Ideally, you’ll require an area of around 180 x 70cm to work in, plus room for a chair, but space-saving solutions such as corner and hideaway desks make it perfectly possible to do your job in a far smaller space. The one thing you shouldn’t skimp on is a supportive office chair, as you’ll be spending a great deal of time at your desk. It’s also worth installing a separate, business phone line so other family members aren’t disturbed by work calls, and check whether your broadband service can be upgraded for a speedier internet connection.
A Dedicated Home Office
Locating the office in a dedicated room, such as a spare bedroom or attic, gives you the luxury of privacy and being able to shut the door on your work at the end of the day. You won’t have to worry about furniture blending in to an existing scheme, so can take your pick from the wide variety of styles and designs available. For a streamlined look, choose a desk with holes in the top for cables to thread through, and a mix of open bookshelves and cupboards. Position the desk so that direct sunlight doesn’t fall on to the computer screen, leaving at least 70cm of behind the chair so that there’s enough clearance for it.
Guest Bedroom, Too?
If your office doubles as a spare room, consider buying a daybed which can be dressed during the day with cushions as additional seating, or a guest bed which has a standard single and a pull-out second bed stored beneath.
Where Could Your Office Go?
If you don’t have a spare room, consider whether there are any wasted areas, which could be transformed into an office. Perhaps the cupboard under the stairs could be put to better use, or a compact desk perched on the landing.
As these parts of the home are on view, rather than hidden away, ensure that new furniture blends in with the existing décor. To prevent the area looking messy, you’ll need to be ruthless with clutter, so chose a desk which incorporates drawers and keep a couple of storage boxes or baskets to hand for pens and on-going paperwork.
A desk placed before a window is aesthetically pleasing and makes the most of daylight, but if you want to close off the space at the end of the day, consider building a desk into a wall of storage, or buy a workstation that closes away into its own cupboard. A folding screen or curtain panel suspended from wire can help to shut off the area from the rest of the room. Thanks to wireless technology you can use your desktop or laptop anywhere in the house, but if you’ll be using the computer for long periods, sitting at a desk with a good old fashioned desktop is better for your posture than hunching over a laptop.
Dual-Purpose Rooms
Another option is to take over part of larger room – usually a living room or bedroom. This should be quiet during the day, and as unobtrusive as possible, so go for a hideaway desk and plenty of storage. A room divider, freestanding screen or sliding panel will act as a temporary partition and provide some degree of privacy – lightweight fabric panels will shield off the area without restricting light. If you have to work from your bedroom, opt for matching furniture to keep the room streamlined.
Convert The Garage Or Loft
Garages and lofts are often used as dumping grounds when they could be transformed into valuable extra rooms. As the basic structure’s already in place, this won’t be as costly as building an extension, and will take less time, too. You are unlikely to need planning permission – though do check with your local planning department - but building regulations consent will be required for both areas. The loft is probably the quietest part of the house, so ideal for an office, though if you regularly host meetings with clients, consider whether you are happy with them walking right through your home.
Invest In A Garden Room
Constructed in timber and glass, self-contained garden rooms are filled with light and can be positioned to take advantage of the best views. They’re also peaceful, being situated away from the house, and are well-insulated, secure and fitted with heating, electricity and telephone connections. A building can be erected in a matter of days – all you need is a sufficiently large garden and a flat, level surface.
For more shopping advice and how to guides on designing your home visit Channel 4 / 4Homes.
