6 tips to create the perfect home office

Chloe Hines Chloe Hines
Decoración Accesible para vivienda Chic, decoraCCion decoraCCion Escritórios escandinavos
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Whether you work predominately from home, or need a space to organize for upcoming projects (or life in general), creating a home office has several benefits. Home offices allow for comfortably, accessibility and style while working on the go and leave you feeling motivated and accomplished in even your daily, banal activities.

Traditionally, home offices are thought of as separate rooms in a home – blocked off from all guests, entertainment and in-home distractions. However, this traditional concept is being tested in a mere multitude of ways! The increasing popularity of open-concept homes and smaller living spaces have forced designers and homeowners alike to expand their thoughts on home office space and consider weaving office space into living space for optimal functionality and continuity of design.

In this Ideabook, we have provided six tips to help you create an adequate and functional in-home office! It's easier than you think! For ideas of how to make your in-home office stylish, take a look at this Ideabook!

In the Living Room

If you're one of many homeowners lacking in space, then placing your home office in another living area might be the only option that you have.  Think about media and entertainment centers that have built-in desk space – or even build your own.

When considering living rooms – utilize frustrating corner space as an area to build a corner desk and cabinet  that can provide both room for a workspace and extra storage for your living room.  Since living rooms are often places of multiple distractions, remember to try using a design technique so your office is facing a wall (as seen here!) or if you like outdoor views, a window. This will decrease distraction and make it harder to view the television or any other media playing in the room while you're working.

This example is great because of the bold use of colour on the exposed brick wall – creating a kind of partition in the living space – from that which is work space.  While making an office in your living room, don't forget to continue your style and aesthetic, as to make the small, mobile office fit into the rest of your living room, rather than looking like a drab addition!

In the Garden Room

Garden rooms are great for in-home offices because of their fresh interior, optimal natural light and comfortable temperature, depending on proper insulation. Garden or more exterior rooms can be easily mistaken for areas where unusable items, or junk can be stored.  However, with the right organization and storage techniques – these rooms can, overnight, be changed into fully-functional working spaces.

One advantage of using exterior space as an office is that the easy accessibility to the outside can allow for one to take refreshing breaks while working on projects – as well as join in outdoor entertaining! Make sure that depending on your type of garden room that you're using furnishings and decorative accessories that are durable and suitable for the outdoors.  Consider sisal and hemp-based linens and floor textiles and choose furnishings and woods that can handle long exposure to well-sunlight areas.

In the Bedroom

Apartamento en Sabana Grande, PUNCH TAD PUNCH TAD Espaços de trabalho minimalistas

You've probably heard a lot of people – maybe even yourself – say, Oh I could never get any work done in my bedroom – it's too comfy!  This is one of the largest problems when thinking of placing your home office in your bedroom.  With a cozy bed and soft furnishings in constant view, we know that motivation to work can start lacking. This is why it's important to become knowledgable about proper design and particular styling techniques when building an area or room for working!

Make sure when designing an office in your bedroom that you center on one particular area of the room that is rather bare, or completely bare. Choose a corner space, or an area near a window (as seen here) and make sure all desks, chairs and work equipment face the wall or window as to let in minimal to no distractions. Make the space clean, organized and efficient – and most of all, do not make it too comfortable! The most comfortable part of your desk space should be a high-quality chair to relieve back and joint problems for long hours of work – but forget blankets, throws and cozy cushions!

Place items and artwork within this space that will keep you focused and motivated – and most importantly, organize your desk so that all materials and tools you will need will be an arms' length away.  This is important because if you have to get up to grab something, or walk to another part of the bedroom, that beautiful, comfortable bed will always be there tempting you!

Separate Office Space

It doesn't matter how small or large – if you're lucky enough to have a separate office space, then your possibilities are truly endless, we promise! Separate office spaces are incredibly convenient, and with the plethora of built-in storage and organizational techniques and multifunctional furniture on the market today, there is no excuse to not make it work to its fullest!

Our advice is to keep the floor space and legroom as free as possible to always give the illusion of ample space. Use underneath storage, either in the desk, cabinets or bookshelves as a way to hide clutter and utilize every wall as chance to display reading materials, books, and like seen here, some decorative accessories.

In your home office, make sure that form follows function - the classic design phrase – and that all decorative objects, especially wall art, are objects that will inspire and motivate!  Think about maps, charts and thoughtful graphic prints that will allow you to take a break from work, yet digest your thought processes!

Flexible Office Space

Whether your home office is in a separate room or is combined to another living area of the home – make it flexible and multifunctional. Often times, with the limited space we have, we have to think of clever ways to create a space that can work for more than one purpose. This example we've provided is wonderful in that the elongated desk allows for one area for computer work, and another area to the right, for crafting or sifting through magazines and books.  

If you happen to like crafting or creating as a hobby, or particularly if you work in the creative arts – then having ample desk space for multiple projects is a true advantage.  Often, one project we're working on coincides with other projects and combining space to allow for minimal movement and shifting around is best. Consider placing a desk in the middle of the office, as to create a work island where all angles and sides of the desk can be used for different tasks – or as seen here, place separate seating arrangements along the same desk.

Don't forget that in order to truly create a space that is flexible and multifunctional you need proper storage, fittings and labeled organizational bins and containers to keep that workflow coming! This Scandinavian-style office is a perfect example of cheap and chic office organizational decorations!

In the Dining Room

By far one of the hardest places to think about and install an in-home office is the dining area.  As family matters, entertaining and eating are all components of any normal dining area – this can be thought of as the least feasible place to design a work space.

But, think again! As seen here, this homeowner decided that the unused area under the stairway could be used for a small desk – and has even placed an idea board in the kitchen to allow for an area of brainstorming for all parts of the day.  If you work in visual or creative arts – or any type of work for that matter – don't forget that often times visualizing your work can aide in processing your thoughts and as seen here, can even add a decorative accessory to your space!

We suggest that you do not use your actual dining room table as a place for electronics and expensive materials – for obvious reasons.  However, it doesn't mean that the two spaces can't go hand-in-hand!

We hope this guide has helped you in exploring all areas of your home as possibilities for an in-home office space.  Everyone is busy and has something to work towards – creating the right and adequate space can be a game-changer! For more ideas on how to increase your productivity in your home – check out this fabulous Ideabook!

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