One of the most popular amenities in today’s home is the home office. Whether it’s used for running a business or just paying the bills and writing up a grocery list, home offices provide a central place for a myriad of paperwork chores. And just about every house has a few unused square feet you can convert to an office with a little imagination, as the following examples will demonstrate.
Using a spare bedroom doesn’t mean that you need to take over the entire space. Unless you’re running a business out of your home that requires a lot of desk space and file storage, it’s often sufficient to simply have a small desk or computer table that can be accommodated within a relatively compact area. That means that the spare bedroom typically still has ample space remaining for setting up a bed or perhaps a futon for guests, or for a sewing machine, hobby table, exercise equipment, or other multi-use equipment and supplies.
If you are trying to accommodate a desk area in an existing kitchen, you may need to work at one of the existing 36-inch-high counters. This can be done by removing a cabinet at the end of one of the counters – to keep the desk away from the food preparation areas and to provide an open space to sit at – then utilizing a stool instead of a standard chair. If you are remodeling to create the desk space, plan on a separate counter set approximately 30 inches off the floor, with at least 24 inches of open space underneath to accommodate a chair.
First, you’ll want to take care of all your basic structural needs. The space has to be dry and well-ventilated, and needs heat, power and telephone. Next, install one or more walls as needed to partition the space off from the rest of the basement area. This not only makes it private, it also makes it easier to heat. Finally, make it bright by adding sufficient lighting – a combination of overhead fluorescent lights and incandescent desk lights works well, and make it cheerful and less utilitarian by covering over pipes, ducts and rough framing with paint, drywall, suspended ceiling tiles, or even just by draping fabric.
Send a comment or news tip to our newsroom.
Please include the headline of the story.