Ditch The Dining Table and Design Your Home Office
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By Michelle Lynne
President, ML Interiors Group
Today’s workforce looks quite different from this time last year. Maybe your employer has re-opened their office space full or part-time, or perhaps they have delayed the option indefinitely. In the interim, where does that leave you to complete your workload? I
Instead of a makeshift workspace in the dining room, you have opportunities to create a dedicated home office where you can be productive.
Begin by choosing a room.
If you don’t have a spare room to commandeer, a guest bedroom can double as a home office (especially since most of us are not entertaining visitors as in years past).
If space is tight due to the bed, consider having a murphy bed built so it’s out of sight until needed or trade your current mattress for a daybed with a trundle (bonus – you can take a quick power nap without leaving the office).
Don’t have a spare room? Low traffic areas in your home can become a home office.
The Essentials
The desk is a key feature in any home office. Determine if you need a large, executive-style desk with drawers or if a smaller writing desk will be sufficient.
If you have room, floating the desk in the middle of the room to face the entry is ideal. It ensures you can quickly mitigate interruptions. In smaller rooms, consider placing the desk directly against a wall looking out the window. If there is not a window in the space, hang a pretty picture above the desk.
Investing in a great desk chair is worth every penny because you are generally parked in this piece of furniture for hours. Many come with ergonomic features such as lumbar support, swivel, reclining, and height adjustment features.
Rolling chairs may need a chair mat to protect your floors or carpet.
Storage
Incorporating functional storage is critical for a home office. Keeping extraneous supplies and paperwork out of sight when not in use helps keep your space from feeling cluttered, which is pleasing if the door remains open outside of work hours.
Of course, functional storage should also be attractive. Consider a sideboard or media console for additional storage and the space needed to open the drawers and doors for access. We always advise measure twice and buy once! Additionally, bins, baskets, and buckets are stylish solutions if space is limited.
Lighting
In an office setting, lighting is not just about mood. It also helps minimize sleepiness, reduces eyestrain, and fatigue. Ensure you have overhead lighting on a dimmer when possible. Task or table lighting on the desk to illuminate your workspace directly is very helpful, and of course, natural light is always welcome.
Color
Color is a highly personal matter. For some individuals, a bright, bold color like orange or chartreuse is energizing in all the right ways, and for others, it would overstimulate. The same is true for soothing colors such as soft blues, ivory, and spa greens that could put one person to sleep and calm another.
No matter what selections you make, your home office needs to work for you, even if they break every design rule in the book.
If you need help creating the perfect home office space give ML Interiors Group a call. We have great solutions for every size of space!
Michelle Lynne began her interior design career after spending more than a decade working in Corporate America. She has built a successful design firm, employing multiple talented designers and growing the services provided to include full-service residential, multi-family, and virtual design services.
