Home Office Design Tips & Ideas

Designing a home office area is not something that should be taken lightly. After all, it’s an office and it is likely that much time will be spent there doing important tasks. There are so many things that are worthy of consideration before you begin the home renovation. The home office is more than just a desk, computer and a chair thrown into one corner. The area must be perfectly designed so that output can be maximized.

The most obvious things that will go in a home office are furnishings and computer technologies. After these, the placement of printers and other work area machinery is very important. Ease of movement around the area is necessary to ensure that work is both effective and productive.

After deciding how to arrange the office furnishings probably one of the most important considerations will be lighting. Proper indoor lighting arrangements are pertinent to maintaining a workplace that is conducive for productivity. Positioning computers and other pieces of viewing technology is important since a glare can seriously hamper goals. There may be a balance between proper indoor lighting and the use of natural light where possible.

However, it will not always be daylight so one must plan for lighting which will keep the work zone productive even after hours.

When undertaking major home remodeling projects interior painting is usually high up on the priority list. It should also be a primary consideration for the home office. Chosen colors are very important to the work environment. Talk to the interior decorator or contractor about which color blends will be both pleasing to the eye and encourage work.

A technician can help design and set up any computer networking and computer security that needs to be done. It will be ineffective if technology does not work together as a cohesive unit.

Building The Home Office

Building a home office may sound like an easy task; however, it requires intense planning to be effective. Some furnishings are non-negotiable like desks, an office chair and shelving space for storage. You will also want to take some care in setting up computer networking.

The home office will need to be designed and built so that the use of natural light can be maximized. Indoor lighting specialists can help set up the area so that dark spots can be eliminated. This will help make the entire area workable even when natural light is not available.

Proper arrangement of all office furnishings should be considered before building begins. Careful planning will allow for the placement of furnishings so that work can be the most efficient it can be. Computers, printers and other office equipment will need to be easily accessible so that work can move along at a continuous flow at all times.

When designing the home office include some flat work space, desk space, and storage space. These are all important elements for a work environment.

A technician can help set up computer networking in your home office. They can help set up wireless routers, as well as wireless communication between computers and office equipment.

Before beginning home renovations make sure you have a good plan in place. Contractors will need to know what the purpose of the home office is before building begins. Whenever we do a home renovation in Los Angeles California the first thing we do is to help you design the area so that it is most effective. A solid plan also helps save money or look for ways to cut un-needed expenses.

Painting Your Home Office

No matter what type of home renovations you are considering, interior painting will be an essential element. Various rooms call for different color combinations. The home office is no different. Before undertaking major home renovations to add a home office take the time to decide what kinds of things you will want included in the design. The color scheme is an important part of the design.

Colors play a major role in the mood of a room. The home office will most likely not use bright and vivid colors in the scheme. These type of “fast food” colors will encourage movement. However, you will not want to use dull or boring colors either as they can tend to make one feel depressed. Choosing the right combination of neutral and base colors is very important to maintaining a work atmosphere in the home office.

Indoor lighting can also play a role in the overall effect of the area. Talk to contractors to achieve the perfect balance between lighting and paint colors. You will want to generate a welcoming feeling but not encourage nap time!

Take into consideration what types of technology will be used as well. Lighting and colors will need to be combined so that there are no glares on computer screens or monitors. Discussing options with technicians, painting and restoration contractors, and interior designers will help achieve the proper balance.

Lighting for A Home Office

There are lots of considerations to be made after the initial decision to undertake major home remodeling to set up a home office. Besides just the simple fact that you’ll be doing substantial home renovations, the office area itself will need to be well thought out. This will ensure it will be an effective and efficient work area.

You have a lot of options to choose from that can also give your space a more complete look. Floor lamps, a nice old fashioned architect desk light or even drop lights can work in the smallest of spaces.

It is best to contact an indoor lighting specialist when making decisions about lighting schemes for the home office. A specialist can help decide which lighting scheme will work best for what you hope to achieve in the area. They will know how to help find the perfect balance between indoor lighting and natural light. Lighting is very important as natural light is not always available.

Work areas need to be equipped with sufficient lighting so that work can be productive without stressing out the eyes. Improper lighting can cause strain on the eyes and tension in the back as well as make completing the task that much more difficult. Even though computer monitors can shed some light on the area it is not adequate enough for reading or performing other work related tasks.

And one thing worth mentioning here, lighting doesn’t need to be expensive to look nice. There are some really affordable lamps and lighting that can really make your office look great, not just be functional. Working with audio video technicians and lighting specialists can help make the most of the work areas.

Carpeting or Rugs

This is a site about carpets, so of course I’d include them in any home office. And although you’d think it isn’t all that important to have a carpet or at least an area rug, it’s far more important than you think. Especially if your new office will be in the basement or garage.

See, when you have no “soft” surfaces, sound bounces, a lot!

If you have an office, then chances are pretty good that you’ll be on the phone at sometime, or using a microphone to record videos, audiobooks, or a headset to use services like Skype to chat with clients.

My point here is that sound bounces a lot. And if you speak to someone using any kind of tech, even a cell phone, it makes your voice sound “tinny” almost. And you don’t come through sounding authoritative. Yes, maybe a little anal, but it really does make a big difference.

And since the idea of a home office for some is to start out as cheaply as possible, maybe you don’t want to budget a carpet in your new build. And that’s fine. Just get a nice large area rug and you’re good to go. You won’t need any sort of professional floor installer or anything, just buy and unwrap.

I guarantee you WILL hear the difference, and so will your calls. And a nice rug feels great under your feet and really brightens up a space. So don’t skimp this part.

Okay, enough. I think I’ve given you plenty to think about and start planning. I hope your new home office turns out to be even better than you expected. And when it’s finished, drop a pic in the comments below, I’d love to see how it all turned out.