Business Casual: Working Comfortably and Productively from Home

The distinction between home and work is a line that is being blurred evermore. Technology has enabled us to “plug in” virtually anywhere. This has yielded far more flexibility in how and where we conduct business, giving rise to the recent popularity of home offices. The convenience and benefits are undeniable, with the saved cost and effort of commuting ranking at the top of the list.

There can certainly be some cons to this arrangement, though. Without the constraints of a typical office environment, like the surveillance of your boss or co-workers, your productivity is attributable to you and only you. In addition to the lack of oversight, the necessities of everyday life at home can become distractions: the full dishwasher that needs emptying, the dog who’s begging for play time, and the peculiar dust collecting below your less-used furniture can all become detrimental to your workflow.

This means it’s important to establish a space that’s functional and efficient, facilitating your ability to focus in a way that’s actually enjoyable. If the space you retreat to when it’s time to churn out your work is inviting and comfortable, you’ll be all the more inclined to spend time there, especially when you have to! Here are some considerations for designing a workstation, home office, or study nook that works for you:

How Connected?

In determining the best fit for your work space, it’s critical to identify where it is relative to the rest of the house. Is it more conducive for you to work in isolation or immersed in other surrounding activities? Obviously, a remote room tucked into the basement will foster a different type of working environment from a nook carved out of the kitchen. Both can be the right place for the right person, however!

**This study loft is set in the typically unclaimed area above the garage and is reachable only from its own dedicated staircase — perfect if you prefer a secluded destination for working.** (Photo Credit: Mike Mirello Photograph)

A planning center located immediately off a combined kitchen and dining space is ideal for multi-tasking. The framed opening in the space allows you to step away to respond to your e-mail and keep an eye on the pot of boiling water you’ve got on the stove. (Photo Credit: Pulte Homes)

Do you enjoy having an open space to house your library and writing nook? This room serves the dual purpose of providing a sitting room as well as a home office that’s accessible from the center of the house. Put your book collection on display and leave your page open to return to when inspiration strikes as you’re walking down the hall. (Photo Credit: Brookfield Residential)

How Big?

The scale of your work space is a factor of several basic questions: What equipment do you use? How many people do you share the space with? Do you need to be stationary or mobile? Your work space should also cater to your habits — can you scroll through dozens of pages on a single screen or do you need to spread out each sheet to stay organized?

The generous dimensions of this study provide adequate space for multiple desks. These can accommodate multiple people working simultaneously or a proportional work surface for both your compact desktop computer and your large-format paper plots.
(Photo Credit: Pavot Photography Studios)

Compact and hyper-efficient, this pocket office provides the amenities of a much larger space in a simple layout. The built-in desk and narrow cabinets are proportional to the 5’ x 8’ room, making it possible to scoot chairs and open drawers without impeding any officemates you share it with. A window located above the desk limits surface glare on the screens below, while flooding the room with natural light. (Photo Credit: Brookfield Residential)

Sometimes, work just requires that your phone is charged and your briefcase is within reach. While its high-traffic location adjacent to a mudroom doesn’t allow for sitting, this drop zone is a minimal solution for achieving the basics of plugging in, filing and storage. (Photo Credit: Hoachlander Davis Photography)

How Adaptable?

It’s proven that having the ability to manipulate your work environment will make you more productive. The greater degree to which you can tailor the space to meet your personal needs, the better. Even subtle changes in light, noise and orientation can impact your ability to focus comfortably.

Having a range of both overhead lights as well as desk and floor lamps can make reading from a screen versus a page more conducive. Install an overhead fan and operable windows to supplement your home’s heating and air conditioning for the optimum temperature. Multiple seating options give you the flexibility of working upright or pondering a concept while relaxing. (Photo Credit: Brookfield Residential)

Active doors allow you to seclude yourself selectively. Furniture that is not fixed to a wall, or immobile due to its weight, is ideal for reconfiguring and renewing a space where you’re likely to spend a great deal of time. Orienting your desk with a view of the door eliminates the distraction of unidentifiable visitors and will put you at ease by seeing anyone who enters the room. (Photo Credit: Brookfield Residential)

What are your must-haves for your personal workstation? Do you have a home office that’s boosted your career? Share your thoughts with us by leaving a comment below!

Guest blog courtesy of W.C. Ralston Architects, an architecture and planning firm that has built an enduring reputation for design excellence in homes, neighborhoods and communities across the Mid-Atlantic region. Learn more at www.wcralston.com.