Preference for home offices

By Pocyline Karani

The escalating costs of renting office space in commercial buildings has forced many to shift their business to the comfort of their homes.

Even so, home offices should no longer be relegated to a corner of an unused space in the dining room or store.

Rather, with more and more people now working from home, the office has become an important space in the largest home or the smallest apartment. Nonetheless, clean, environmentally friendly and comfortable are the mantras for home office decorating.

As you begin planning for your home office space, it is crucial that you take time to figure out your personal office needs that will increase both your enjoyment and efficiency in work.

The tricks, when learned, make your journey to achieving a stylish warm and inviting ambience an easy one. Hence as you begin planning for your new home office space, keep the following in mind:

Identify the space

There are rooms in the house that are empty for most of the time, such as dining rooms. These make natural offices especially if your space is limited and you don’t have as many choices.

Cleanliness and comfort are the mantras for office decorating. [Photo: Courtesy]

Surprisingly, a closet of any size can easily be converted to a workspace by removing the clothes pole and installing electrical connections. A working desk can also be installed at the top of some stairs or at an L-shaped corner corridor of the home.

However, if you will be spending a lot of time in your home office it is best to opt for more room and better view. In this case, identify a space that is not frequently used such as a guest room.

Storage

Storage space is very important especially when a lot of referencing material as well as filing work need to be stored. Other than buying and installing a documents’ cabinet, consider wall-mounted shelves.

These shelves can also be used to hold your beauty items such as art objects as well as photographs. This concept helps soften the "office" look, while a series of pieces in the same style. Finish such as birch veneer afford a more regimented, corporate look.

To the advantage of many, today’s furnishings have casters for mobility: roll your desk beside the window when the flowers are blooming and move it closer toward the fire in the cold season of May to August.

You could also use the dining table as work central, and when guests are due, tuck paperwork and files in baskets, in a closet, or behind cabinet doors.

Windows/lighting

Let your theme determine the type of window treatments you opt for. Options vary from wood shutters, mini-blinds, fabric shades or drapes. Start a collection according to your theme and use posters, mechanical drawings or prints of your interest to decorate the walls.

Ensure you take full advantage of natural lighting too. Proper lighting reduces eyestrain. Have lighting installed over your reading area, over the computer, and behind you so that there is no reflection off the computer monitor.

Place the computer monitor a comfortable distance from your chair so that you do not need to squint or use reading glasses to read from the screen. By reducing eyestrain, you will be able to work longer and safely.

Plan the work area

Consider all the things you will need to work comfortably and efficiently in your home office. Start with lighting and window covering to control the light in the office. Ensure your flooring is a hard surface and the space near the desk has ample space to move around.

If constrained for space, draw out a floor plan on a graph paper and move shapes around until you find a workable space.

As you plan your new home office, do not just go out and buy a desk and chair.

Decorate

Enjoy decorating. In fact, there are no corporate rules to follow — you call the shots. Strive to achieve a look that blends residential and commercial by going for soothing and warm patterns rather than harsh, stark or cold.

Be sure to include some of your personality into the decorative furnishings and colours. Choosing a base colour the rest of the home is decorated with can help tie your office to the residential part of the house.

You may choose to paint the walls in a darker tone than the rest of the home or add a glazing technique over the top to promote the reflection of additional light. Do not be afraid to use lots of wood moulding or rich wallpaper.

Use mirrors to reflect any interested focal point of the rook to keep your energy flowing while you work or hang inspiring artwork. Large houseplants or trailing vines in a basket can also help bring nature in to your office space.

An overstuffed chair cannot only add a space to read up on a report or review your work but can add an inviting look to your room. Add a throw or a couple of pillows to create a cosy warm setting.