- Choose feel-good colours. Whether you prefer a sunny energizing yellow or a soft calming blue, remember that colour can affect your mood, productivity and creativity.
- Lighten up. You may need functional lighting to reduce eye strain or glare from your computer screen, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be stylish. Look for desk lamps and overhead lighting that combine function and beauty.
- Give yourself a view. If you’re lucky enough to have a window that overlooks the ocean, you’re set. If you’re in a windowless space or have a view of the neighbour’s siding, hang a favourite piece of artwork or a print.
Creating the perfect office space is so important — and it shouldn’t be the dining room table! Whether you’re working hard or video chatting with your kids and grandkids on holidays, you deserve a comfortable, inspirational area you’ll love spending time in.
We can help you create a dedicated home office that’s truly personal. With our virtual design services, we can even show you what everything you’re imagining will look like — before you bring in a single piece of furniture! Or, contact us with your home office ideas.
