Having a home office used to be a luxury. Even in homes with a “dedicated” office, the space was used for little more than storing old books and perhaps a file cabinet or two. Many homeowners questioned whether they even needed a dedicated home office — leaving the space empty for years while deciding how to repurpose the space as something more “useful.” Well 2020 sure has changed that mindset, hasn’t it? Today, a dedicated space for a home office is not only useful, but considered essential as an increasing number of us are working from home, if not full-time, at least part-time.
Furnishings for today’s home office are almost endless. From ergonomic chairs, stand up desks and specialized lighting to custom desks and supplies, you are certain to find something that meets your home office needs. To get started, first you need to determine your vision for the space. How do you want it to look and feel? How does it need to function? Do you have the luxury of a dedicated home office space or do you need it to do double duty as a guest room or triple duty as a guest room and homework/computer room for the kids? After you determine what you want to accomplish, the next step is to match these needs with the right furnishings!
If you find you require more space than a conventional desk provides, you might want to consider a workstation. A workstation with an L-shaped configuration provides twice the workspace of a conventional desk. Plus, the storage options are virtually endless – cubbyholes, drawers and cabinets are all designed to store office essentials.
Another popular workstation option is the office armoire: two tall doors open to reveal a drop-down work surface and plenty of storage space. Available in a multitude of design styles and furniture finishes, these popular pieces can easily fit into any design style.
Chairs, too, have vastly improved in terms of aesthetics as well as comfort. This is one place you can really put a personal stamp on your home office. Who says you can’t work from a traditional wing chair? Or even a country-style Adirondack chair? Once you’ve determined you style preference, you next need to consider the ergonomics. If you spend a majority of your time working at a computer, you may want to opt for a chair with separate adjustments for lumbar and lower back support, arm width and height, seat back angle and seat height.
Another extremely important consideration in creating the home office of your dreams is storage. Books, files, mail, magazines, and a plethora of other paperwork are essential to any full-fledged office – and as we all know – every piece of paper deserves its own home. Take stock of how many linear feet of open and closed storage you need right now, then multiply that figure by 25% to 50% to allow for future growth. Once you’ve come to a comfortable conclusion, consider various storage options – everything from conventional steel files to traditional wood cabinetry.
And finally, don’t forget those furnishings that will put the “home” in “home office”. Decorative lighting, an ottoman for put-your-feet-up comfort, even a home entertainment unit can add up to an office ready for any job. And of course, those finishing touches – custom window treatments, area rugs, artwork, and collectibles will all help to say, “This is my space!”
Given the right decorative approach, you’ll find it hard to leave work when 5 o’clock rolls around! DL Rich Designs Decorating Den Interiors understands just how to put together a home office that is both functional and beautiful. Contact us today at 301-970-9339 to get started.
