Here’s a Three Step Plan For Setting Up a Shared-Space Home Office
By Suzanne Kearns

Many people dream of running a business out of their home, but what they don’t think about is where they are going to do it. We’ve all heard of major corporations that started at the kitchen table or in the garage, but the reality is that most people need an organized, comfortable work space in order to be productive. And that’s where most people get stuck — they simply don’t have a spare bedroom that they can convert into an office.

    But with a little ingenuity, you can find the space you need to work — no matter how cramped your home is. It will take planning and a willingness to forego conventional office space wisdom, but if you’re ready to create the perfect work environment by sharing the space in your home, here’s a blueprint of how to do it.

Step One: Consider Your Options

    While you may not have a space that can be entirely dedicated to a home office, you likely have space in untraditional areas that can be transformed into a great work space. The kitchen nook, laundry room, alcove, or even that unused corner in the living room are all possibilities. Here are some things you should consider.

·    How noisy is it? Aside from the fact that you wouldn’t want to work in a noisy game room or playroom, there are other noise considerations to take into account. Will the television bother you, or will the noise from the washer and dryer drive you crazy while you’re trying to work? When considering a work space, pay attention to those noises you’ve likely become accustomed to, and decide whether or not they’ll be a distraction.
·    How big is it? Different types of work require varying amounts of space. For instance, an office that only needs a work surface area large enough to hold a laptop can easily be set up in a small corner of a room. A kitchen nook might be perfect where files could be kept in the window seat storage area. But an office that requires more equipment could be incorporated along the wall of the living room with wall storage shelving units that match the rest of the décor.
·    How will it affect the family? It’s difficult to concentrate on work when you’re surrounded by the activities of family members, and likewise, it’s unfair to them to have to plan their home life around your work hours. It’s important that you choose a space that will allow you to blend into the family’s schedule. For instance, if family members are home all day, the living room likely won’t be your best bet. On the other hand, if you have eight hours of solitude during the day, it might be just the right spot.

Step Two: Select the Furniture

    The furniture that you select for your home office will determine whether or not your office is workable and comfortable, so you should examine all of your options before making a decision. Here’s a rundown of some of your choices.

Desks

    A desk is the foundation of your office furniture, and not only needs to be functional, but has to blend into your home décor so it doesn’t awkwardly stand out. You’ll be able to choose from traditional wood, glass and iron for a modern home, or desks painted in a variety of colors for an eclectic décor.

    One of the most versatile pieces is the L-shaped desk, because it can fit nicely into a room that has an unused corner. And by adding some stand up partitions, or even some decorative glass or hanging art, you can give the illusion of a private office. This is a good choice if there is more than one person working in the office.
    If you have an unused corner that isn’t quite as large, a corner desk just might be your answer. It fits snugly into the corner of any room, and comes in all sizes. Simplydesks.com offers a handy 42” corner desk that would fit nicely into a laundry room or alcove.
    If your home décor is traditional, the perfect way to disguise work space is to use a roll-top desk. It will add to the ambiance of the room, and at the end of the day, all your work can simply be hidden inside of the desk.
    If you’re really short on space, you can make use of a mobile desk that can be closed up and rolled away for storage at the end of the day. These desks come on wheels, and are either constructed on carts with features such as look-down computer screen capabilities, or are enclosed in trunks or lightweight cabinets. One of the most original is the Trunk Station AD cart by Soho Street which features a “travel trunk” that opens up to a fully-functional office.
    Maybe your available space is vertical and you don’t have room for a traditional desk. Vertical desks travel up the wall, and have compartments and storage bins for everything you’ll need to store.  
    Finally, if you don’t even have an inch to spare, consider a Ulisse desk bed. It’s designed like a Murphy bed, but when it’s raised up, the area converts to a nifty office space. You can find it at bonbon.co.uk.

Chairs

    Your office chair has to be comfortable, and at the same time fit into your home’s décor. Matching fabrics and textures are two ways to do that. Consider buying a chair and then having it reupholstered to match your existing fabrics. You may be able to find a chair that already coordinates with your home décor. Bizchair.com offers a “design your own chair” option which allows you to create the fundamental aspects of a chair, as well as choose fabric and color options.

Step Three: Organize

    The key to enjoying a shared office space is organization. Luckily, there are many ways to keep your area neat and tidy.

Storage and Shelves

    One of the best ways to keep your area organized is with proper storage. Depending on the amount of space that you have, you can create hidden shelving by using coordinating cabinets with doors that are mounted on the wall area above your desk. This will allow you to hide everything in the enclosed shelves at the end of the day.

    In addition, there are a great many storage options for home offices. You can buy storage bins made of wicker, covered in decorative fabrics, or in various metals. You won’t be limited by style — simply select the look that best matches your existing décor.

Accessories

    There are lots of fun and innovative accessories that will allow you to save space in your home office.

·    Gecko offers a space saving floor lamp for those who are really squeezed for space. It has a flat wall decal that looks like a lamp base, and then the actual light and shade are placed at the top. You can find it at geckostickers.com.
·    If you have two computer monitors, then you know how much space that requires. The Ergotron freestanding dual monitor stand allows you to position your monitors vertically, saving you tons of desktop space.
·    Controlling the jumble of cords is essential in combining home and office space. You can find a multitude of neat solutions at organize.com.
·    A digital desktop scanner and filing system such as the one put out by NeatDesk will allow to you go paperless. Simply scan your documents, and the system will organize and file them accordingly. You can find it at neatco.com

    Even if you don’t have the traditionally thought of space, setting up your dream office and working from home is possible. Simply pinpoint your needs — and those of your family — and then begin looking for the perfect space. HBM

Suzanne Kearns has been a full-time writer for 20 years. She specializes in writing about small and home-based business issues and writes website copy, articles of all types, and books — both under her name and as a ghostwriter. In addition, she blogs and ghostblogs for numerous sites. She can be reached at mypersonalwriter@gmail.com.

Previously published in the June 2011 issue of HOME BUSINESS® Magazine, an international publication for the growing and dynamic home-based market. Available on newsstands, in bookstores and chain stores, and via subscriptions ($19.00 for 1 year, six issues). Visit http://www.homebusinessmag.com

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