Organizing Small Home Office Space

June's Expert - K. Stone of Adore Your Décor™

K. Stone, one of LoveToKnow's own interior design writers, is our expert this month. She's an experienced interior decorator, even running her own design business for the past three years, and is definitely up to any design challenge you can send her! Check out her website http://www.adoreyourdecor.com

Question

I work from home, and I always seem to be checking email when my working day should be over (not to mention watching Judge Mathis when I should be working!). My place isn't huge, but is there anything I can do to draw some lines between where the office space ends and the living space begins?

A Space to Call Your Own Office

Almost all of us have a home office nowadays, whether it’s for work or just for paying the bills. Even though the ever-present internet and email beckons us to keep constant tabs on the world, we all need to step away from our computer screens at some point. Here are some tips for maintaining your work and life balance:

• Use a room divider or folding screen to separate your desk from the rest of the room. This will not only help you stay focused while working, it will also hide the office area and make it less noticeable. For a softer division, you can hang a long drapery on a swing-arm rod or suspend it on a track system.

• Invest in an armoire or cabinet that houses an entire office set-up, like the Husar Computer Work Station from http://Ikea.com. When the doors are closed, this office will look like just another piece of furniture in your room. An alternative to this idea is a computer cart on wheels. A computer cart can be rolled easily to any spot in your living room or anywhere in the house. That way, you can work on the desk in one area and then store it in a lower traffic location. Another option is to use a secretary desk which features a hinged desktop surface that opens and closes, along with a bookcase on top.

• Convert a closet into a functional home office. Use a series of large shelves to create a desk and a few storage ledges. You can also use a hollow core door or plywood to make a custom-size desktop. Mount it securely using large L-brackets on the back wall and add some table legs on the front for extra support. For a cohesive look, paint the various pieces the same color or use the existing wall color.

• If you tote a laptop all over the house, designate a shelf or drawer that is reserved for storing it when not in use. Out of sight, out of mind!

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