One of the trends that has arisen, out of necessity, over the last year is a home office space. Home offices are being used for both work from home and remote learning situations right now. I don’t know about you, but I work SO MUCH BETTER when I have a space that is both beautiful and functional.

Just like the design of any room, designing a home office should begin with a list of what needs to happen in there.  Ask yourself these questions:

• What do I need for surface space? Just a place for a laptop or a place to spread out papers or other materials?  This will dictate the type of surface arrangement needed.

• How many people will be using the space at a time?

• What do I need to store? Are you all digital or do you keep paper files? Do you need office supplies on hand? A printer? Copier? Art, project, or school supplies?

• What activities will I need to accommodate? Zoom meetings? in person meetings? Computer work or paperwork? Will the room do double duty as anything else like a media space, guest room, or library?

• What would my preferred work breaks involve?  Snacks? Beverages…adult beverages??? Music? Staring at the garden or ocean (I wish!) or backyard birds? Goat yoga?(is that still a thing?)

Whether you have a full separate room to call your own, or have a cloffice (closet-office), you need these 5 ingredients for a successful and productive space

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A Comfy Chair

If you are working from home, you are probably spending a fair amount of time in the desk chair - make sure you find it comfortable.  Do you want it to swivel and roll to easily access other surfaces? Or do you mostly just need to stay in one place? Do you have space for some extra cushy chairs for a change of scenery while working on your computer or fielding phone calls?

This office we designed in a city brownstone has 2 workstations and abundant storage built into the curved portion of the room, with space for a pair of chairs by the fireplace. An office with a fireplace! #goals

A Table or Desk

Depending on your storage needs and what else is in the room, you may only need a smallish surface on which to set a laptop or desktop computer OR you may need a dining table size surface to spread out your stuff.  

Abundant Outlets

Add outlets at a height and location that makes sense for where you need to put things.  Add more outlets than you think you will need!  The ability to plug in good zoom lighting, a printer, modem, computer components, and the charging cables for various auxiliary devices is usually essential - and you might want a coffeepot, electric teakettle, or mini fridge too.  Don’t forget to corral the cords with cable management clips.

Great Lighting

Having an office with plenty of natural light is ideal, of course, but not always possible. And even with windows you will need supplemental lighting for gray days or working before dawn (I’ve heard that people do this…but I’ll never be one of them!) or after dusk.  We designed this built-in wall to include not only a charming window seat, but library sconces on the bookcases as well.

You may want some flattering light for video calls, and you need something that lights any desk surfaces as well as general light that serves any storage areas.  Overhead light is generally less pleasant, so be sure to mix in some table lamps, wall sconces, or floor lamps.  And for the love of all that is holy get your light bulbs right with THIS handy guide. DO NOT use fluorescent bulbs or 5000 K or higher LED’s unless your home office is also an interrogation room or surgical suite. 

An Attractive View

If your office is a windowless closet, add a mural or paint the walls a favorite color that makes you smile and evokes positive emotions for highest productivity.  Add something that inspires you - art, a quote, family pictures, flowers…flowers are ALWAYS appropriate!

Pay attention not just to your view from the desk, but also to what will be in the background for any video calls.  This is an opportunity for a personalized statement…but not TOO personal!  A mirror behind you that reveals to the zoom world when you are having a no-pants day is probably a mistake, and a view of your unmade bed or cluttered bathroom counter is definitely TMI.

Way before it was cool, we designed the layout for this cloffice for a client.  And boy were they happy to have a functional space for the last year!

Tips that are especially important for small offices and cloffices

• The smaller the space, the more critical customization is - for small spaces, every inch counts!

• Open shelving makes everything accessible, but use pretty containers to hide utilitarian office supplies

• Contained storage and therefore less clutter make small spaces feel larger. Every visible item should be both attractive AND useful - and yes, providing inspiration counts as useful! Of course some people are maximalists and like a LOT of inspiration! Decorate your office to suit YOU!

• Use wall hung lights to free up desk surface in a small space

• Think multifunctional - like a wall treatment that doubles as a magnet board, pull out storage with a top that doubles as extra desk surface, or a lamp with built-in outlets and USB ports.

For more office ideas check out THIS post. Or book a virtual or local consultation and we’ll help you get set up for home office success!