Home Office Design Ideas

Find out more about creating a home office in your home.

Useful home office design ideas, hints and tips.

Interior design and storage solutions...

It's very convenient to create a small home office - somewhere to have the computer, a place to pay bills and organize paperwork - we all need one!

Maybe you even work from home - on an occasional, or even a full time, basis? In that case, you'll definitely need one!

These pages will look at home office ideas and solutions, from:

• Where to put your home office
• What to include in your home office
• Creating a mini home office, for very light or occasional use
• Creating a full-home office, for permanent and full time working from home
• Organizing home office and storage solutions
• Home office interior design and style
• Comfortable home working and ergonomic solutions

I spent several years working from home, in an ultra-compact small home office, tucked away under the stairs!

Now, I've moved onwards and upwards - upstairs, to the spare room! I'm enjoying very much having a window! Luxury!

I now work full-time in my home office, so I understand very well how important planning, design, storage, comfort and style all are in making your home office life a happy one!

Planning your Home Office Interior Design

First, let's look at a few basic questions to start your home office design ideas...

These will help you to plan the size, scope and location of your home office much more successfully...

• What do you want your home office for? Occasional internet use? Paying bills? Light paperwork?

  Or full-time desk work from home? Occasional working from home?

• What sort of work will you be doing?
• Will the home office be just for you? Or will you need to share it occasionally with other family members?
• Does it need to be multi-purpose? Perhaps for computer work 9-5, and internet browsing or game playing on evenings and weekends?
• How much space will you need to work comfortably? Space for working? Space for storage? Space for printers and other equipment?
• Take into account, especially for the self-employed, if the business will expand, and you'll also need extra space in the next couple of years.
• Do you want to work in a quiet, out of the way, spot? Or do you need your home office to be close to busier parts of the house? Perhaps to keep an eye on kids doing homework, or playing?
• Will you need electric? Phone line? Internet? Water? More sockets? More lighting? How easily can these be added or installed?

All these questions will really help you to build up a realistic picture for your home office design ideas, and needs, so that you are sure to create the home office set up that's right for you!

Where to Put a Home Office

Some home office design ideas on location...

• A corner of the lounge, dining room, kitchen or bedroom - ideal for very light and occasional use...

  (If you can avoid your main bedroom, do so, as a busy home office is not conducive to sleep!)










• Little nooks and crannies around the home:
  • Under the stairs
  • On the landing
  • Alcoves
  • Conservatory

  Consider screening off your home office area, to make both working and relaxing more private and pleasant...

  For the first 3 years of my business I had a very compact home office under the stairs...
  
  

  

  
  
  ...great for part time work, but I outgrew the space, and fancied a window, for full time working!
• A dedicated area or room:
  • spare room
  • corner of a spare room
  • home office room or study
  • conservatory
  • loft conversion
• Also look outside the home - is there a garden room or summerhouse, which you can convert and use?
  
  

  

  
  
  Perhaps you could invest in a purpose-built garden room home office, with:
  • sturdier construction
  • secure doors and windows
  • insulation
  • supply of vital services such as electric, water, heat, phone and internet

  A professional build is probably the best way forward if you decide to go for this solution...

  If you'd like to do it yourself, check:

  • planning laws
  • your heating requirements, especially during the winter months
  • electric, phone and internet access
  • security
  • insurance

  If your home office is just for occasional use, a simple desk, and some shelving in a summerhouse may be far more appealing, and considerably cheaper!

Choose the home office design ideas, locations and solutions that work well with the:

• amount of time you need to use your home office for
• amount of space you have available
• amount of home office storage and work space you'll need

Whatever your plans, now read on for essential:

• help with organizing your home office layout and furniture
• practical home office storage solutions
• home office interior design ideas and style tips

Readers' Home Offices

Lennie wants to fit lots of other things in the home office, too

Aishah wants to create a room for a writer

Ask your own home office questions, here...

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