Home Offices of Today

Posted by Ben Thompson on 10.27.22

In the last few years, the remodeling industry has experienced shifts in how homeowners are prioritizing which rooms to remodel in their homes.  Out of necessity, home offices have become very important spaces to either renovate or create.  In many cases, one or two individuals are now working from home and people are finding that they don’t have the right space or environment to support the functionality needed for a 40-hour work week.

Fortunately, there are all sorts of options to reinvent existing space into a home office. Some of the options include converting smaller areas such as closets, alcoves under the stairs, or sheds to redesigning larger spaces such as spare bedrooms, sitting rooms, garages, or dining rooms. But there’s more to think about than just adding a desk, chair and a lamp to one of these spaces. Careful consideration must be given to the design and functionality, as you will be spending more time in it than you do most of the other rooms in your house.

Here are some of the important considerations for home office design in 2022.

  1. Room layout. Make a list of all of the ways you will be utilizing your home office. Besides working at your computer, what other things will you be doing in the office? Understanding the needs of the space will help you determine how much space you need.
  2. If Zoom meetings are part of your regular schedule, your space needs to look “Zoom ready”. It should look professional and be organized.
  3. Will you ever have clients or team members come to your home office for in-person meetings? This requires enough space for additional chairs at a minimum.
  4. What type of equipment will you need to perform your work? Some things to consider are monitors, printer/scanner, ring light, and a shredder. All of these items require space.
  5. What type of storage do you need? And think about what needs to be handy and what can be tucked away. Don’t forget any supplies that you might need to store as well.
  6. Plan to bring in multiple sources of light. You will want as much natural light as possible and additional sources of overhead and task lighting for lamps and light fixtures.
  7. Will you use the office for any non-work activities? Do you want a sofa where you can take some time to unwind or read during breaks? Perhaps you’d like a space for a Peloton bike or a yoga mat?
  8. How do you want the space to feel. Since this is your home office, it can suit your personal style! If you want to be able to see your garden or wooded view, take advantage of selecting a location that will enable you to do that.

If you need to create a new home office space in your home the design team at Thompson Remodeling would be happy to help you create a space that meets your needs. Please reach out to us to get the conversation started!

 

Topics: Featured, home office, home office remodel, home office remodeling, work from home