Return of the Home Office
Tuesday, November 30th, 2010A few generations ago, many professionals worked out of their own homes. But then the office became a place to which one commuted, a place very much separated from the home. Now, however, home offices have staged a comeback, reinvented as places we do full- or part-time professional work while parenting, launching entrepreneurial ventures and keeping track of our increasingly busy and complicated lives. And as the uses have evolved and been personalized, so have the forms and furnishings.
If you’re buying home office furniture, obviously function is the first consideration. But don’t skimp on personal style, especially if your office is in a separate room. You want this to be a space in which you enjoy working-and since there’s no company headquarters setting rules, think about the tone and look you will most enjoy. You may want to buy office furniture that complements the d?cor of your home as a reminder that you’re not part of the corporate world. Or, if you want your office space to feel very separate from the rest of the house, you might choose furnishings of a completely different style-a chic contemporary desk set, say, if the rest of your home is more traditional.
And don’t be discouraged if you don’t have a whole room for your home office. A functional and stylish office with HON office furniture can often be set up in much less space than you might think. A computer station/desk combination with storage shelves can often be fitted into a closet, giving you the added bonus of being able to close away your workspace (and messy desk) when you want to “get away” from the office. Sleek and stylish corner desk units, too, can take advantage of minimally used space in a bedroom, living or dining room. If you wish to be able to close off the workspace, you can place a decorative screen across the corner.
Whether you’re setting up a bill-paying, an organized lateral files system, calendar-minding station or an oasis in which you’ll launch your new career, your home office furniture can set the stage for success and comfort. With a bit of ingenuity, you can create that home office you’ve always wanted.