Building the Right Home Office
Work From Home
Creating the Right Home Office for your Business & Personal Needs
For decades people have been moving towards working from a home office. Working from home is something more and more companies are allowing their employees to do especially since the emergence of the coronavirus pandemic. Millennials find the WFH option is a perk that will make them choose one employer over another. However, working from home isn’t without its challenges; not all residences have the right space for a productive and enjoyable work experience. If you spend the full week, weekend, or just a few hours working at home, it’s important that an office be comfortable and inviting to spend time in.
First, evaluate your workflow
The first step in creating a home office plan that works is to evaluate what you plan to do there. The key to designing the right place is to think about where and when you do your work and whether you also need a meeting/conference area. A space that’s away from the daily circulation flow and distractions of your household will work better. Perhaps a separate secure business entry foyer and guest parking will be required.
Also, you may ask yourself, will the kids need a “zone”, a place for the pets to snooze, or a separate area for you to read and review work? Think about what inspires you as it could be a favorite piece of artwork, a collection of objects, an antique desk, or an invigorating color scheme that gives a personal touch. Identifying these possible distractions and motivators can guide the design of your home office.
Consider space, lighting, and storage
Make sure you allow enough space to work comfortably as part of the excitement from working at home is escaping the dreaded cubicle of the corporate office. Ask yourself if you will be able to move easily from side to side, stand up, and sit back from your desk. While that may seem like a no-brainer, it’s easy to underestimate how much space is really needed. Avoid shoving the desk against a wall, utilize natural light by putting a work area near windows so you can look away from your computer every now and then and soak in the view. Balancing natural light and good task lighting is critical to layering light to enhance the different uses in the room.
Storage is often overlooked and can really affect your productivity. Make sure to include enough shelving, filing cabinets, or cupboards for your storage needs. Consider your workflow-what comes in, where will it stay while being worked on, and where does it go when complete? Most people feel anxious when the clutter begins to build up and having an intelligent design storage solution for your own personal work habits is critical. Keeping reference materials like manuals, catalogs, or reference books located near your desk to keep them close at hand is a must. Adding a wireless router and investing in both wireless printer and mouse will reduce seeing all those pesky wires.
Enlist the help of a professional
Working with a design professional to accomplish all these myriad of design issues successfully as well as working on material selections, budget, acoustic considerations and building codes can make a comforting experience for you. Architects and interior designers may be able to provide guidance to make your home office an enjoyable, productive space that also increases the overall value of your home.Also knowing the different IRS exclusivity requirements for determining deductions in office space like storing inventory or product samples is important. You may be able to offset the cost of your home office design through these deductions.