How to plan your home office

Sunset, Oct, 1998 by Lisa Stockwell, Michael Goldstein, Terrie Rizzo

Thanks to innovations such as electronic mail, voice mail, and fax-copiers - not to mention ever-faster computer chips - the home office has become an essential part of Western living. You can't stay home without it.

But how do you avoid the "our home office is simply the spot where we found room for the computer" syndrome? Just because there is enough space in the master bedroom for a desk and some file drawers doesn't mean this room is a great location for your home office. What about equipment? It's hard to sort through the many choices available for home offices and figure out what's optimal, what's optional. How can you set up your workspace to be attractive, efficient, and comfortable? And what about stress and strain; what's the trick to working at home injury-free?

You'll find answers to these questions, and more, in the following primer on planning and outfitting the home office that will work best for you.

Making the most of your space

The most successful home office is both custom-designed for the way you will use it and flexible enough to serve multiple functions. But few of us have ample space. As San Francisco interior designer Lou Ann Bauer cautions, "You really need three times as much space as you think."

So, how much space do you think you need? The answer depends on the nature of your work. For instance, a designer who uses drafting and light tables will need more square footage than a management consultant who spends most of the time on the phone or at the computer. However, nearly every home office needs to accommodate a computer, modem, and fax machine. And new technological marvels go from novelty to necessity quickly, so try to leave room for equipment you might eventually acquire. Remember to allow for extra phone lines and additional electric circuits. Any office design should include a wiring plan and a way to contain electrical cords and cables.

The greatest concept in home office furniture is the pullout accessory. Most systems use pullout work surfaces - not only for the keyboard and mouse but also to provide additional space where you can spread out your work. If you occasionally host clients, consider a curved desk return with a swing-out round surface for a conference table, or a tabletop that pulls down from a wall cabinet. If the room needs to double as a guest room, there's an easy solution: a Murphy bed, which can be faced with panels to blend in with the rest of the cabinetry. (It may also prove useful when you've put in too many hours at work and can't make it back down the hall - to home.)

Tactics for small homes

If space is at a premium and building an addition is not an option, you may be able to use one of these approaches:

* Look for a spot in the kitchen, living or family room, bedroom, or hallway where you can fit a small office station. Manufacturers have come up with ingenious pieces of furniture, from rolltop desks to an "office in an armoire," ranging from less than $500 to more than $10,000. Generally 4 to 6 feet long, these self-contained units are decorative and functional, outfitted for all your computer equipment.

* Create an office system in a closet. A 24-inch-deep closet is ideal for a desktop. You can build in your own system to suit the space, or purchase furniture. Stock desktops range from 20 to 36 inches deep and from 28 to 70 inches long and can be purchased with pullout keyboard trays, storage compartments, file cabinets, and matching hutch tops.

A room of your own

If you have a spare room or plan to build an addition, you have many more options for furnishing your office. You can make a real design statement by buying furniture to suit your personal taste. For instance, use an antique or cottage table for your desk, find an old chest that can hold hanging files, and modify a tea cart to hold your computer equipment. Blending older furniture with modern technology can have a softening effect on the room.

If you want to leave room for other furniture, place your workstation(s) along the wall. A typical configuration with a corner computer station flanked by desk returns will run about 5 feet along each wall. Modular office furniture is like factory-built kitchen cabinetry in that it can be built-in and is available in a wide range of finishes and sizes. Another option is to have furniture and built-ins custom-made.

Style at work

You are not obliged to spend 10 hours a day surrounded by the neutral colors and furnishings that typify corporate decor. Your home office should reflect your personality. Home office furniture is available in a range of styles and finishes. You can use color to set the mood for your workday - on your walls and in your upholstery and floor coverings. Pattern and texture in accent pieces can make the space more appealing.

Design tips

* Order your task chair(s) from a commercial furniture company, but provide your own fabric (such as a floral-print linen) for the seat and back, suggests Seattle interior designer Melinda Sechrist. It doesn't cost any more than using the manufacturer's fabric and will brighten and soften your office.