Designing the Ideal Home Office

If you’re working from home on a full-time basis, you may feel the need for a functional home office. With so many styles and designs of computer desks, office chairs and other pieces of office furniture to choose from, it might seem like an impossible task. But with some careful planning, you can create a functional and practical home office you can be proud of.

Deciding where it will be located and how much space you will have to work with, is the first step in planning your home office. Will it be in a section of your basement, part of your family room or in a separate room? To select the perfect location for your office, take into account any privacy issues that might arise, if the area is well-lit and the locations of all available power sources.

After knowing where you will set up your office, take measurements. How much space you have to fill will be the deciding factor in determining what other pieces of office equipment you will be able to include. It will give you a better idea when shopping for an executive desk if you have space for a credenza, bookshelf or more than one filing cabinet.

If you will need to see clients or business associates, you will want your home office to be professional looking, yet be a comfortable and welcoming place. Consider purchasing a side chair for visitors that matches your office chair, or if there is room, a small sofa.

When choosing a computer desk, consider the following:

- available floor space
- whether the desk layout or the components of an office suite favor right hand or left hand setup
- if it will blend with your decor
- if the work surface is large enough to accommodate your needs
- the size and layout of the desk

The four basic types of computer desks are standard, executive, L-shaped and U-shaped and generally refer to the layout of the desk.

Standard desks come in a variety of styles and materials, and stand 29 to 31 inches high. They can have features such as an adjustable keyboard tray, and drawers. When selecting a standard desk, if you aren’t purchasing all of your office furniture at once, keep in mind any additional pieces you may want to match to your desk in the future.

Executive desks also are 29 to 31 inches high, but are generally more elaborate in detail. They can feature wider desk tops than standard desks, and have features like storage compartment, storage drawers and a file drawer. Executive desks tend to be available in richer finishes and offer more features than a standard desk.

L-shaped desks are composed of two desks that form an L. These are designed to maximize floor space and are ideal for smaller areas since they can be installed in a corner of the room. L-shaped desks are very popular because, in addition to a place for the monitor and keyboard, there is also a work area within arm’s reach.

U-shaped desks are made of two desks flanked on either side of a credenza. These U-shaped desks are ideal for those who need the extra workspace. However, of all the types of computer desks, they do take up the most space. If you are sharing your home office or have the room, a U-shaped desk is a good choice.

Office chairs come in many shapes and styles. You will want to choose an office chair that will not only complement the desk you selected, but be comfortable as well. It should also support you ergonomically.

If you have limited space to work with when setting up your home office, consider purchasing a computer workstation. They are very compact and usually have a keyboard tray, places for the CPU, monitor and printer, and other features like utility or file drawers. Some types of computer workstations have the added benefit of being on casters, so that they can be moved easily. Since they come in a number of configurations, they can be a viable alternative to the standard computer desk.

With a little planning, you can create a home office that is both a practical and enjoyable place to work. Hopefully this article will help you decide what type of desk and other pieces of offices furniture you will need when designing an office space for your home.