how to design a home office

By using this service, some information may be shared with YouTube. The Hong Kong-based Clifton Leung Design Workshop did a nice job in this small space apartment, where the living room TV wall reverses to a desk. She was the Home Business Expert for The Balance Small Business in 2013. Your work desk will need to suit your work, fit your budget, and complement your office space. Rumor has it that Mary Kay started her business on her kitchen table. If you need the features of a hutch but can’t afford a new one, consider buying an inexpensive bookshelf to set on your desk, or hang shelves over your desk. If you need new furniture, check out your local thrift shops, which often have durable furniture for less than you can get make-yourself-particle board items at other stores. Place a mirror above the desk to reflect light and to allow your desk to double as a vanity when needed. If you want a complete command center, a U-Shaped desk is a great option. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Buy a power pack for charging your home office tech, … While getting up and moving is a good thing healthwise, it can interrupt your focus and workflow, thereby slowing you down. Whether you work in a home office or a cubicle farm, the character and quality of lighting in your workspace can help increase your productivity. When in doubt, you could always build a faux wall and hide your desk behind that if you’re super committed to fitting in a home office (and own your home). Ideally, this will include a door that closes out noise and other distractions. Many home business owners get started in a tiny corner of the home with furniture and equipment they already have. With that in mind, I decided to take a look at the workspaces and work habits of seven DIY, design, and home improvement bloggers. Last Updated: June 13, 2020 Your children should have their own areas dedicated to homework and should be taught to respect your work space. Working from home offers many advantages, including the flexibility of setting your own schedule, saving time and money by eliminating your daily commute, and allowing you to start a business with minimal overhead. wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. Paint your home office in a color you like. The ideal space in your home is free from work-time distractions and has a door, both of which make it easy to divide work time and space with your personal time and space to create greater work/life balance. Home experts across the country sketch out the latest ideas in home office design. At home, you can control (at least most of) the features of your surroundings, while in an office, you’ve pretty much just got your desk to design. Because desks with hutches take up vertical space, they’re usually placed against a wall. Here's a bright idea: make sure your office has plenty of light to cut down on eye strain and headaches. References. The benefit is that you essentially get three work areas. A drab home office can sap your energy making it hard to work. Poor lighting can reduce your energy, dampen morale, produce eyestrain and headaches, and ultimately impair your ability to work effectively. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) regulations allow for tax deductions on that portion of a house used exclusively for business, under certain conditions and restrictions. Your home office should be a space that you look forward to working in every day. If it’s a cold room, use a space heater and always have a warm sweater or blanket hanging on your chair. Even working at home can get tedious and dull. So, to help lighten things up a bit, here are some simple steps to take to help you light your workspace right–whether it’s at home or in a corporate setting. Home office ideas. Like the traditional straight desk, a desk with a hutch can take up little space, while offering more function. Adding some to your home office can make the space feel more masculine and stately. If you're lucky to have enough space, dividing an open plan kitchen or living room is a great option for designing a home office. While you don’t want to sacrifice your comfort (i.e., you should buy a good chair), you do want to be frugal, at least in the beginning. A folding screen or bookcase can help create a dedicated work area if you are unable to dedicate an entire room to your home office. Make it the Focus You don’t have to hide your home office or tuck it in the corner. This article has been viewed 27,750 times. Along with eyestrain, back issues are another risk that comes from working at home especially if you work on your computer all day. Wood Paneling Photo Credit: martinbrothers . Location is key. Boutique Rugs Get it from Boutique Rugs for … Everything You Need to Set Up an Ergonomic Home Office. Decide whether you will need meeting space or space for an assistant or other employees. The Balance Small Business uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. In the space shown here, a daybed decorated with lots of cushions serves as a sofa for watching TV or as a bed for overnight guests. If you can’t afford to buy an L-shaped desk, you can create your own using a table and an existing desk, or buying two desks from the thrift shop. In a Home Office E27 Pendant Light from Muuto. How I designed the ultimate Zoom-friendly home office A director at Facebook recently redid his remote work setup to include a DSLR camera, standing desk, and Samsung Frame TV. To create this article, 9 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. Your desk doesn’t need to look like Martha Stewart organized it, but it should have some measure of a tidy organization so that you can find what you need easily. Whether you create a home office in a studio apartment or build a custom addition onto your home, you can make a space that will help optimize your productivity. By using The Balance Small Business, you accept our. This article has been viewed 27,750 times. Laura Cerrano is a NY- and LA-based feng shui consultant, researcher, and public speaker. Consider using full-spectrum lighting to get many of the advantages of sunlight if your office does not have natural light from a window. Learn more... A home office can be helpful to home-based business owners, telecommuters and anyone who wants to create a space for paying bills, working on projects or studying. Natural Light Illuminates Contemporary Home Office With Wooden Desk. Simply looking at a plant has been shown to lower blood pressure while minimizing feelings of … Research suggests that messy people are geniuses. Use energy-saving light bulbs and power strips, and weather seal your windows, which will save on your power bill. Having a nice home office setting will help spike that cup of ambition on your commute from the kitchen to the (home) office. Along with the other office space issues already mentioned, don't forget about a crucial piece of your office. It can be in a separate room, a quiet corner or even in your kitchen. Perhaps you have an extra bedroom or a section of a finished basement. Other resources you might need to keep close include specific files, reference books, planner, and printer. Surround yourself with items that motivate such as pictures of your family, inspiring quotes, a vision board, and other items that bring you joy. