Make usable home office space a reality

Working from home these days is somewhat of a chore.

We’ve had to master the art of keeping our cool during company-wide Zoom calls, with our kids, pets and complete chaos in the background. We’ve become pros at several home delivery apps. This includes toilet paper to breakfast, lunch and dinner and, well, just about anything else you would ever need or want. And we’ve also created home offices out of thin air because we’ve had to get back to work.

We may not all have a cozy retreat focused on organization and comfort. But let’s take a moment to have a design day dream.

The dream

A rustic, navy leather lounge chair and ottoman sit in the corner of your office. Add a vintage pewter pharmacy floor lamp you found at your favorite antique dealer. Floor to ceiling built-in office cabinetry and paneling in a limed oak finish wraps every wall, including the bay window with a bench seat and a picturesque view of Mount Diablo. The window is gently framed with bleached linen drapery panels.  Tea-stained vintage maps from places you’ve been and places you hope to visit one day hang perfectly on each of the paneled walls.

A wool area rug with cool and energetic colors brings together the modest floor plan. Modern ceiling fan blends into the cabinetry and swirls just the right amount of air so as not to disrupt the papers on your desk. In its former life, the desk was an espresso-stained door, removed from an old building years ago. Now, a piece of glass sits on top of the door so the unique carving is perfectly protected and paired with an ergonomic, Aeron chair in a mineral gray finish. Two words: Yes please.

Finding space

But you can’t always muster up a wonderfully posh working space. Consider areas that can easily be converted with little effort. A built-in kitchen desk, a floating counter in your laundry room and, in some cases, oversized closets or pantries that have just enough cabinet space for a laptop and printer.

A natural home office is one that shares space with a guest bedroom. Use space-saving sofa beds, futons and Murphy beds in this situation.  Also, try desks that aren’t typically categorized as desks. Rather than a 36 inch by 72 inch desk that takes up quite a bit of real estate, writing tables or oversized consoles make good choices when one living space has to double up.

Or, consider borrowing a small amount of space from your living or dining room. These rooms typically sit idle for most of the year. So one might be the perfect location for your temporary home office. Folding tables with pretty table coverings and the addition of a glass or acrylic table top can be a temporary fix during these times. And maybe you can coordinate with your existing furnishings.

Backyard sheds

And don’t forget to look in the backyard. She Sheds, Tuff Sheds and free-standing tiny houses could be the perfect addition to your backyard. It offers a very short commute. Many manufacturers are building pop-up structures that can be wired and plumbed. Definitely a conversation to have with your contractor and something to think about if you’re considering an addition to your home.

Whatever your workspace looks like or wherever it is located within your home, aim for comfort, maximum desk square footage. And, if at all possible, privacy from the chaos.

Jennifer Leischer is the owner of J. Designs Interior Design based in Clayton. Contact her with questions, comments and suggestions at jenna@j-designs.com.