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The Home Office
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by Carin Cross |
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THE HOME OFFICE
Working at home is not really a new concept. Ranchers, farmers, doctors, writers and others have had home offices for years. Today one in three people work at home in some capacity and there are over 6 million telecommuters. An increasing number of people are choosing to work at home and finding it financially and spiritually successful. It allows us incredible personal freedom as well as the opportunity to create an environment in which we can be productive and happy.
In gathering information about home offices most of what I read seems to fall into 2 categories. There are those who feel that to ensure productivity and efficiency equal to that of the traditional office the home office needs to be a separate space without any obvious evidence of our lives. They recommend the latest in technology, state of the art lighting, telecommunications-in other words you recreate your office space at home without any ties to home. The other group celebrates the privilege and pleasure of working at home. Working at home allows people to balance work and home life in a harmonious way. The warmth of a home office tempers the isolation inherent in technology. The seamlessness between the professional and domestic aspects of our lives is a good thing. To me it is a question of balance. One does wrestle with the issue of whether one can be as productive at home and whether one will be considered as professional with a home office. There is also the question of professional isolation. While these are valid considerations, with a well thought out office space you can be productive, connected to the most efficient technology if you wish within an environment that is uniquely yours and reflects your style and spirit.
The Flathead valley offers the most wonderful environment for a home office. There is an inherently strong connection between man, nature and work in this area, and it seems a natural place to integrate home and work in a sustaining way. Thoughtful planning will enable you to create an office where you can be productive and also keep watch on a storm moving in or the setting sun.
Every home office, whether a dedicated room or a niche in a bedroom, needs good space planning and organization to be a productive place of work. As Maxine Ordesky expresses it in her book, The Complete Home Organizer, "organization doesn't occur by osmosis." It is vital to take the time to carefully assess your needs and organize the office specifically for you. The wonderful thing about a home office is that you can really do this. Consider the different needs of a weaver, a financial planner, a photographer and an accountant. While each of their spaces will be distinctly different from each other there will be some common elements. Every office needs some space dedicated to administrative affairs - a place to make notes, use the phone, pay bills etc. Almost every office will also use a computer to some degree. Some offices will need a place to meet clients. A large home office might have a place within the office itself while smaller spaces might make use of other places with the house to meet with clients.
Storage is an important component of every home office. As space is precious in a home office, storage needs should be carefully considered. Information you need at your fingertips should be kept in the office where you can access it easily. Inactive storage-supplies or information that you need infrequently- can be kept elsewhere. Consider the garage or basement -if they are dry- or a spare closet.
Often the precursor to a full time office is a part time office. Be creative and look over the house carefully for a place you could transform into an office space. You need a space that gives you a sense of privacy, protection and separation to be truly productive. Depending on your need, a niche could be found under the stairs, in the attic, or in a walk-in closet. Often a part time or first time office shares space in an existing room such as the guest bedroom, the den or living room. The kitchen is the one room that does not naturally lend itself to being a shared space. There is simply too much going on and too much traffic for this room to be a productive office space. In other rooms however it can work very well. Most often the office is the secondary space in the shared room. Its style and design needs to be sensitive to that of the den or guest room and not upset its flow. The use of screens, plants and bookcases can be used to create a sense of separateness and privacy as well allowing the room still to function as a comfortable guest room or TV room at the end of the day. Conversely some offices are used occasionally as guest rooms. In this case the room is primarily designed as an office but has a sofa bed or Murphy bed that can be used when needed.
As increasing numbers of people are working at home full time offices are becoming more prevalent. In this case a room is dedicated to being solely an office. If you are building you can decide the size of the room, its location and whether you want a separate entrance. Of ten these offices are detached- for instance a garden house or guesthouse. Offices that are created within your existing home may have the advantage of previous lives. Often the history of the room adds to the character and flavor of your office. Whether you are building a home and working with an existing home be sure and create an environment that reflects who you are and what you do.
Most home offices today have a computer station. Even if yours plays only a small part in your business there are valuable guidelines to being comfortable and efficient. Most work surfaces are 30" above the floor. The top of the monitor should be at eye level or just below and 18-24" away from you. An adjustable chair allows you to fine tune these distances as well as allowing others in your business or family to use the computer comfortably. Keyboards that can adjust distance and height are convenient especially ones that can slide below the work surface when not in use. A common problem is light reflecting on the monitor screen. One of the simplest solutions in a home office is to use a flexible arm desk lamp with a shade that can be easily adjusted to eliminate glare. There are a number of excellent catalogues that specialize in home office equipment and they are filled with creative ideas and clever design solutions for home offices.
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