| ome office is increasing in prevalence as more | | | | Just as with any other room in the home, your |
| and more people do a majority of their work | | | | home office should be pleasantly decorated |
| from home. Home office designs that reflect | | | | – which means that you'll need to identify |
| functionality and are attractive at the same time | | | | a focal point in the room and build from that focal |
| will help you to get the most out of your time | | | | point to make the rest of the room have a |
| spent in the home office – and give you a | | | | tailored and neat appearance. Choose a fireplace |
| lovely place to work and do your business. | | | | (if you are so lucky as to have one), a statue or |
| Identifying Your Needs | | | | picture, a beautiful window with a great view |
| Before you look for home office designs, you | | | | – whatever your space allows, and work |
| should first identify the needs that you will have | | | | from that focal point. In many home office |
| for your home office. What will occur in this space | | | | designs, especially for smaller offices with limited |
| that you have designated for a home office? Will | | | | space, the focal point may be a beautiful desk or |
| you be the only user of the office, or will your | | | | table. Whatever you choose for your focal point, |
| children or significant other be using the office for | | | | make sure that it's eye-catching but not too |
| homework, playing videos, or watching television. | | | | overbearing. |
| Many home offices also double as a guest | | | | Arranging Your Home Office Design |
| bedroom or sewing/crafts room. Identifying the | | | | There are limitless possibilities with how to arrange |
| needs that you have for your home office will | | | | your home office. Many people choose the |
| allow you to make the most use of your space | | | | L-shaped home office design which features |
| and also give you an idea of how much you will | | | | allows for everything to be along two walls for |
| need to spend to make your home office a | | | | easy access. If your space doubles as a guest |
| reality. | | | | room, you might want to choose furniture that |
| Home Office Infrastructure | | | | looks less like office furniture and more like |
| Once you have determined the uses that you will | | | | bedroom furniture (and the market is full of |
| have for your home office, you will need to make | | | | options). Functionality is extremely important for |
| sure that the infrastructure of the home office is | | | | those who work from home, so making your |
| already in place or that you make arrangements | | | | home office functional is your utmost concern. |
| for it. The basic infrastructure that you will need | | | | Besides your computer and printer, you might |
| for your home office is conduit material that | | | | also want your telephone and fax machine |
| nearly disguises any computer wiring or power | | | | nearby. Purchase a comfortable office chair |
| cords, an abundance of electrical outlets and | | | | – those with high backs or executive |
| telephone jacks, power surge protectors for your | | | | chairs are a bit more expensive but will certainly |
| office and computer equipment, and cords that | | | | pay off with years of comfort in the long run. |
| are long enough to connect your computer and its | | | | Make sure you have adequate lighting – a |
| different accessories in your new office space. | | | | nice desk lamp will help. You may also need |
| Your home office design space needn't be that | | | | shelving – a great option is to choose book |
| big in order to be adequate, but should be big | | | | shelves of the same finish as your desk or other |
| enough to accommodate your desk and chair and | | | | furniture in the room. Throw in some beautiful |
| give you room to "roll" around if you need to. | | | | artwork or family mementos and you have the |
| Home Office Design Focal Point | | | | perfect home office design! |