Home Office Design

By Kathy Flaxman

The home is a corporation that requires a chief executive officer - You! And congratulations, you are about to have the corner office - the one with the sought after view, the cool furniture and your own executive assistant. Whoops, that's likely to be you too, taking on all functions. Nevertheless, having a home office is one of many benefits of having your own home. You have a personal turf, staked as your own, where you can live out your fantasies and deal with the mechanics of day to day life.

Sophisticated email and online conferencing have enhanced our ability to function from any location, and in fact many people find they get more work done when working from home. Finalizing that report and sending the file only takes a minute, and paying the gas and hydro online? So easy. And you are in charge in your home office, whether you are running your own business, handling assignments from your 'real' job or keeping the home corporation properly on course.

Is there a right place and a wrong place for the home office? According to interior designer Joanne Bidini the key to success is understanding the ultimate function. "Someone running a business or a professional practice will likely want privacy and a separate room with a door at the very least," she says. It all depends on what your home office will be used for. "In a family where there are children, the office may be part of the kitchen or dining room so that it's easily accessible and doesn't draw the person using it away from other activities. The room can be the largest and best available or tiny. The concept of the home office is a very adaptable one."

A computer and a phone are essentials - make sure the necessary electrical and phone lines are in place. If you're a regular Dreamhomes reader, you may have already made the switch to wireless. Either way, do indulge in a few of the state of the art devices on the market. If your home office is your primary office you'll find a fax machine and a scanner make your life easier. Sophisticated phone systems and other goodies function as well as a live assistant. Don't forget to consider your lighting needs. As any engineer or designer and they'll agree: good specialized task lighting can really help clarify matters.

Good looks, comfort and space dictate your furniture choices. The desk can be a standard desk, an antique or a find from a garage sale. The chair? Bidini recommends ergonomic seating principles for posture and support. And depending on whether the office is to be a separate room or part of the home?s open areas, various options work well. "In the kitchen or dining area," she says, "it?s popular to place the office functions inside cabinetry with

doors that can be closed to hide the clutter. If someone is actually running a business from home, a conference area might be needed and storage will be more critical."

Storage. Storage. Storage. In creating a home office, storage is a primary concern, taking the form of shelves, baskets or even some good-looking boxes. Having the ability to put your work away in an attractive and organized fashion will separate the successful Fortune Five Hundred home office from its chaotic alter ego.

Whether mixing your own CDs or masterminding your own mega deal, you're the chief executive officer of your home office - enjoy it!

Home Office Basics

Space: A spare room, a basement, an alcove or even a garage will work. No rules apply as to size or location. Try for the corner room with the panoramic view.

Storage: Critical. Start off organized and you'll likely stay organized. Lots of shelves, drawers, boxes and a good system that tells you what's what and where it is will keep you from a paper bedlam.

Internet: Examine your options and get hooked up properly, by using your persuasive powers on friends who are attuned to matters technical if necessary or by hiring a professional. Allow for wires and cables, but plan to hide them or at least keep them tidy. Tripping over cords is not recommended.

Electronics: Devices, Goodies and So-called Office Toys: Have fun and indulge. Source the latest in office equipment. A scanner/printer/fax will make sense if you will actually save time using it. Mixing and burning your own CDs and DVDs enhances creativity.

Seating: Go for the gold. A top quality chair with adequate back support is a worthwhile investment. Budget considerations? Many office supply stores have used ones that have years and years of comfortable seating left to give you.

Lighting: A desk lamp in addition to whatever lighting already exists in your home office will do wonders for your ability to work effectively. Yes, there are some great-looking ones around but, as long as the lamp is bendable and has a strong bulb, you are, effectively, in business.

Dress Code: Dress code? I'm joking, right? Wrong. Almost anything goes, but the key is almost. Shorts or sweats are fine, but unless it's night time no pajamas.