Short- and Long-Term Advice for Creating a Home Office
As a result of the Coronavirus, many Americans have found themselves having make-shift home offices. Your office might be at the kitchen table or tucked into a nook under the stairs or the guest room. However you have set up your new workspace, here are some DIY tips to help you make the most of your set up, right now.
Short-term home office tips
—Desk and proper desk chair
Yes, you can work from the kitchen table or countertop bar for a couple of weeks, but sooner rather than later, you’ll want to have a desk and chair to make your work station comfortable and ergonomic. Maybe it’s a good time to switch to a desk that raises up to allow you to stand when you want. Sales are going on right now on various websites like Wayfair and IKEA, that have a wide variety of desk options to quickly meet your workspace/storage needs.
Lighting
If you are now doing your meetings online (via Zoom or GoToMeeting), you’ll want to be sure you have a set up that keeps you in-frame and puts you in the best light. Working from a home office means no more overhead fluorescent lighting. You can create work-friendly lighting with a combination of a good desk lamp, floor lamp, and natural light. You can add stick-on lights, a clamp light, or a light bar to enhance lighting for video calls.
Decor
Decorative items, like artwork and plants, can help give your space a personalized office feel. Features like carpeting and window treatments help absorb sound. Again, if you find yourself on video calls and meetings, pay attention to the background scene. You want to make sure your backdrop is clean and professional-looking. Tip: Check out the options to create a virtual backdrop on a Zoom call using your own photos.
Office organization and storage (file cabinet, shelves, bins, desktop organizers, etc.).
While some office work is paperless, you’ll want space to store the necessary files, office tools, technology, etc. for your business. For example, some things will need to be within reach, and others will not be seen, and are tucked away. Having a neat and organized space will help you be more productive with your work. Decide what your organization needs are, then plan and purchase accordingly.
Space Configuration
Configure the space for working, and consider how to create space that helps reduce distractions. One of the most important things to consider is what technology and equipment you’ll have, and place your office furniture close to the outlets, where they will be plugged in. You’ll want to make sure your space is set up so you can focus on your work without any distractions. High-traffic areas in your home won’t be an ideal office location since there will be noise to distract you. A space further away from the household commotion will work much better.
Long-term home office tips
If you’re thinking you’ll be working from home for a while, consider the possibility of an extended or even permanent home office. You can work with a contractor to plan out and build a comfortable and fully functional home office. Here is what you need to know for creating a custom home office:
Options to consider
Think about the space in your home that would work best as a home office. You could remodel an existing room, remodel a space above the garage, build an addition onto your home, or if your property location allows, constructing a separate building behind the house — known as an accessory dwelling unit.
Designate workspace areas
Whatever option you go with, designate areas for your workspace and desk set up, a place to sit in a comfortable armchair or at a small meeting table, as well as functional storage—like custom built-ins, shelving, or cabinets for reference materials, books and documents, filing cabinets.
Natural lighting
In addition to overhead lighting, consider large windows, skylight(s), or clerestory windows to bring natural light into your space. Bringing in light from the outdoors will help brighten not only your home office but your mood when you work. It’s so much more enjoyable to work with natural light and a beautiful view.
Technology planning
Plan ahead to accommodate the technology you need to run your home office. You’ll want to plan where your office furniture will be, and make sure electrical outlets will be nearby. Install additional lights, plugs, and a combination of USB outlets to stay fully powered.
Decor
Be creative in how you make it your own, with paint, wallpaper, flooring, wall treatments, etc. Your home office decor is a great way to show your personality and create an inspirational space for you to work in.
Whether you’re planning for the short- or long-term, we hope these tips help you make the perfect home office. If you’re thinking of renovating your home to create a custom office space, lets talk! We will help you create the home office of your dreams.
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