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Below are things to consider when setting up or redesigning your home office. Whether you have a dedicated home office room or you’re hoping to create an work or hobby area in your living room, dining room or even bedroom, we have all the inspiration and advice you need. A standing desk often has all the features of a traditional desk, such as keyword drawer and monitor stand, but it’s at a height that has you standing to work. Dedicated Work-From-Home Workspaces. However, a messy desk can increase stress, sap energy, and lower productivity. Wood paneling isn’t just for outdated basements. If it’s a hot room, keep a fan on your desk and drink plenty of cool water. Meet the Expert. If you have to be in a dark area without windows, get good quality lighting that not only lights the room but your work area as well. A U-shaped desk takes up a lot of space, so it’s best in a larger room. Many people who spend hours in an office aspire to the prize of a corner office or desk with a view. Select furnishings in keeping with the style of the room. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Having to pack up to move off the dining room table each night can get old quickly. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 27,750 times. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. Maybe display your credentials on your wall. Making your home office more productive. The galley design is essentially two desks laid out parallel to each other. Back up these records on a regular basis. Think again. Whether you want inspiration for planning a home office renovation or are building a designer home office from scratch, Houzz has 254,898 images from the best designers, decorators, and architects in the country, including Petros Design and Creative Countertops Inc.. Entrepreneur.com asked Heinz for advice on designing a home office for maximum efficiency. If your home office requires a lot of technology, you want to set up your furniture so that outlets are within easy reach of your equipment. Many people put their home office in a basement, which isn’t bad, but there are many benefits to natural lighting. This modern leather design is perfect for a masculine space. Although there’s a wide range of colors and patterns mixed here, they work in harmony to still provide an organized, streamlined workspace. Research suggests that a sedentary lifestyle is detrimental to your health. You may want a separate waiting area if you have a business requiring client confidentiality, such as a law practice or a therapy practice. Office machines such as a scanner and printer will also be necessities in most homes offices. Implement these feng shui home office design principles and get the productivity boost you need. 1. Jo Heinz is president of Dallas interior architecture and design firm Staffelbach. Take inventory of your home and see what items you already have that can be moved to your home office. More of us than ever are working from home because of COVID-19, and that means we need to make our home offices safe, healthy places to work. Develop a filing system to manage paper. Don’t forget to personalize, this is your home, add some style! Plants are perhaps the easiest way to incorporate green design into your home office. Hold off on buying new computers, printers, and software unless you need it. It's easy to create a galley design with two desks or a desk and regular table or buffet table. One solution to sitting all day is to get a standing desk. Periodic redesign of your home office can re-energize and inspire you. How can a real estate agent create a home office? Your kitchen table or a desk tucked into a corner of a bedroom is a good place to get started on your home business journey, but as you grow, you’ll want to design an office that supports your work. ​Leslie Truex has over 20 years of experience as a writer and a home entrepreneur. For many interior designers, a … Make yours cozy with some decorative wallpaper, a soft rug and an inviting chair. While this allows for a quick, affordable startup, over time, it can impact business growth. A basic desk chair is essential for any home office. For example, if you use the phone often, you’ll want it on your desk. The triple-duty guest room, den and office. While you can put your desk against a wall, in many cases, regular desks can be placed almost anywhere, including in the middle of the room, perpendicular to a wall, or in front of a window. Whether you want inspiration for planning a small home office renovation or are building a designer home office from scratch, Houzz has 12,795 images from the best designers, decorators, and architects in the country, including Elms Interior Design and Wolfe Rizor Interiors. (Image credit: GoModern Furniture) T-shaped desks are ideal if you have a partner or spouse you’re building your home business with, or need two work stations. Determine what space you have available for a home office. Visit @topologyinteriors or topologyinteriors.com. While you may not have many home office options when you first start, it's important to consider a permanent home office that maximizes productivity. There are home office items you can skimp on, but a chair isn’t one of them. While you can create your own, using two desks at the top of the T, and two desks along the stem of the T, this can take up more room, and be more costly. A good floor plan can increase the enjoyment of the home by creating a nice flow between spaces and can even increase its resale value. Put a desk, chair, shelving, and light sources in a corner of your kitchen or another room in the house. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/7\/7e\/Create-a-Home-Office-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Create-a-Home-Office-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/7\/7e\/Create-a-Home-Office-Step-1.jpg\/aid1445817-v4-728px-Create-a-Home-Office-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"