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Making a home office do double duty
A well organized and functional office can easily serve as an occasional guest room
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May 07, 2009 | 10:47 AM
Dear Natalie,
I have just allocated my recently married daughter's bedroom in my home as an office/guest room. While I don't always work from home, I am here two to three times a week and would like to know how to maximize and organize this space efficiently while allowing for a guest to use the room on occasion.
— Lisa A.
Congratulations Lisa,
You have just turned a valuable space into a multi-functional one. The challenge here is to keep things organized and uncluttered and be able to put away your work and home projects when guests are using your room.
First let's look at the furniture you will need. I would advise getting a good sleep sofa or "Murphy bed" (a mattress and mechanism that is concealed in the wall and covered by doors that are almost flat against it).
Next look for office furniture scaled for home use — desk, computer work station, file cabinets, closed storage cabinets and an ergonomic chair and keyboard for comfort and efficiency. This furniture is usually no deeper than 24 to 28 inches and can wrap around two walls for maximum utilization of space. Often, book shelves can be placed on the desktop or on the wall above the desk without inhibiting work space and can be used for flat screen televisions, books and collectibles.
Next, look inside the closet and see if it's large enough to subdivide into double hanging on one side and shelving on the other. This is ideal since guests can use part of the closet when they visit and you can use the rest for storage of office supplies, etc.
It's important to be able to focus and work efficiently in your office. Choose paint colors and accessories that please you and pare down your surroundings so they are not distracting. Choose artwork that makes you feel empowered and happy. Make sure your lighting serves you well (task lighting, reading lights and good general lighting).
When working at home, you need to separate your chores and daily duties and create the time and space for work without distractions. That's why being in a room (with a door) away from the kitchen, laundry, television and kids makes for a more productive workplace.
Schedule your work time so that you go to your home office at your most productive. Is it before or after exercising? Is it before the family gets up, when they all leave for the day or in the evening when everyone is in bed? Working along with instead of against your internal clock will help you to accomplish more in less time.
Good lighting, soft music or total quiet may be other factors to help you create the ideal work environment. Whatever your needs, list them before you begin in order of priority. Set your budget so that you can fulfill them and you will surely be able to enjoy the level of success you desire in your office as well as maximize the space you have in your home.
If you have a design question that you would like Natalie to answer in future columns, email leisure@tbrnewspapers.com.
Natalie Weinstein is an interior designer, author media personality and talk show host.
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