When you design your home office, you should take into account three factors: your work style,
workspace, and the equipment you will need. Fortunately, as the number of home office workers
increase, furniture manufacturers have introduced a wide array of furniture to meet various work
styles. For those who like to move around as they work, there are some interesting new options.
Work surfaces are becoming increasingly flexible. Many manufacturers now offer work surfaces
with smooth mechanisms, either automatic or hand-controlled, that allow adjustment from 25" to 49"
in height so that you can alternate between sitting and standing positions.
While your work style might benefit from adjustable work surfaces, you should first determine
whether your workspace would accommodate such flexibility. Before designing your workspace, you
should first collect all the relevant data you will need to make intelligent decisions.
First, carefully measure the space you have for your work area. Remember to measure very
carefully if you plan on installing a wall-to-wall system since every inch will be critical to
fitting your space. Make sure to measure where your windows are including the height from the floor
to the sill. Also, don't forget to measure you doors and closets.
It would also be useful to note where your electrical outlets are positioned. Should you have
prominent baseboards, crown molding, or heating ducts, it is also important to measure these
features.
Proper workspace design must also address your unique equipment needs. How big is your monitor?
Do you have a horizontal or vertical CPU? What are the sizes of your key electronic equipment such
as your printer, scanner, fax machine, speakers, or telephone? A good home office designer will
need this information to plan a workspace that truly meets your needs.
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