Home Office Design Ideas

Home Office Design Ideas and Solutions

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

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

My Home Office Story

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!

home office design ideas - my new spare room office - with a window!

It's also great to have the space to have the books and files I need close to hand.

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!

home office design ideas - our makeover

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...

home office design ideas - put your home office in a corner of your lounge

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!)

home office design ideas - create a home office in a corner of your bedroom

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

The Garden Office

Also look outside the home - is there a garden room or summerhouse, which you can convert and use?

home office design ideas - garden room home office

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!