Friday, April 1, 2011

Need a Solution for Office Space?

So....my husband and I are always discussing (ok..maybe a little arguing ;) ) about home office space..... uggh! We are trying to find a solution that we both agree upon.  We used to use one of our bedrooms for a home office...but we changed it to little "T's" room. But......I think I found a solution...hee..hee. I am a little giddy about it.

My solution? Well...see the picture below? We have an area in one of our living areas that has built in shelves similar to the photo below...but it does not have a desk area. I am hoping my Super Tall Mr Fix-IT/Accountant husband will build this desk for me.

So..say a little prayer that he will agree to work on this for me after tax season ends.  He is a hard sell sometimes. I will keep you posted.

Oh....and check out this article below by Terry Sheridan about home office space.....it solved my issue...maybe it will help you as well.
After that, it’s decision time: How much to spend, how big to make the office, and how you’ll use it.

Here are five solutions to consider:


1. Kitchen helper. From a $400 store-bought island for bill-paying to a breakfast bench nook with file drawers built in under the seats (cost: $5,000 to $15,000), your kitchen is a treasure trove of small office possibilities. Even a slide-out cutting board (about $500 in a cabinet package) can serve as a nifty desktop.

2. Closet conversion. Get rid of unused stuff or consolidate it in another area, and a 3- to 8-foot-wide closet accommodates a built-in desk, shelves, and lighting. Make a nearby chair do double duty for your desk.

With doors and wiring for lighting and a phone, and possible added drywall, your new small office would cost $2,000 to $4,000. Keep in mind that the more floors and walls that wiring has to travel through, the costlier it gets.

3. Porch possibilities. Convert that long, narrow space on the side of your small home that gets only seasonal use to a
year-round office for about $15 per square foot. Use plug-in space heaters and fans for your HVAC system.

Use
inexpensive, freestanding shelves to provide storage space. Cost: About $70 for a 30-by-80-inch bookshelf.

4. Those out-of-the-way spaces. Alcoves, lofts, stair landings, basement and garage corners, and bedroom nooks qualify as potential office space. Use freestanding shelving units and bookcases. Plants or privacy screens can “wall” the area without making it feel smaller.

You can build a
bench for visitors with storage space inside for about $130. Want a craftsman to build it for you? Add another $300 to $400.

5. Under-used dining rooms. Formal dining rooms can be overrated. If yours isn’t being used regularly, convert it to a small office. You’ll be close to your main entry, making it easy to receive clients and business associates. If a nearby kitchen or other busy household area is a noisy distraction, install French or sliding doors as acoustic barriers.
Image: M. Studio Gallery, Cold Spring, NY/Sandy Viola "Wings of Love" photography

6 comments:

  1. Ooooo! That would look SO good in your house!!! Tell him he HAS to do it!

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  2. Thanks Erica! I am hoping I can talk him into it. :) I will stop by the Garage Sale tomorrow! I can't wait to hear how much you have raised. Oh..and thank you for you comments. I never knew how much blog comments meant to the blogger...now they just make me so happy!

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  3. Misty, I turned one of my bedrooms into an office and now I'm starting to get out of town company a lot. I like the closet office idea!

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  4. Very interesting!!!! Great ideas.

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  5. It is a great ideas. That information is really helping on how we can fix an office space in our house. Thanks for sharing your ideas.

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  6. Informative post!! I really found your solutions useful. Well these days I am busy in planning an event at one of corporate events NYC venues and after that will plan to make office space at my home. Will take help from professional interior designer for that.

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