Home Office Design: Creating Professional Surroundings at Home

With many independent IT contractors and consultants finding themselves on the road for most of their workday, having a professional workspace that is both practical and comfortable is a necessity. However, creating this space may not be easy. With some help from desing professionals, you can create the perfect home workspace.

According to the IDC, a provider of technology intelligence, market data and industry analysis, almost one in three households in America have some form of home office. “In 2005, there were 34.9 million home-office households,” said Merle Sandler, senior research analyst for the SMB and home-office programs. “The number of home-office households is expected to rise... at a faster rate than the growth rate for households in general.” Home-office households include income-generating home offices that IT independents use on a part-time or a full-time basis.

With this expected increase in home offices comes a change in professional needs. “I’ve been designing home offices for several years, but my clients’ needs have changed throughout that time,” said Lisa Kanarek, home-office expert and author of “Home Office Solutions: Making a Space That Works For You and Organizing Your Home Business.” She explained, “Ford exmaple, when technology was larger, my clients wanted large desks and workspaces. Now that many of my clients use flat screens or prefer a notebook computer over a desktop, they want a home office that is comfortable and functional.”

Evaluating personal objectives for the office is a first step to a successful space. “Decide if you need peace and quiet to be productive or if you function best in the thick of things,” said professional organizer Sally Allen, CEO of A Place For Everything LLC, a business that helps individuals and companies organize their homes and offices. “Do not choose the home-office space where you think it should be, but where you want it to be.”