Mill Creek design/build remodeler reveals the basic needs for a work-from-home space.
In the Spring of 2020, many homebound homeowners realized they would not be returning to their traditional office setting anytime soon. Our leads went from the traditional addition, bathroom, or kitchen renovation to now include the office remodel. More accurately, the question to us became “how do we reconfigure our existing space to create 1, 2 or even 3 home office spaces?” Remember, at that time, not only did the parents need an office but kids needed a space for school too.
This challenge was unique to every family. Fortunately, the kids have returned to school, but for many adults the work-from-home office is here to stay. We’ve been the part of many creative solutions and it feels like all options were on the table when looking for viable office space. We also realized there are some essential elements that need consideration when designing a truly functional home office.
3 Essentials for the Home Office
If you are the one working from home you’ll need more than just a place to put a computer and printer. The home office needs to be a comfortable environment that provides ample light to work and enough privacy to allow focus. The perfect home office may seem like an impossible task, but even smaller spaces or nontraditional areas can be transformed into a well-appointed working office.
Lighting (Artificial and Natural)
Having enough light in a home office is, of course, incredibly important. Many times, the new office is located in place that was once had a flood of natural light such as a loft or the nook at a stair landing. Once it was determined walls would go up, new light sources needed to be part of the plan. Skylights, windows, doors and electrical layouts became some common scope considerations. 3-D renderings provided the homeowner a sense of confidence that the new room wouldn’t be a dark cave.
Low light can make it difficult to see small details and increases eye strain which can lead to headaches. Light at the wrong angle, particularly sunlight coming through a window can be distracting and cause its own form of discomfort. Let’s face it, if you’re going to have to spend any considerable part of your day in a space that isn’t well lit, you’ll lose focus and likely look for any reason to go to another room.
Here are a few suggestions to make the most of both natural and artificial light in the home office space:
- Light Diffusing Curtains: Ample natural light can truly accentuate any room. Using thin curtains that allow light to enter but soften the harshness of direct sunlight can be highly useful.
- Desk Lamps: Sometimes just having a small desk lamp makes all the difference, especially in morning and evening times when natural light is not available. A small desk lamp can also be an enhancing feature for video conferencing because it can help clients and colleagues see you more clearly when meeting virtually.
- Overhead Lights: Don’t forget about the most obvious artificial light: the one in the ceiling. The wide variety of lightbulbs allows a person to do a great deal with only overhead light. Choose bulbs that will enhance the natural light in the office.
Focus and the Need for Private Space
One of the main complaints we heard about the existing home office (i.e., the dining room table, or the couch in the living room) was that there are too many distractions. The office area needs to be sacrosanct in order to allow for the most productive working conditions. If the space does not have walls or doors, the basics for privacy, serious distractions occur.
Some home office layouts make adding a traditional hinged door challenging at best and impossible at worst. Consider the installation of a pocket door or a sliding barn door can be an excellent way to not only preserve focus but to maintain privacy from the rest of the family.
If walls are going up or unfinished rooms are to get drywall, we highly suggest adding some insulation as well to help with sound-deadening at a relatively low cost. A design/build remodeling professional will help to make suggestions that will not only optimize the current space but help share the important details you might not have considered.
Atmosphere and Temperature
Don’t forget about regulating the room’s temperature for maximum comfort. Home offices are often on the corner of the home with two exterior walls, so there may be a need to supplement a home’s HVAC system. If it’s a newly constructed room in a location such as an attic or basement, temperature control is essential.
Your budget will dictate how far you want to go with improving the heating and cooling of the new space. If your budget doesn’t allow for a complete HVAC overhaul, space heaters or a window air conditioner are a good alternative. Just me mindful that the electrical outlet in the room has the adequate capacity for the heating/cooling unit you select to avoid popping the breaker or creating fire hazards.
While the home office is about being productive, it is also a great place to splurge on a few items of comfort. Sometimes just a new coat of paint can make a tremendous difference. Here are a few other items that can make any home office feel more comfortable.
- Padded office chair
- Ergonomic desk
- Plants
- Bluetooth speaker
- Ceiling fan
- Artificial sun lamps
About Home Run Solutions, LLC
For more than fifteen years, Home Run Solutions has been performing quality home remodels in the Mill Creek, WA area. We write down each step of our process so you know what is going to happen next. We have a 2-year workmanship warranty. If you have a project, we’d love to hear what you have in mind. Please call us today for a consultation: 424-320-4786.