When you work from home, it is essential to have a space to call your own. However, you don't want to sacrifice the parts of the house that your family uses all the time. These tips can help you carve out a dedicated workspace without compromising anyone's personal space.
Add an Accessory Structure
The past several years have seen an abundance of different accessory structures pop up across American backyards. Some are home gyms, guest quarters, or art studios. However, a growing number of them are home offices. A backyard building can be an excellent home office addition with some innovation and the right tech installed.
There are numerous benefits to this approach. First, your office is separate from the rest of the house. That means fewer distractions and interruptions and a clearly defined sense of workspace. However, that same distance can be a problem if you are trying to manage a household while working. You may benefit more from adding a sunroom to your home in those cases.
When opting for sunrooms Tampa homeowners add extra space without the need to take up an entire corner of the yard. And, unlike drafty glassed-in enclosures of decades past, today's sunrooms are sleek, efficient, and attractive extensions of homes. Plus, they blend indoors and out, so you get the many benefits of nature while working from your attached office.
Convert Guest Rooms Into Work Space
Guest bedrooms are nice to have. They give visitors a place where they can have privacy and stretch out in comfort. However, they are also a massive waste of an extra room if you could use them for other things all the time. After all, guests aren't in your home every day.
Instead of a dedicated guest bedroom, consider turning the extra bedroom into your home office. There is a chance it already has many features that help keep work-from-home productivity up, so renovation will be minimal. You may be able to swap out the bed with a workstation if you don't need a lot of space. However, it is worth considering redecorating in an entire theme that promotes the creative thought and mental focus required for your job.
Turn Unused Areas Into Living Space
Not all unused areas are bedrooms. If you have a basement or attic that is currently unfinished yet accessible, it could be a great place to put your office. Contrary to what you might imagine, proper planning can create a beautiful and functional office in a basement conversion. Do a quick online search, and you'll see tons of inspiring ideas for creative ways to finish these spaces.
You must consider building codes in your area with this approach. They can vary significantly between states and municipalities, so what is allowed in one town may not be in the neighboring one. Get the required permits before construction and have all inspections performed to ensure your new office is safe.
Use Hidden Office Furniture in Main Rooms
When you need an office quickly without a major renovation, adding a hidden desk to an existing area of the home may be your best choice. Enclosed desks or wall-mounted laptop stations come in a wide range of styles to fit into any design scheme. They can also accommodate almost any budget.
If you are creative, you might be able to transform an older armoire into a functional workstation. Be sure to take any necessary precautions when removing old finishes to avoid inhaling dangerous chemicals and irritating airways. This is a great chance to put your personal stamp on your home workstation when you can't have a full-blown office.
Make the Most of Small Details
The small detail of an office can make it a creative haven for productivity or a complete time-sucking vacuum of mindlessness. So, no matter where you put your home office, take steps to ensure that everything around your workstation is set up for you specifically. For example, consider investing in ergonomic details like keyboard trays with wrist support, an adjustable office chair with a headrest and a multi-directional monitor mount to improve comfort.
Opting for a separate building, adding a functional sunroom to your home or stashing your computer into a hidden desk tucked into a corner of your bedroom are all excellent ways to create a functional home office without compromising anyone's personal space.