14 Mar 7 Tips for Building a Functional Home Office
A home office is a necessity for many homeowners in the Quad Cities area. Creating a functional home office can provide a solution for many busy families who just need a quiet area to get things done.
Even if your job doesn’t embrace the work-from-home option, having access to a space like a home office allows you and your family to accomplish everything from household business to homework and more. But a functional home office does take some planning. It’s not quite as simple as installing a desk and WiFi router in a spare bedroom. Here we offer seven tips for building a functional home office that satisfies the needs of you and your family.
The Benefits of A Home Office
No matter what business you’re in or what you’ll use your office space for, it’s important to create a functional home office to provide several benefits, including:
- A space that helps you be more productive
- A central location for all household business
- Specific centralized location for equipment like copiers and computers
- Specific storage area for all home office supplies, including school supplies.
- Provides a designated quiet area for privacy to conduct business, have phone conversations, and digital meetings.
7 Tips for Building a Functional Home Office
For your office space to be truly functional, it must support efficiency while still being a part of your home. You’ll also want that space to provide comfort as well as reflect your unique style. Here, we offer seven tips for building a functional home office.
1. Take Time to Choose the Right Space
The most important aspect of building a functional home office is finding the right space. That means somewhere away from the high-traffic areas of your home (kitchen, family room, kids’ playroom) where distractions may seemingly be constant. Instead, find an area in a quiet part of your home where you’ll be able to focus without interruption.
Your office space may be in a finished basement, a room off the master suite with a door you can close, or anywhere with definite boundaries that you can make “off-limits” to those in your home. Make sure you have proper heating, cooling, and ventilation to maintain your comfort.
2. Prioritize Natural Light
This may sound trivial to you, but prioritizing natural light is essential to comfort and production in your home office. Not only does natural light improve your mood, but it also improves focus, enhances production, reduces eye strain, and makes you more alert. Consider the placement of your office space. Do you have access to natural light? Maximize it by installing windows, skylights, and even a separate entrance with a window.
3. The Most Functional Home Offices Maximize Storage
Having plenty of storage in your office space helps you stay organized, productive, and professional. Not only that, but clutter is extremely distracting, and for teleconferencing, it can look, well, tacky.
A functional home office adopts the adage “a place for everything and everything in its place.” You can add built-in bookshelves and cabinets, supply closets, and file drawers for hard copies you may need.
4. Choose the Right Furniture
A functional home office consists of much more than a desk and chair. Consider a standing desk along with a traditional desk and a high-end chair for comfort. Make sure your desk is large enough to accommodate your computer, monitors, keyboard, etc.
Even if you don’t meet with clients in-house, you’ll want a couple of comfy chairs flanking a table. Consider adding a few creature comforts like a restroom, coffeemaker, small refrigerator, and Bluetooth speakers.
5. Separate Zones According to Task
Most of the time you’re in your functional home office, you’ll be bouncing between tasks. Arrange your space accordingly. For example, your printer may need to be near your computer for easy access, but you can keep your bookcase near your comfy chairs for referencing as you brainstorm. Depending on the nature of your work, you may need a creative design area or a drawing desk with your creative supplies close by. If you want your functional home office to work for you keep your zones separate and well-organized to the task.
6. Technology Has Its Benefits
There’s no doubt today’s technology enhances productivity. But you must use technology effectively to get the most out of it. Make sure to get the best computer, either a laptop or a desk, that you can afford. Consider the addition of one or two large external monitors to boost efficiency. Go wireless and you’ll prevent a clutter of cords. And, for security make sure you have cloud storage and external hard drives available.
7. Personal Touches Add Comfort
A functional home office can also be a stylish reflection of yourself. Consider adding artwork, framed photographs, favorite sculptures, and other personal touches to your space. Plants make a space calming and friendly. A candle provides a nice touch as well. Just make sure your personal touches are cohesive and don’t appear overdone or distracting.
Let Us Help You Build A Well-Planned Functional Home Office
There’s so much to be gained for you and your family with the addition of an office space. You’ll wonder how you ever did without it. And a well-planned office in your home adds tremendous resale value. If you’re considering building a functional home office, please contact Seiffert Building Supplies.
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