ESSENTIALS
THE NEW HOME OFFICE DESIGNING A FUNCTIONAL YET STYLISH WORKSPACE
BY ALINDA MORRIS, OWNER, ALINDA MORRIS INTERIOR DESIGN, LLC PHOTOS BY HAILEY ROSE CALDERA
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f you are lucky enough to have a home office, that is wonderful. If not, you can create a home office out of a spare bedroom, a rarely used guest room or even a dining room. Ideally, a dedicated workspace is separate from the rest of the house. Determine how you are going to use the space Working from home offers flexibility and an opportunity for comfort and efficiency without the commute. Having a beautiful workspace will improve your productivity. This is true if you work from home full time or use the space for paying bills, maintaining your kids’ activity calendar or planning vacations. Consider how the space will be used. Do you work mainly online? Do you have specific storage requirements? Will clients be visiting the space? Will you be video conferencing? Give careful consideration to what you want to look at while you are working. Tips and Tricks: Keep it consistent. Select a soothing color for the space. The color palate should work well with the rest of the home creating a cohesive vocabulary of finishes. Your home office should reflect the design and comfort of the rest of your home.
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Scale and circulation. Floating the desk in the center of the space can create a focal point. Make sure you have enough room to walk around the room comfortably. Allow 36 inches walking space around a desk if possible and at least 30 inches between your desk and a credenza/file cabinet. On the other side of the desk, allow 48 to 60 inches for additional chairs and tables. Mix it up. An upholstered chair is elegant but functional and will help the space feel less like an office. Layering rugs can help anchor the space. Incorporating texture is a great way to add dimension and visual interest. You may want to update the light fixture with a more modern, stylish design. Choose furniture that can help camouflage the functional nature of the space. If hiring a professional is in your budget, do it! It can save you time and money later.
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Pay attention to scale. You may be dreaming of an elegant home office with a large freestanding desk. The built-in credenza and shelves hold a computer, files and books. Consider the size of your space. Most desk systems like the ever-popular L-shaped system sold at most office box stores have a lot of visual weight and can overwhelm the space.
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