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Design Dilemma: Creating a Great Home Office

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If you work at home (or even if you don’t) chances are you have a home office. Maybe it’s a corner of your bedroom, or just your dining room table. Wherever you camp out when you need to get things done, you want it to be comfortable, functional and beautiful. Oh, and, by the way, you don’t want it to get in the way of the rest of your life during non-working hours.  Here are a few ideas to help you achieve this goal:

If you don’t have space, think creatively. Okay, so maybe you don’t have an entire extra room to turn into an office. What about turning an under-utilized closet into a home office?

The closet office solution is a neat way to devise a space that can remain an office at all times, although you don’t necessarily need to see all that office stuff all the time. When your work is done, all you need to do is shut the door! Other under-utilized spaces that might be turned into an office include garages, attics and outdoor sheds.

Get a convertible. No, we’re not talking cars. If you have an extra room in your home that does double duty as both a study and a guest room, we have an elegant solution for you. Why not get a Murphy Bed that can serve as a desk and office when it’s up, but be transformed into a guest bed when the need arises? Take a look below:

The rolling file cabinet stores papers and office supplies and can be tucked out of the way when the bed comes down.

A dining room that does double-duty can be quite functional as a home office. Take a look at the dining room below where just the right table allows a place to store office supplies for easy access. When it’s time to eat, the laptop and lamp are removed and… joila, you’re ready for dinner!

Just because a home office is about work, doesn’t mean there shouldn’t be some consideration of aesthetics. After all, you’ll feel more inspired in a space you love to be in. So don’t skimp on the little extras. Why not get a cool chair, use bright colors, invest in cool lighting? And why not invest in wall art which can help elevate and inspire? Check out the examples below:

Here’s an office for the minimalist:

And another for those who love drama:

And here are a few other things to keep in mind if you want a really great home office:

• If possible, give first preference to areas where you can shut the door. It helps with concentration and work-related phone calls.
• Don’t forget the ergonomics. Your chair needs to support your back and the desk and chair height need to allow for support of your wrists.
• If you need to buy equipment for your office, draw up a floor plan first so you know where everything will go.
• If you’ve got the space for it, add a separate seating area away from the desk. It will allow you to take breaks and keep your creative juices flowing.
• Rid your office of clutter and any excess, which will help to keep you organized, efficient and effective.

Images: Sunset.com; livingetc.com