The home office is often the least utilized space within the home. We’ve witnessed the evolution of these rooms many times over. The initial space becomes a promising office space before eventually turning into a messy storage area that nobody would want to spend any time in, let alone work in!
This typical office environment gets usually found in one place. The room was not made or designed with productivity in the back of its mind.
Creating a functional home office requires careful design, professional knowledge, and creativity. If you’re an entrepreneur, small-scale business owner, hobbyist, or family planner, continue reading to discover how to design your home office area perfectly.
How Will You Make Use of the Space?
The most crucial element of a well-designed home office is knowing how to get space will get utilized. Of course, it’s an area for working. However, there’s much more to it beyond the obvious.
You can ask yourself:
- What precisely will you be doing within the space?
- What kinds of materials are likely to be stored or referenced?
- How long do you plan to devote to this work each week?
- What time will you start work in this field?
Make sure these questions are a regular part of the design process, and refer to the answers as required to ensure that the design you come up with meets your requirements.
Take into Consideration the Kind of Equipment Required
What tools will allow you to complete your task effectively? If you do not consider the tools you’ll need, you’ll get left with a room that isn’t big enough or the proper arrangement to store all the required equipment.
A few typical home office equipment requirements could include:
- Desk
- Computer
- Desk chair and additional seating
- Land phone line system
- Copy machine or printer
- Shredder
- Sound system
- Television
- Self-storage for hard drives
- A bulletin board, whiteboard, or regular board
- Cabinets for filing
- Bookshelves
Making a list of everything likely to be placed within the room will aid in planning the space to accommodate your items without feeling cramped or messy.
What’s the Lighting Condition?
Most people don’t think about lighting when they design their office space, but this can significantly affect how you feel working in your space.
You’d like to have as much natural light in your office as possible. If you’re renovating your space, be sure that natural light is at the top of your list.
If you need more natural light in your room, for instance, in the case of offices located in a basement or space without windows, think about daylight-replicating light sources.
If you get blessed with a lot of natural light, or none whatsoever, or a mixture of both, it’s essential to be aware of how the light gets directed within your area. You’ll need to ensure your workspace or desk gets set up in a way that won’t create reflection on your screen for your computer or direct light into your eyes during a sunny day.
Are There Privacy Issues?
When you think of privacy in your office, it’s not only referring to security. Office privacy involves limiting noise and preventing interruptions.
It can get manifested in many ways based on the needs of your client:
- Locks on doors and drawers for storage
- Walls with insulation
- Window curtains
- Air filter to block out outside sounds
- Divider walls to protect your desk from the entryway
Let’s Discuss Storage
However sincere you are about keeping your home clean of clutter and household items, be prepared that at least a handful are bound to make it into the space. Offices are a perfect location for papers, books, desk equipment, desk supplies, and other items.
Accept this reality and prepare for the future to store these items by maximizing storage spaces in your workspace.
There are many ways to achieve this. Some top ideas comprise:
- Bookshelves
- Shelving
- Cubbies
- Cabinetry
- Baskets
- Modular systems
The possibilities are endless, and the storage device you select will get primarily based on the space you have, the kind of work you’re doing, and the required capabilities.
Here are a few things to remember:
- You should ensure that you have accessible storage that is easily accessible for items you use every day, such as notepads, pens, headphones, and more.
- Look into a seamless storage system that aligns with your space’s overall style. That will help make your area feel harmonious and boost productivity.
- The open shelving and other storage options are convenient. Still, it would help if you found a way to balance them with separated areas so that you don’t leave everything all over the place. Being able to see everything can lead to an unorganized and messy look.
Layout and Ergonomics Shouldn’t Get Ignored
You’ll want to feel at ease within your home; therefore, be aware of your space’s design and the desk and seating options. Things you may want to include in your area are:
- Adjustable sitting/standing desk
- Adjustable desk chair
- Task chair
- Standing mats or footrests
- Alternative seating area
How Will You Display Your Unique Idea of Style in Your Home?
The last thing to do is to ensure that the space reflects your personal space. The color of the paint or the artwork you have on the walls, or even the rug you select, you must ensure the layout of your office space is compatible with your design and is a space you’ll love.
Some ideas for decor to consider could include the following:
- Greenery
- Lighting fixtures
- Mirrors
- Artwork
It is also crucial to ensure that the office design matches your home’s aesthetic. That is particularly crucial to think about in the case of starting at the beginning with a new remodeling or adding a home office.
Design the Office Space You’ve Always Wanted
Contact Ottawa Home Pros at (613) 288-9145 or email us at info@ottawahomepros.com for a quote on renovations, remodeling, and new home additions. Whether you want to make changes to an existing space or start from scratch, we have the experience to get you the best results.
Our team will make sure that your home office renovation is planned to perfection and built to meet the needs of your home or business life.
