How to Plan For, and Decorate, Your Home Office - 4 Essential Steps

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Need to have office space at home.

Step 1

1. Choosing Your Home Office Area

Although this is the most important decision it is not complicated. You need to know what your home office needs are, how often you will need this space, and what space is available in your home for your office needs.

Assess Your Office Needs. How often will you be using your home office?

Home Office for a Small Business - If you are beginning a small home business your office needs will require dedicating an entire room or a place where you will not need to put everything away to use it for daily living. Running a business requires a desk or flat surface to work, files, telephone, etc. A space away from everyday living activities will also provide privacy and avoids distractions when you are working. Keep this in mind while looking at your home's available space. Be creative and look beyond the typical ideas of a bedroom, or dividing your living room or dining room. Look at your basement, part of your garage, an accessible part of your attic, or even a closet.

Telecommuting or Bringing Your Work Home - There are more options for laying out a home office area when your needs are not daily or heavy usage. A designated room would be the best or you can simply place your computer in the living room, dining room or guest room. There are more office area upkeep tasks including keeping your office space tidy, since it is an open part of your living area. To accomplish this use a desk that includes plenty of storage space for your office supplies and/or file cabinets.

Assess Your Office Space Needs. Once you know what you will require out of your home office you may be restricted in the amount of space you have to work with. There is not a problem if you have an extra room. To create office space in a small apartment or a home where every room is being used there are options to successfully design a small home office.

Multi-purpose a room. - In your bedroom or guest bedroom use a daybed with your file cabinets as end tables. This will provide enough space for a table or small desk to work on.

Partition a room - If your plan for your home office is to be part of your living room or dining room separate the area with a room divider. Use corner desk that will provide ample work and storage space and not over power the rest of the room. A secretary desk is a smaller desk that comes equipped with ample storage of its own.
Step 2

2. Home Office Layout and Design Needs

Electricity access will be the deciding factor hen you layout your home office. Place your desk near an outlet (or a couple of outlets) to run your computer, task lighting, printer, fax, scanner, etc. Overhead lighting fixtures are needed to keep eye strain down. Make sure it would be possible to install them if they don't already exist.

Natural Lighting. Try to locate your desk near a window. Natural light makes you feel more productive while working and adds a calming feel to your workspace. Arrange the rest of your office furniture around the window.

Office Wall Color. Use a bright color with a semi-gloss finish for a high-energy and vibrant look. To create a calm workspace paint with a deeper or a muted color that is flat or eggshell.
Step 3

3. Choose Your Home Office Necessities

Before you go to the office furniture store know what type of desk, chair, file cabinet, lighting, and other items that your home office will require. Plan out how the furniture will fit into the space available so you know what you will need before you go home office shopping.

Workstation
The desk is the centerpiece of your office and the item you need to make sure fits your size, workspace requirements, and drawer and/or storage space. There are many options for a desk including corner desks, linear work stations, secretary style desk, computer armoire, and much more.

Storage
There are important documents that will need to be placed into an area where you know exactly where they are, not in a pile on your desk. A file cabinet is an important feature to your home office suite. You can go without one but you will be pleasantly surprised at how organized you become when you can file your documents.

Bookshelves or shelving provide a space for your books and computer software boxes but are also a great way of storing your extra office supplies. Find stylish baskets or other holder to store your pens, paper clips, post-it notes, etc. They will be close at hand yet out of your way.

Lighting your home office
Proper lighting should illuminate your entire office. Ensure they are bright enough to display the entire room. A task light on your desk will focus on what you are working on and help reduce eye strain from your computer screen.

Other miscellaneous office attire
If your office is for running your small business there may be times when you have meetings. For these occasions that you will need to provide them seating.
A storage cart is an excellent place to keep extra supplies and can be put away when you do not need it. Or multi-purpose use it as a printer or scanner table.
Step 4

4. Home Office Decorating With Accessories

Start with the floor. Use rugs in high traffic area such as from the door to your desk. Area rugs can be used to soften the noise generated while you work and will add some personality to the office. Use a plastic mat for under your chair so it rolls easily.

Now it is time to do some serious interior decorating for your home office. Framed pictures, clocks and wall art will turn you office into a place where you do not mind spending time in. If you have a green thumb add a plant, if you don't add a fake plant. Greenery always adds a calming feel to any space.

When adding decor that will sit on your desk make sure it will be useful as well. Find a stylish bowl and fill it with candy or a decorative vase can be used as a pencil holder.