THE CLUTTER CLEANUP (PART SEVEN)

The Home Office

This, for me, is one of the most interesting rooms to do in a house.  It is an opportunity to personalize and make this unique space productive and functional.  Whether your office occupies one bedroom or an entire floor, the floor plan should allow for storage, workspace and sometimes meeting space.

Acoustical considerations are primary here.  You do not want to be talking on the phone with a client or vendor and have dogs barking or kids playing in the background.  Clever ways to offer acoustical privacy include wall upholstery, special wall treatments that insulate against sound and water walls that provide a soothing sound.

Clutter is a culprit in home offices responsible for a loss in personal productivity.  Clutter can create problems like late reports, overwhelm and missed opportunity.

Many home offices that I see are a desk in the bedroom with a file cabinet and a closet.  Home offices can be so much more than that, an excellent home office functions as well as any office in any other corporate setting.  Ergonomics are important here too.  Don’t just pull a kitchen chair in to sit at your desk.  There is furniture that is designed specifically for your height and weight and can save you from experiencing aches and pains from sitting all day in uncomfortable positions in uncomfortable furniture.  My favorite is an old classic; Herman Miller’s Aeron Chair.  It is pretty basic, and if it is not executive looking enough, there are leather chairs that are ergonomic too.

Make a list of everything you need to conduct your business.  Desks, chairs, work tables and chairs, meeting tables.  Storage needs like samples, sample and price books, industry reference manuals and books and office supplies, forms and stationery all require a different type of storage.  Smart design can make it all function perfectly for you and still look attractive.  Bulletin and chalkboards, as well as paper organizers, can be especially fun to work with and display in a home office.

Home offices can have work islands just like the kitchen.  I have a work island made to fit all of my wallpaper, carpet and flooring samples.  It sits in the middle of the room, and the surface is used for meetings, rolling fabric, mailings, looking at samples and sometimes even repairs.  It is a right height for counter stools so you can stand or sit while you work.  I probably have more storage needs than many home offices do.  I have walls of bookshelves, modular storage and shelves and hanging systems.  Credenzas and even furniture like you use in the rest of your home can work, armoires, sideboards, industrial shelving, bakers racks and china cabinets can be used in a home office for storage.

A closet can be made into a perfect desk space.  A correctly placed shelf for the desk surface and shelves above and to the side can make into a perfect little mini office that can be closed off at will to hide clutter or just to offer multi-functional purposes to one room.  It is critical to keep a space like this light in color and to add some artificial light to keep from feeling “closeted in.”  Under cabinet lighting and a nice task lamp can solve this problem.  Closets can also be a nice place to hide electronics like printers, faxes, copiers and credit card terminals.  It can also hold forms and office supplies (but you knew that).

I love chalkboards and bulletin boards for home offices.  They hold notes, memos, art display, vendor notices and can be attractive and contain clutter all at the same time.  They can be hung on the wall or place on an easel or art shelf.  Closet doors can be upholstered or painted with chalkboard paint.  Even an entire wall covered in cork or upholstery can be used, plus this doubles for acoustical privacy!

I have a separate little-inclined work surface for drawing.  It can be moved around for light and different purposes, it also doubles as a display.  

Office systems are expensive. However, they offer many ideas for simplifying and offering a safer environment.  One of them is “smart” furniture where wiring and multiple plugs are enabled within the piece for all of the electronics we have on our desk.  This can be replicated at home with clever planning.  

Habits to get into if you work at home: You can use all of the clever boxes, containers, baskets and jars that you use elsewhere in the home to help keep things organized.  Shelves are the most valuable storage asset in a home office.  Do not rule out housing manuals and books in hall libraries outside the home office.

• Keep office and home mail separated.
• Do not take business papers out of your office into the living area.
• Label all computer discs and tapes immediately.
• Keep business stationery at a handy location on your desk.
• File daily
• Have a spot in your office specifically allocated for placing the things you need to take with you when you go. 

 Home office design should also take into consideration your industry.  There will be different needs for a teacher, physicist, and architect.  As in all things, it is the differences that add the potential for greatness.  

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