Getting ready to set up your home office can be simple but making it look nice while being functional can be a bit more challenging. Before Covid, the home office might have been a desk and a chair where you might finish up some work from earlier in the day or you might have spent a day or two working at home for various reasons. Today many people are scheduled to work at home indefinitely or they have started a business at home. Whichever the situation is you can have a home office that looks nice. Here are 7 factors to consider when planning your home office.
Inspiration
Surround yourself with patterns, objects and images that inspire you. When you look around your office you should feel happy with the items in your sightline. Spending time in this space should be productive and motivational.
Time
How much time will you spend in this space? How much time will you spend in your home office? I know someone who set up his home office in a closet. He couldn’t wait to get out of there.
Who Will Work There
How many people will work in this space? Will you have an assistant work in the space with you? Will your spouse need some space in the office? Consider how many people will work in the space and their requirements and noise levels. If you or your spouse is on calls or meetings all day, a shared space may not be the best option.
Physical Location
Where will the office be physically located?
- Centerpiece – Is there a centerpiece to the room that needs to be considered such as a fireplace, built in bookcases or columns?
- Window– Is there a Window? It is ideal for you to have a window in the office for natural lighting.
- Lighting – What type of lighting will you need? Will you need overhead lighting, desk lamp, floor lamp
- Flooring – What type of flooring does the office have and how is does it affects sound. If it’s not carpeted, will you consider a rug?
Guests \ Meetings
- Will you have guests?
- How will you conduct meetings?
- Will they sit at your desk with you?
- Will you have a separate sitting area for meetings?
- Will you need a table for meetings because you share physical items?
- Will you need a set up for presentations on a large screen? (see technology)
Storage
What type of storage do you need?
- Physical Customer Files, Reference Materials, Fabrics,Samples, Documents
- Product Prototypes
Technology & Audio Visual Requirements
What type of Technology / Audio Visual Requirements do you need?
- Do you need multiple monitors?
- Do you need multiple devices? iPad, Laptop, Desktop, Secure Laptop, Personal Computer
- Will you need a docking station for a laptop that you disconnect and use in other locations?
- What do you need for video conferences? Ring Light, Web Cam, Microphone, Speaker
- What will you need for presentations that will be conducted? Large format monitor, Peripherals, Laser Pointer, Clicker
- Music with speakers – Echo, Google Nest, Apple TV, Bose
- Printer – Multifunction
- Document Scanner
- Digital Back Up Storage Device
- Networking Equipment; Wired and Wireless
Gadgets
What Gadgets do you need in your home office?
- Coffee maker, Snack Bin, Goody Jar
- Scale Ruler
- Clock for time keeping
- Phone and Gadget Charging Station
- Will you incorporate fitness into your office with a bike chair?
