4 Essential Steps in Creating a Home Office

Tips for making a stylish space that is personalized for your needs.

by Jason Schneider

Whether you work at home or simply need a dedicated space to pay the monthly bills, knowing what to consider in creating a home office will make the process a little easier. Here are some tips to get you started.

1. Space Planning

Where in your home is the best location for your office? It could be a small corner of the kitchen or living room, or a converted bedroom. When making the decision, consider: 

• The equipment you’ll be using
• Privacy
• If you’ll need meeting space for clients or customers
• Storage for business materials
• Access to electrical outlets

2. Buying the Right Furniture

There are many options when it comes to home office furniture, from traditional desks to complete L-shaped workstations and office armoires.

“From a style standpoint, we are seeing transitional and contemporary looks trending, but with a casual point of view,” says Adam Tilley, vice president, Product Management, of Stanley Furniture Company.

“Customization is also resonating—where a customer can select different configurations to adapt to their room. CPU storage seems to be less and less important with the move to laptops. Substantial work surfaces, good drawer space and open, ‘airier’ designs have been popular.”

3. Maintaining Organization

Being organized is key to any office. To make your home office function smoothly:

• Group materials for related tasks, such as mailing/shipping supplies, order forms and catalogs, etc.
• Place materials so they mesh with your work flow.
• Have proper storage, such as filing cabinets or bookshelves with file storage, for important documents.

4. Selecting the Right Lighting

Having proper lighting is important not only for your eyes, but for your productivity. Remember:

• Ample overhead lighting for your entire work area
• Task lighting, such as a desk or table lamp
• Ambient lighting to help provide atmosphere