A Home Office Checklist—Make the Space in Your Home Work for You

A home office is a good feature to have in any home. It’s the place where you check emails, pay bills, store paperwork, and do a bit of work—whether it be job-related, volunteer, or just “home” work. More than ever, the traditional home office has taken on a greater significance as many of us are now working from and spending more time at home. So how do you establish an efficient and productive, yet aesthetically pleasing home office?  

A Home Office to Meet Your Needs

A Defined Space—Whether it’s a dedicated office, a bedroom or flex room, or just a corner of the family room in which to set up a home office, it’s important to create an organized space with privacy to accommodate your needs. If an entire room is not an option, consider establishing boundaries with dividers which can be as simple as utilizing plants, or find a multi-purpose area of the home (think extra bedroom with a Murphy bed to maximize efficiency). Then add personal touches that reflect your personality to create an area you’ll want to work in every day!

Quality Lighting—Proper lighting reduces eye strain, so place lights above, behind, and near the computer. Natural lighting is important as well and a desk placed parallel to a window provides light and a view! Table lamps provide added lighting for those dark days and nights, particularly when the natural light just won’t cut it.

Form and Function—This is your home office, so let it reflect your personality.

• Paint the walls a color that makes you want to come in and work. Decorate the room in an inviting, yet non-distracting way.
• Choose a desk or table at the proper work height for you. You’ll know you’re at the right height when working if your forearms are parallel to the ground and your wrists aren’t bent too far.
• Visualize placement and determine what you need in the room. A filing cabinet, extra workspace, a chair for a visitor, coffee maker, or shelves and other storage? Remember this is a home office, not a cubicle in an office building—so use your imagination!
• Use power strips, cord covers, or a desk with a pre-made, grommeted hole through which cords are threaded and hidden. Put the printer in the closet to make it look less like an office. Personalize the room with plants, wallpaper, photos, collectibles, a comfy chair with a blanket, and a bookcase.
• Choose a comfortable work chair and one that is the correct height for the table or desk, since you might be in it for long periods of time.
• Organize to accommodate your lifestyle. If you’ll be sharing the office, designate cabinets or shelves for different uses. Is a filing cabinet required or will a dresser work for your needs? Where will you store office supplies? Storage solutions are endless, so choose what fits with your style and budget.

Equipment Ideas—If your job has moved to remote and you’ll be working from home for the foreseeable future, you might consider investing in some added technology to make life more convenient.

• A headset for long or frequent calls. Additionally, if making conference calls, a headset can help eliminate “home” noise.
• A docking station for ease in charging laptops and phones, eliminating everything being plugged into outlets.
• Printers with the ability to scan or fax. While most of us use printers intermittently for personal use, doing business from home can potentially increase your dependency for broader functions.
• A surge protector to protect and safeguard your equipment.

Now if you’re in the market for a new home, you’ll find that our Sanibel and Captiva floor plans at Walker Villas offer a flex room which can easily become a home office. We’ll even build in your desk with storage. So, if this option is important to you, consider buying a home in our community which can provide you with space for all your needs. With only a few units remaining, we’d love to see you in one of our luxury condominium homes today!