| Don't have a separate room you can designate as | | | | can be folded out of the way while you're |
| a home office? You can create a comfortable and | | | | working. Install a work surface spanning the length |
| functional computer work station in remarkably | | | | of the closet, and then build shelves above it. You |
| little space. A corner of your living room or | | | | can also create storage space beneath the |
| bedroom, even a spare closet, can provide plenty | | | | counter, but leave an area open to slide in a |
| of room. | | | | comfortable office chair. |
| First measure out the amount of space you can | | | | If you have a CPU for a monitor, make sure the |
| allocate for your work station. Then, start to plan. | | | | depth of the closet will accommodate the CPU; or |
| You need a surface for your computer monitor | | | | consider upgrading to one of the newer, compact |
| or laptop, and room underneath for your hard | | | | flat screen monitors. Or use a laptop -you'll have |
| drive. If you have a printer and/or a scanner, this | | | | room to spare. You might also consider building or |
| also needs a work surface, ideally with storage | | | | buying a rolling cart for your printer that can be |
| space underneath for printer paper and other | | | | stored in the closet when not used, and pulled out |
| supplies. You may also want space for an | | | | while you're working. Also consider a pull out work |
| additional external backup hard drive. Measure all | | | | surface or a folding table which can be tucked |
| your equipment and furnishings and play with a | | | | into the closet when not in use. Additional storage |
| floor plan. | | | | space can be built along the sides of the closet. |
| If you can find a ready-made work station that | | | | You'll need both electrical outlets and a phone jack |
| fits into your space, great. If not, make one. A | | | | (or cable outlet if you use Roadrunner) in or near |
| 24- to 30-inch core door thrown over a couple of | | | | your work space. If you can install them, great; |
| two-drawer filing cabinets makes a handy desk, | | | | otherwise you'll need to run extension lines in |
| but takes up quite a bit of room, and it may or | | | | from elsewhere. Make every attempt to provide |
| may not be comfortable for you depending on | | | | easy access to all outlets and jacks; having a |
| your height when seated. An alternative would be | | | | surge suppressor with several plugs attached to |
| to check home improvement stores like Home | | | | the back of the closet right above the work |
| Depot for components like counter tops, shelving, | | | | surface should make life much easier for you. If |
| and legs that can be assembled in a number of | | | | you have to run extension cords over a high |
| configurations. (Check the kitchen section of the | | | | traffic area, run them through protective conduit |
| store!) Assembling a desk with an L- or U-shape | | | | that allows you to put them underneath carpet |
| allows you to spread out your work. If you want | | | | without causing accidents. Don't run unprotected |
| an L-shape, make sure the extra arm is to the | | | | cords underneath carpeting; a worn cable can |
| right of the monitor if you're right-handed, to the | | | | create a fire hazard, and people can trip over the |
| left if you're a leftie. | | | | bump! |
| You'll need shelving to store CDs, computer | | | | If you've managed to renovate a spare closet, all |
| manuals and other reference books, computer | | | | you need to do is close the doors to hide your |
| accessories and supplies, project files, and inboxes. | | | | office space. If it's in a corner of the bedroom or |
| Magazine holders make great containers for | | | | living room, think about setting up an ornamental |
| computer manuals and other documentation, and | | | | folding screen to block off your view of the |
| can be filed on a shelf along with reference books. | | | | office; remove it when you're using the office, or |
| Use bookcases as boundaries for your office and | | | | leave it up for some privacy. |
| as additional storage space. The tops of the | | | | Take a few moments during the planning phase |
| bookcases can also provide additional work space | | | | to think about the look of the work space. Your |
| in a pinch, or display space for personal items to | | | | choice of materials, colors, and design accessories |
| give the area a homey touch. | | | | go a long way to creating an attractive area |
| If you have a closet you can spare, remove the | | | | that's an enjoyable, comfortable place to work. |
| doors and replace them with louvered doors that | | | | |