Most of us spend time at work, but not all of us have an office there. Some people work from home, and for them, it’s essential to have a space in their house dedicated entirely to their work. It’s best for you and your family if your personal life is free of clutter.
Check out these helpful tips on designing the perfect home office.
1) Consider Your Needs
When designing the perfect home office, a good first step is considering what you need. AÂ distinct desk, lots of storage space, and plenty of natural light are some things that might be important to you and others who will use the room. If possible, design your workspace with shared needs in mind. This can help you avoid any unneeded arguments.
Pro tip: If your family shares the office, make sure there are plenty of cabinets for everyone’s things.
2) Make a List of Your Needs
Once you’ve considered all of your needs in an office space, make a list. What exactly is it that you need to have in that room? To get started, try making a list of furniture items you might need in the room.
Pro tip: If you work in a creative field, consider investing in items that inspire your best work. You can’t go wrong with bookshelves filled with classic literature or beautiful art on the walls.
3) Do Some Research
You have a list of important furniture items, but now what? Now, you should do some research and consider how to go about buying them for your room. Some online sources offer a huge variety of furniture pieces that will fit into any budget. You can also ask friends and family members for recommendations on where to shop.
Pro tip: If you plan on asking other people where they shop, keep in mind that you’ll need to know the measurements of each furniture item on your list. You’ll also have to be flexible when it comes to any pieces that are out-of-stock or no longer being produced.
4) Plan the Layout
Now, it’s time for some planning! Once you’ve gotten all of your furniture and equipment, it’s time to figure out how you’re going to arrange everything. You’ll want to draw a rough sketch of where each item needs to go before you go shopping. This is especially important if you plan on having more than one person in the space (like a family member or fellow employee).
Pro tip: Try going old school and hand-drawing a map of the room. This will help you visualize where everything should go before you purchase it.
5) Make a Constructive Wall
Now that you have all of your materials, it’s time to get to work. When designing the perfect home office, one thing to consider is building a wall. Yes, wall! Creating a built-in desk is useful for keeping all of your materials in one place.
Pro tip: Depending on the measurements of each furniture item you purchase, you may or may not be able to build a wall yourself. But if you do have the time and patience to put one together yourself, it can save you money in the long run!
6) Create a Storage System
No office is complete without storage space. Having a place to put all of your important documents, files, and books will save you time spent looking for things while working—and not having to worry about them getting lost or damaged along the way. If possible, design your new office space with shared needs in mind. A big desk with a lot of storage is the most helpful and convenient option for everyone sharing the room.
Pro tip: Investing in some sort of filing system makes it easy to keep all of your important books, manuals, and other materials together and organized. This way you’ll only have to buy the items once, and you’ll always know where to find them.
7) Add a Touch of Luxe
When designing the perfect home office, remember to give it a personal touch. The best way to do this is by adding luxury items that are useful for inspiration. Whether it’s pictures of your family or inspirational art, accessories like these will make your office a place you look forward to getting back to after a long day of work.
Pro tip: Find the perfect seating and lighting and add some fresh flowers in there, and it’ll feel like an entirely different space. If you love reading, consider adding floor-to-ceiling bookshelves for a personal library.
Bottom Line
Designing the perfect home office can be challenging, but it’s worth investing in your productivity and personal life. Make sure to consider how you work best before shopping for furniture or equipment; this will make designing the right space much easier.
Whether you need a place to do research, draw up plans, paint artwork, or write reports, there are plenty of ways for an office to work well with your lifestyle. The key is finding what works best for you.