How to Arrange the Home Office
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. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Desk Chairs
- Desks
- File Cabinets
- Measuring Tapes
- Shelves
- Scissors
- Graph Papers
- Pencils And Erasers
- Folding Tables
- Rulers
Instructions
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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.
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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.
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Make same-scale paper cutouts of your furniture and shift them as needed until a likely arrangement emerges.
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Think about how you like to work. Some people must face the door or have a window view; others prefer to have fewer distractions.
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Be sure you have ample light regardless of where you put your desk, drafting table, reading chair or other primary roosting place.
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Analyze what you do most frequently and situate the furnishings accordingly. If you often search through file cabinets or reference books, keep them accessible.
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Place an ample surface for note taking near the telephone.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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).
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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.
