Home Office Design Ideas

Are you looking for home office design ideas? There are so many ways to create a productive, relaxing or stimulating home office. The first step is determining how and when you will use your home office.

Answering these questions will help drive your design decisions:

• Will you ever conduct client meetings in your home office?
• Are interruptions a factor when you work at home?
• Will your home office serve more than one purpose (ex. television room or guest room)?
• Will you keep your home office neat or will papers and mail pile up on your desk?

How you use your office should inform your design strategy. For example, if you expect to be frequently interrupted at home, you may want to locate your office far away from the main activities in your home. Perhaps you want to redesign a large closet space, an attic or a guest bedroom as your work space. If you plan to receive clients in your home office, your design will need to exude professionalism.

Your desk will most likely be the largest and most used piece of furniture in your home office. Therefore, you should choose your desk first and then design the rest of your home office around it.

If you long for the days when handwritten notes were the primary form of social correspondence, an antique secretary may be the desk for you. Accessorize an elegant office with a Queen Anne chair, an upholstered wingback chair for visitors and an Oriental rug.

Drafting tables make great focal points for a home office and they are versatile in their functionality. You can use a table to create mechanical drawings, layout fabrics and materials, or assist with a school project. Add colorful baskets and containers for storing magazines, bills and office supplies. Pendant lamps in bright colors or sleek stainless steel can provide much needed task lighting over the table.

If most of the work you do is computer based, than design your home office around this important piece of equipment. Ergonomics are key if you are sitting at the computer for hours so purchase a well made chair. Most high-tech chairs come in modern fabrics and sleek designs so go for a modern, minimalist look. Mix in light wood furniture with metal cabinets and consider desk accessories in black or metal finishes.

If your office is going to serve a dual purpose, you may want to design it to flow with the rest of your home. Choose a basic wooden desk and then add decorative elements that reflect your personal style. Add artwork and family photos that blend with the rest of your home. Consider a comfortable upholstered chair so family members can join you while you are working.

Perhaps you want to counter the stress of work with a tranquil office. Start with a beautiful desk in bamboo or teak. Add a desk fountain and several small plants for tranquility. Choose simple wood blinds and a brightly colored area rug to finish the look.

Do you work to support your travel lust or to pay for your sailboat? If so, you may want to design your office to remind you of what motivates you. Choose paintings or framed posters with images of your true passion. Add themed figurines and use them as paper weights. Even your computer screen saver can contribute to your office theme.

Stock your home office the same way you would an office at work. It is always helpful to have pens, paper clips and a stapler handy. Look to stores such as Ikea and CB2 for attractive and affordable office supplies that enhance your home office theme.

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