How to Arrange the Home Office

By eHow Home & Garden Editor

Rate: (4 Ratings)

Furnishings in a home office should be set up so that they work efficiently and comfortably. Here are some tips for getting the job done.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

Desk Chairs
Desks
File Cabinets
Measuring Tapes
Shelves
Scissors
Graph Papers
Pencils And Erasers
Folding Tables
Rulers

Step1

Draw the outlines of the office or office space to scale on graph paper. A scale of 1/4 inch equals 1 foot usually works well.

Step2

Mark anything that would affect your arrangement: electrical outlets, phone jacks, light switches, windows, doors that open into the room, windowsill heights and so forth.

Step3

Make same-scale paper cutouts of your furniture and shift them as needed until a likely arrangement emerges.

Step4

Think about how you like to work. Some people must face the door or have a window view; others prefer to have fewer distractions.

Step5

Be sure you have ample light regardless of where you put your desk, drafting table, reading chair or other primary roosting place.

Step6

Analyze what you do most frequently and situate the furnishings accordingly. If you often search through file cabinets or reference books, keep them accessible.

Step7

Place an ample surface for note taking near the telephone.

Step8

Try to arrange the furniture in such a way that pieces viewed as a unit don't show dramatic shifts in height and mass as the eye sweeps the room. If a tall bookcase is next to a low desk, hang a picture above the desk for balance.

Step9

Don't put any obstacles (including a wastebasket) near a chair on wheels. You don't want to whack your shins or scatter trash every time you shift position.

Step10

Set up an area for meeting with clients if this is part of your home office needs. This can usually be a small table with two or more chairs; stacking chairs can be useful if space is at a premium.

Step11

Make the best use of storage, which is often in limited supply in the home office. If storage is at a premium, think about what you seldom use and move it to another storage area, such as the garage, attic or basement; consider installing a high shelf in the room - perhaps above the window or the closet door - for occasional-use reference books and supplies (extra file folders, computer paper).

Tips & Warnings

Keep the room as neat as possible. A messy work environment often will divert your attention; try to keep jumbled or distracting elements behind doors or in drawers.