7 Tips to Make Your Home Office Work for You

In a home office, clutter and inefficiency destroys productivity.

Working from the comfort of home is on the rise in the U.S. One in five Americans now work from home and 52% of small businesses are home-based. Whether you're turning an extra room into your home office, already have one set up, or you're just thinking about making the leap, we'll walk you through the most important organizational aspects to make it efficient today.

1. Location, location, location

Eliminating a commute all together sounds great, but it might be difficult to find the necessary space in your home. A separate room with a door is ideal for privacy, but isn't always possible.

If you don't have a full room to spare for a home office, create a section of a room to call your own. You shouldn't feel like you're trapped in a corner, so make the space work for what you need. If you have an office set up but it's in a noisy, high traffic area of your home, consider switching it out with another room.

Even a smal nook can be transformed into a productive space. Photo by Polsky Perlstein Architects

2. Create a productive environment

Comfort is key in a home office, but you don't want to make the space too casual that you're distracted and unable to focus on your work. Invest in a real desk and real shelving to make the space look and feel like an office setting. This doesn't mean the room can't have character, but it should have a level of professionalism while also being an inspirational space for you.

Remember to decorate --- but don't go overboard. Photo by The Newport Group, Construction Co.

3. Everything must have its place

Organization is critical in your home office. Some of the most important documents of your home and life are stored here - valuable paperwork, bills, and mail. Mail accumulates quickly so be sure to have a system in place for bill payment, filing, shredding, and recycling available. If it's there, you're more likely to use it.

Incorporate bookshelf units or wall shelving to make your office into your own personal library. Bookshelves don't only have to be for books though, store your favorite travel collectibles or store your priceless pieces in a space worthy of them.

4. Get a handle on paper storage

Filing Cabinets or in-drawer filing is the number one necessity for home office organization. You need to be able to find what you need, whenever you need it.

5. Create a functional workspace

You'll want your desktop/laptop in the most functional space available. Keep your PC desktop tower unit out of the way and either stored underneath your desk space or in a properly ventilated cabinet to prevent overheating. Also keep your printer in a space that has ample room for paper output.

Photo by Johnston Home LLC

Pro Tip: Orient your monitor facing away from any harsh light sources. This will help eliminate glare on your screen.

6. Brighten up the space

Open your windows and bring in more lamps. More light will not only make it easier to organize, but also give the appearance of wider space. Our favorite addition to any design is to incorporate LED lights under shelving. These highly efficient lights brighten up the darkest spaces.

Pro Tip: If you're working with a small space, consider repainting your home office walls to a lighter color - the lighter the space, the brighter and larger it will appear.

7. Tame those wires

Wires, wires, and more wires. Even wireless devices need a dock that has a wire! The key to hiding these unsightly wires is to incorporate them into your desk and storage units. The last thing you want is to trip over a wire, so keep them safely hidden away.

Put these organization tips into place and you're bound to free up space and create more functionality in your home office. If you're looking to build a custom office, our expert technicians and designers can create a fabulous home office by maximizing your pre-existing space.