How to Design a Home Office & Library
The home office and library often serve similar functions. They provide a place to do work, research and relax while reading. To save space in a small house or combine spaces when your library is too small to need a room of its own, consider designing a home office and library into the same room. Keep it private for doing business or open it up to the entire family to gather to read. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Consider the function of your home office and library, and how many people will use it. A personal home office meant only for you will typically have a more private, cozy atmosphere while a home office and library meant for two or more people is often designed to be open and inviting. You’ll need to incorporate enough furniture and chairs into your design to provide space for everyone while still leaving room for people to move around easily.
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Choose a style for the room and choose furniture and accessories around this style. Deciding on a style first will help you stay focused when browsing through furniture stores. Common styles include traditional, country and modern according to “The Smart Approach to Small Space Living.”
Traditional styles use dark wood and older styled pieces while a country style incorporates light, airy furniture and creates a quaint feeling. Modern style uses sleek, smooth surfaces with limited decoration and can include any new design styles currently on the market.
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Sketch out a floor plan on graph paper or create one online using a free program. Measure your office and library space and mark on the floor plan the location of power outlets, phone jacks and existing architectural elements like windows or built-in shelves.
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Separate sections of the room on the floor plan into different areas, such as an office space for each person using it and reading spaces separate from the desks. Sketch in furniture so that desks are near windows or other light sources and also near power outlets for plugging in computers and phone jacks for connecting to the Internet. Arrange chairs near shelves with small tables to hold books and a lamp or window for lighting.
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Shop for furniture after you have an idea of what pieces you need and what style you want. Take pictures of pieces you like and write down the dimensions of each. Spend a few days thinking about the pieces and measuring to see how much space each would require. When you’re ready, make your final selections based on your budget and which pieces best suit your storage and space needs. Test furniture for durability and chairs or couches for comfort.
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Add in storage elements before placing the furniture in your home office and library. Use tall shelves for holding books and smaller, closed drawers or cabinets for office supplies. A two-drawer filing cabinet can serve as both paper storage and a makeshift table beside your desk. Built-in shelving units add decoration to a room and free up floor space. Consider your storage needs and arrange shelving so the most commonly used items are easy to reach.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit at home office image by Pix by Marti from Fotolia.com
