Maybe you’ve been working from home since the pandemic. Or, perhaps you just work at home sporadically or one day a week. In either case, do you have a stylish and functional home office?
Working from home can be challenging enough, thanks to plentiful distractions and an endless to-do list. But when you have a well-designed office space to use, your productivity can increase and you’ll be happier about working at home, too.
What exactly does ‘well-designed’ mean, though? In our opinion, the perfect home office meets your needs but looks beautiful, too. There’s no reason to give up what you want just to get what you need, as long as the space is planned properly. Today, we’ll take a look at the essential ingredients for a stylish and functional home office – one that you’ll actually look forward to going to!
6 Factors to Consider For Your Stylish and Functional Home Office
1. HOW will your home office be used? Focus on function.
Let’s face it – it doesn’t matter how pretty your office looks if it doesn’t have the right elements to help you actually get work done. Before you get too far into the planning process, it’s important to really think about how your home office will be used.
- How many people will use the office on a regular basis?
- Will you need space for clients or other visitors?
- Do you want your home office to be completely private? Or do you need to keep an eye on other things (like small children) while you work?
- Is a sound-proof space a must?
- Do you want or need a door for additional privacy?
- What exactly will you be doing in this space? The answer to this question dictates how big the area needs to be but also its layout and what types of furniture the space will need to accommodate.
In this Dana Point home office remodel, the homeowner wanted a comfortable place where he could work from home. But he also wanted a space where he could showcase some of his unique collectible items. With the right planning and design, we were able to help him achieve both goals.
2. WHERE should your home office be located?
This is a really important question to ask if you’re building a new home or undergoing a whole house remodel. Before the final plans get drawn up, you can decide exactly where you’d like your home office to be. Ideally, you’ll want your office near an entrance if you anticipate having clients or visitors stop by. A location that’s far from the main hubbub in your home is also preferred if you need peace and quiet to get work done.
If you’re only doing a single room remodel to create a home office, you may have less control over where the office space gets installed. Here, other factors like sound-proof walls, doors, or privacy screens will become more important.
In this whole home remodel with a focus on aging in place, the homeowners opted for his and hers offices built into the bedrooms. The work area is small but meets their needs perfectly. And, it can be hidden from view behind frosted glass sliding doors when needed.
3. Maximize natural light whenever possible.
Now that you know exactly what you’ll be doing in your office and where that will be, it’s time to focus on another element that makes a home office both stylish and functional – light. Natural light can do wonders to brighten a room, make it feel cheerful, and even encourage your creativity. Orient your office space to include as much natural light as possible. Just be aware of how that light will affect the visibility of your computer screen or other electronic devices.
Part of your remodel could include adding more windows to take advantage of natural light. Or, if natural light simply isn’t possible, you’ll need to invest in other types of lighting to create the right work environment.
In this Lake Forest home office remodel, the desk, work table, and cozy sofa are all well-lit, thanks to natural light streaming in from a large window. When needed, however, the window blinds can be pulled down and the room still gets a comfortable glow from recessed ceiling lights.
4. Get creative with functional storage solutions.
A neat and tidy work area looks great but also fosters productivity. Make your work-from-home experience as enjoyable as possible with the right storage solutions for your space and the type of work you do.
Keep in mind that the most functional storage solution could be custom cabinetry. Or, you might have bookcases, drawers, desks, or other storage solutions built specifically for your unique needs or space. In the Lake Forest home office below, a combination of built-in cabinets, drawers, open shelving, and a desk provide the perfect recipe for a productive work space.
5. Plan ahead for the technology you’ll need to use.
It’s likely that your home office needs to include things like a computer, printer, phone, and other electronic devices. You’ll only have a stylish and functional home office if you plan appropriately for these items. Think how your office would look and feel if it was a jumbled mess of cords and adapters to make all your technology work.
Plan ahead by thinking about what you will need to use on a regular basis. Then, make sure there will be enough power outlets for those devices. A home design professional can also help you hide cords and cables appropriately so you don’t give up style in an effort to maximize function.
6. Outfit your home office with stylish and functional furniture.
For many homeowners, THIS is the fun part! What furniture items do you need to make your home office complete?
Function plays a huge role here as you’ll want a desk, chair, table, or other items that truly meet your needs. But you can still achieve function without having to sacrifice aesthetics. Pick pieces of furniture that match the overall style of your home and office but will also contribute to your comfort, productivity, and creativity.
Design a Stylish and Functional Home Office with the Orange County Remodeling Experts
At Sea Pointe Design and Remodel, we’ve been designing and creating beautiful, functional spaces for Orange County homeowners for almost 40 years! From kitchen and bathroom remodels to whole home renovations and home office installations, we have completed remodeling projects in Irvine, Dana Point, Newport Coast, Mission Viejo, and all throughout Orange County.
To learn more about what we do, browse through our online portfolio of completed projects. Or, you can register for one of our upcoming remodeling webinars to get helpful tips from the remodeling pros.
Then, when you’re ready to start planning your own home office remodel, simply give us a call at (949) 861-3400 or fill out the form below to schedule your complimentary design consultation.