Designing a Home Office
Home offices can function in one of two ways: either as an exclusive office-only space or as an office space connected to a client reception area. In the case of an exclusive office space, the principle design goals and concerns are for the business owner's personal comfort and professional efficiency. You will want to consider the location of the office space in relation to other rooms within the home. 

Generally, a space that is remote, or at least removed from the general living space (i.e. living room, family room, and kitchen), is the best choice for a home office. It is ideal if the office space is a room dedicated to office work and not for use as a multi-purpose space, a private space that can be closed off to create a boundary between the home life and work life.
 
Rebecca Strauss, founder and musical director of Riverview Chamber Players and Melodic Vision in the greater Boston area, does not have a separate office space for her business, and says she is continually frustrated by having to use her living room as an office space and her dining room as a studio and teaching space. In this case, there is no boundary between the home and the work life as Rebecca is unable to close off these spaces for her work.

Equipment and Systems Requirement
As an early part of the design challenge, you will want to determine what equipment and systems your work requires (i.e. computer, copier, fax machine, work table, filing system). A home office space that is organized and provides easy access to equipment and systems is an office that functions well. Because space is often limited in the home, it is important to plan well the location of the equipment. For example, if square footage is limited, creating a storage unit from floor to ceiling with different size shelves or cubicles for filing and storage or creating a built-in wall unit that houses a computer and other related equipment helps to utilize space efficiently.

Color
Another important element in the space is color. As a general rule of thumb, selects colors that are appealing and easy on the eyes (bright, intense, highly saturated colors do not work well in small work spaces). 

Tracy Cassidy, co-founder of Blue Ribbon Confectionary Company, chose colors for the space (shades of blue and brown) that are the same as the packaging materials of the products she sells. With these colors, she created a simple grid pattern on the wall using paint. 

Paint is an economical and relatively easy option for wall colors. If you prefer wallpaper, simple patterns in low-contrast colors that do not create visual distractions are smart choices. Fabrics that feel good to the touch (combed cotton, cashmere, and chenille) as well as textures and patterns (checks, stripes, plaids and prints) provide interest and will contribute to an overall level of comfort in the room. For example, you can create a sophisticated and elegant design by starting with a monochromatic color scheme in camel or taupe, in various shades, tones and tints, paired with ivory or a neutral color. You complete the design by combining fabrics in varying textures with classic furnishings in wood tones of rich walnut, mahogany, or ebony.

Integration of Design
If you want to integrate the home office with the rest of the home, think about how to incorporate design elements from other areas of the home into your office space (i.e. a similar color palette, similar style of furnishings: traditional, contemporary or eclectic). Even a single beautiful object, color, or fabric pattern in the home can provide inspiration for the design of the office space.

A client in Boston, MA. combined his love of antiques collected from travels throughout Europe and his desire for a work space that functions well as a home office. His color scheme was consistent with the rest of his home, and the furnishings were comfortable, combined with a modern day desk and antique pieces that stored necessary equipment. In addition, an antique tapestry was hung between built-in bookcases to serve as a visual reminder to the client of his passion for antiques.

Designing a Home Office Including a Client Reception Area
When an office space includes a client reception area, there are additional considerations. An important difference is whether the client uses a separate entrance or moves through a part of the living space to arrive at the home office.

Most home office owners prefer a separate entrance, if local zoning laws allow it, with proper signage to guide the client to the office space. In addition to the design goals for the office itself, the principle design goals should address client comfort and the image of the business that the space portrays. In some instances, the client reception area functions as the work space as well as the space where the owner meets clients. This situation creates additional design challenges and requires careful planning.

A client in Wellesley, MA, whose office had a client reception area, wanted to create a home office that would represent her adventure travel business, highlight her achievements and business degrees from Harvard University, and demonstrate her skills as a photographer of wildlife in the Southwest. The photographs serve as the aesthetic backdrop in the reception area, highlighting her skills and knowledge of a specific niche relating to the travel industry and tastefully enhancing her business image with clients.

When designing a home office, remember that every situation is unique and often includes its own set of limitations. A design plan that is well conceived prior to implementation will save you time, aggravation, and money in the long run. When in doubt, consult with an interior designer who can visualize the space, and suggest ideas for the layout, color, and furnishings that will work in unison to make a cohesive, comfortable, and beautiful home office space.

Julia C. Tombaugh is an experienced interior design professional whose sophisticated, creative vision integrates simple and elegant designs with classic elements, tailored to reflect the lifestyles of her clients. Julia's background features outstanding academic preparation with a BA from Mount Holyoke College and an MS in Interior Design from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. After ten years of apprenticeship with two prominent Boston design firms, she launched Julia Cutler, Interior Design (www.juliacutler.com). In addition to her projects in Boston she has traveled extensively, completing projects in Vail, CO, Naples, FL, Scottsdale, AZ, Oahu, HI and Osaka, Japan. Julia is an allied member of the American Society of Interior Designers.