Your New Home Office Addition
Are you planning to add a home office to your home? If you spend the full work week there or even just a few hours, it’s important that your home office be a comfortable and inviting place to spend time and to get your work done efficiently.
Since COVID entered our lives the trend for working “remotely” increased dramatically. With the specter of lock-downs looming home owners across the DMV began seriously looking at ways to convert areas of their homes or designing new additions to their homes that would serve as permanent office locations.
As we move into 2022 that trend hasn’t slowed down. And as home prices have skyrocked, and housing availability has decreased, the remodeled or newly constructed home office is almost a necessity. Glickman|Design Remodel Build has been designing and building home office space for clients that are customized to their specific work needs for decades.
We invite you to look over some of the tips we’ve provided to help you visualize your perfect home office and take advantage of the room organizer software at the link below. Once you’ve had a chance to do some designing on your own please reach out to us or call the numbers below. Our designers would be happy to help you design that home office that is spacious, comfortable, efficient, private, but still fits into the design of your home.
Maryland: (301) 444-4663
Virginia: (703) 832-8159
Washington, DC: (202) 792-7320
Location Is Key
Select a space that’s away from the daily traffic flow and consider your ability to withstand distractions. Do you work best in the thick of activity, or should your office be tucked away in a quiet space?
Allow Enough Space
Make sure you allow enough space to work comfortably. Ask yourself if you will be able to move easily from side to side, stand up and sit back from your desk. While this may seem like a no-brainer, it’s easy to underestimate how much space you need.
Storage and Shelving
Storage is often overlooked when designing a home office and can really affect your productivity. Make sure to include enough shelving, filing cabinets or cupboards for your storage needs. Consider your workflow – what comes in, where will it stay while being worked on, and where does it go when complete?
A Place to Meet
Will you have clients or customers visit during the day? If you have room to have a small meeting area, that is ideal. If not, plan for some additional seating in your home office design to allow for sit-down meetings. This can be as simple as 1-2 comfortable chairs, which are easy to pull up to your desk.
Natural Light and View
This is your big chance to design the anti-cubical, bench or windowless office that you dreaded going to for so long. Incorporate bright even outdoor light into the design, install window walls, add recessed lighting and plenty of room for lamps. Give yourself the luxury of working in an environment that inspires and rejuvenates.
Tame Your Technology
Integrating state of the art technology may be one of the most important aspects of a newly designed home office. We’re not just talking about installing a new high-speed router. We’re talking about creating well a thought out communications center that enables you to interact with colleagues and clients seamlessly and professionally. Some design ideas for the “connected” office include:
-An area that is designated for video conferencing
-Television monitors & cable TV access
-Professionally installed wiring system for all devices that is invisible to visitors but still accessible
-Intercom communications with the rest of your home
-Security system
Accessorize and Personalize
Don’t sacrifice on style! The great part about working from home is that YOU can decide how you want your home office to look and feel.
Home office furniture should complement other rooms in your house instead of screaming “soulless cubicle.” If your home has traditional décor, warm wood and soft, comfy chairs or a loveseat are ideal. A contemporary home office can feature artistic pieces or modern metal furniture.
Forget “office beige”: You need a color that gets your work motor humming. For some people, that’s a bright, cheery color like orange or lime green. Others need a calming shade like botanical green or sea foam blue to perform. Find out more about how certain colors
Think about what inspires you. It could be a favorite piece of artwork, a collection of objects, or an invigorating paint color. Include these personal touches when you plan your home office design. It will brighten up your day and make you feel… at home.
Make a Floor Plan
An Office floor plan is an excellent tool to organize your thoughts and to make sure you’ve covered all your bases. You can create a floor plan easily online with the RoomSketcher App. Create furniture layouts and floor plans. Try different pieces of furniture and determine which location in your home will work best. Design a complete home office design before you start shopping.