Being your own boss

Decor tips to set up a home office

Many people nowadays have jobs that allow them to work partly or entirely out of home. And with greater access to the Internet, many more bring work home too. It is no surprise then that more and more households are now either setting up, or thinking of setting up, an office at home.

A multi-functional space
However, home offices are fundamentally different from conventional offices. The majority will need the home office to work in for a short while, either after office hours or on weekends and holidays, but the home-office could serve the needs of the entire family —it could be a workspace for the spouse and even the children. It can also do duty as a separate room or a guestroom-cum-study, an extension of the bedroom space or just a lounge with a corner dedicated to work.

 

Or a private one
If there is the luxury of an independent room or a basement, the home office can have the much-needed privacy, tucked away from the bustle of the main house. It can then evolve into the sanctuary where one can relax, or listen to music while working. The design can be informal, in the mould of the quintessential colonial ‘study’, allowing for some clutter and untidiness behind closed doors, with, perhaps, a coffee/tea making counter.

When the area is limited
The home office could be a desk in the bedroom or a workstation in the living area. Try fold out surfaces that can shrink into the wall, or be fully enclosed in a smart-looking armoire when not in use. The placement of furniture is critical. The orthogonal may be replaced with more adventurous angles in order to attract or deflect attention.

Desk, chair, shelves, lighting
The work desk, which is where you'll spend the most time, should be large enough and of the right height to work most comfortably. Select a chair that is of adjustable height that provides proper back and arm support. If you like to put your feet up, have a small footstool under your desk.

Use shelving interestingly, installed behind the desk so that books and stationery are easy to reach. Identify a space for printer paper, manuals, reference books and accessories such as music CDs, photographs, trophies and mementos.

Go in for task lighting. To reduce eye strain, have lighting installed over your reading area, over the computer, and behind you so that there’s no reflection on the monitor.

Use wire managers for the computer, phone and other wires where possible, or run them under the floor or in the skirting, following the table legs up to the desktop or concealed behind bookcases or shelves — or better still, go wireless.

What lies beneath
Hard wood or laminated wood planks give a warm look. Unlike carpets or tiles, wood floors will allow you to easily move around your office on a chair on castors, and after all the chaffing, can be re-polished to look as good as new. 

Finishing touches
Use colour accents, accessorise with lamps, memorabilia or quirky window treatments. After all, the best part of a home office is not just that you don’t have to adhere to a code dress or a time, but the freedom to be your own boss. n

The writer is a Delhi-based interior designerc