Whether you’ve been working from home for a while or you’re just getting used to it, now more than ever we’re starting to think about how to create the best office environment in the home. It’s vital that your home office space works both on a practical and inspirational level and it’s important to create an area in your home that you feel relaxed in but that also encourages productivity – whether it’s in your basement, your laundry room, your bedroom closet alcove, or innovative outdoor areas, we hope to inspire you with the photos that follow. So let's get started!
If you don’t have a lot of floor space or just want to keep your desktop clean, put the walls to work. Take advantage of vertical space with floor-to-ceiling built-ins and a pegboard, magnetic board or corkboard. If you like to “think big” when you brainstorm, you can turn part of a wall into a whiteboard or a chalkboard with special paint, like Benjamin Moore’s Chalkboard Paint. Take a snapshot of your work with your smartphone, then wipe it clean and start over!
Use the cloud for document storage and backups of important files. Scan documents and then shred or recycle them. (But first, learn what papers you need to save for tax and legal purposes.) Go wireless with your devices whenever possible. The more wireless devices you can include, the less you have to worry about containing cord clutter. Just make sure you have plenty of handy outlets in the room layout for plugging in everything for recharging.
What’s one of the best things about an office at home? No overhead fluorescent lights! Put your desk near the window for natural light, then supplement with a desk lamp, pendant lighting and task lamps that add illumination right where you need it. Make sure that it’s all arranged to avoid putting annoying glare on your monitor.
When you work remotely, chances are you do some video conferencing. Remember that what’s behind you is what the other person will be looking at. It doesn’t need to be a bare wall but keep the view as simple and neat as possible. (You might be able to keep the fuzzy slippers if they stay hidden under the desk!)
Big desks with giant leather chairs are for big formal offices. A smaller scale writing desk, a standing desk, or an adjustable-height work surface might be better suited to your work-at-home style. Mesh chairs, like the Herman Miller Aeron, or a desk chair in white or a bright color add a fresh and airy ambiance. Adding built-in cabinets, shelves and bookcases can be a great way to maintain a clean look and provide a place to get papers out of sight when you have a meeting or video conference.
An efficient office doesn’t have to mean a bare, sterile office. Add a large window for a view of the backyard. Surround yourself with things you love to look at, whether it’s art prints, photos, or plants (which also improve the indoor air quality) and you might even increase your productivity.
If you don’t want a commute, but still need a quiet place to think, away from the comings and goings of family life, consider a detached home office. Depending on codes and covenants in effect where you live, an ADU (Accessory Dwelling Unit) can be a room over the garage or a small out-building similar to a guest house that’s your own private work space just steps from your door. It combines the convenience of a home office with the physical (and psychological) separation between “working” and “relaxing” that is often missing when you work from home.
If you would like more ideas on optimizing your Marin County home during Shelter In Place, please get in touch, I’d love to hear from you. Tracy Curtis, Coldwell Banker Realty, 415-910-0599.
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