Creating the Perfect Home Office

To keep up with today’s fast-paced lifestyles, many of us bring home our work. And in this rapidly changing economy many employers are tightening their belts and asking employees to work from home to help save money. One of the major problems we face in creating a home office is in designating a special space to set aside for our necessary equipment. Design challenges will vary depending on the space available. For some, the kitchen table is the perfect place to create your “home office”. For others, it’s important to have a space, set apart from the home activities, where you can get away and focus on the work at hand.

The right amount of space becomes your first priority. A room that doubles as a guest room and office might be the perfect place to begin creating your work space at home. Perhaps this room’s closet space could be reconfigured to allow for the necessary office equipment. By removing the shelves and clothes bar, you’d be surprised how much additional office space you might uncover. And when you close those closet doors in the evening your work is hidden from view. Gone are the days when you only had the choice of a desk and chair for your home office. Today’s home office furnishings options are all but endless.

So, first things first! As with any decorating project, you first need to determine what you want to accomplish in your new home office, and then match those needs with the right furnishings. While many people purchase a conventional desk, more and more are requiring extra space. If you fall into this category, you might consider a workstation. With an L-shaped configuration, you should find that it provides approximately twice the work space of a traditional desk. Plus, the storage options are virtually endless cubbyholes, drawers and cabinets are all designed to store office essentials.

Another popular workstation option is the office armoire: two tall doors open to reveal a drop down work surface and plenty of storage space. Available in a multitude of design styles and furniture finishes, these popular pieces can easily fit into any design style. Chairs, too, have vastly improved in terms of aesthetics as well as comfort. This is one place you can really put a personal stamp on your home office. Who says you can’t work from a traditional wing chair? Or even a country style Adirondack chair? Once you’ve determined your style preference, you next need to give careful consideration to the ergonomics. If you spend a majority of your time working at a computer, you may want to opt for a chair with separate adjustments for lumbar and lower back support, arm width and height, seat back angle and seat height.

Another extremely important consideration in creating the home office of your dreams is storage. Books, files, mail, magazines, and a plethora of other paperwork are essential to any full-fledged office and as we all know every piece of paper deserves its own home. Take stock of how many linear feet of open and closed storage you need right now, then multiply that figure by 25% to 50% to allow for future growth. Once you’ve come to a comfortable conclusion, consider various storage options everything from conventional steel files to traditional wood cabinetry. And finally, don’t forget those furnishings that will put the “home” in “home office”. Decorative lighting, an ottoman for put-your-feet-up for comfort, and even a home entertainment unit can help create an office that is ready for any job. And of course, those finishing touches custom window treatments, area rugs, artwork and collectibles will all help to say, “This is my space!” Given the right decorative approach, you’ll find it hard to leave work when 5 o’clock rolls around.

For more information and a free in home consultation, contact Eileen Narozny, Owner/Decorator Interiors by Decorating Den at (407) 488-2590 or eileen.narozny@yahoo.com. Visit my website athttp://decdens.com/enarozny