Posted by KitPollard on April 1, 2010 · 1 Comment
In theory, working from home is great. It offers flexibility, the opportunity be creative in your own way, and (maybe best of all), the ability to do laundry while you’re “at work.”
Working from home can be difficult, though – when “the office” is the kitchen table, it’s difficult to get away from work and sometimes it’s difficult to concentrate. A great home office can go a long way towards eliminating those difficulties, though. When we designed our own home office in a spare bedroom, we followed these five tips:
1. The Perfect Spot
Deciding on location is probably the most important decision you’ll make with respect to your home office. If you’ve got a little loft nook, like the one in the photo at the left, you’re in business. Unfortunately, most of us don’t.
A spare bedroom is a natural choice for a home office, but sometimes it’s not the best choice (if you’ll be using your office daily, for example, and you have a lot of guests). Think about how frequently you’ll use your office, how much space you’ll need, and whether you really need a door. Sometimes, the best choice for location isn’t a room at all, but a quiet corner.
2. A Great Chair
Don’t underestimate the importance of your chair. It should be comfortable, of course, but it also needs to a) look cool and b) be the right size. Many home offices are dominated by a big old office chair that looks out of place (and enormous). Don’t be afraid to try out chairs that look like they’d be more at home in the dining room than by the desk – sometimes they’re very comfortable. But if an officey chair is more your style, don’t feel that you have to be constrained by corporate blues and greys. We love this bright green:
3. Plenty of Storage
It’s just not possible to overemphasize the importance of storage, especially in a small space. Make sure you’ve got plenty of options, both close to your actual workspace and far away. We love this uber-organized combination of shelves, boxes, and cabinets:
4. Design for Inspiration
We love walls covered in artwork and repurposed furniture (not to mention great desk lamps), so this space gets our creative juices flowing:
That also means designing a space where inspiration’s easy to catch. We love enormous dry erase and bulletin boards, as well as these butterfly-covered clipboards:
Finally, don’t forget the fun factor. After all, it’s worth it to do anything you can to make work a little more enjoyable, right? Add color and pattern to your office and don’t be afraid to include elements that you enjoy, like favorite books. We think this space, tiny as it is, would make a fantastic office all the way around:
Tell us what’s most important to you in an office – the chair? The lighting? The ability to be inspired? Please share in the comments!
[Photo credits: All interiors photos from Houzz.com .]
