Style, Function Merge in Trendy Home Offices

PHOTOS/CLOSET FACTORY

BY MARCIA BIGGS

If the dining room table currently doubles as your desk, creating a custom home offi ce might be something to seriously consider. With so many people working from home now, the importance of creating a functional and aesthetically pleasing space to work requires careful consideration.

If you are thinking of converting a bedroom or other space into a home office you are not alone. Design firms are reporting an avalanche of requests for home remodeling that does just that. From color palette to furnishing to lighting, this is your chance to craft a workspace that is unique to you and how you work.

Eden Heftel, a senior designer with Closet Factory who works with homeowners across Tampa Bay, has seen a huge uptick in requests for home offi ces in the last 18 months. Everybody uses space differently, she says, so there really are no rules. Some people like to display things in built-in wall cabinets, others are very minimalist. Some need to double as a guest bedroom, others don’t. She off ers these tips when considering a remodel to incorporate a work area:

•First, think about how much equipment you have and what kind of desktop space you need. Do you need two monitors or just a laptop? Will you share the desk with another person? This will determine your desk size. “I highly suggest putting USB and other outlets right on top of your workstation,” she says. “You want convenient access to hook up right at your fingertips. I also like to install power strips at desktop level and lighting built in with dimmer switches.”

•Consider what kind of space you need for filing cabinets, do you want them hidden behind doors or in cabinets and easily accessible.

•If you have cabinets above the desk, install strip lighting recessed in panels covered by a frosted panel. A dimmer switch allows you to control the amount of lighting you need. Strip lighting distributes light evenly, as opposed to cone lighting which is more of a spotlight.

If the room offers a pleasant view, many homeowners prefer to create a workspace that takes advantage of it. This can be accomplished with a standalone desk or a peninsula desk that juts out from the wall, says Heftel.

Trending now is home offices with Murphy beds, she says. Since many people convert bedrooms into offices, Murphy beds are in high demand to accommodate both working and overnight guests. Once the bed is folded up into its cabinet, it frees up space allowing the room to instantly become transformed into an office.

How much you plan to spend on a home offi ce is up to you, but most remodels can range from $5,000 to $15,000, reports Heftel.