The Home Office at Work

Command centers are typically located near high-traffic areas, such as kitchens or mudrooms. These locations are ideal because they are set up for the multiple tasks of various family members. People can look up recipes, pay bills, do homework, or leave messages for each other. These spaces, however, can become so busy that they’re distracting. In those instances, consider separating the space with a set of French or pocket doors, suggests Scott Newland, principal of Newland Architecture in Minneapolis. “The more segregated the area is, the more successful it can be,” he says.

When sharing spaces, homeowners need to determine exactly how often the space will be used and by whom. That is, will the teenagers be using it for homework every night? And will that interfere with parents who need to catch up on bills or other work? “Shared space requires good planning,” Plekkenpol says. “If family members want to do a project at the same time and their home office has a single desk and one computer, they will suffer. It becomes a scheduling issue, and people have to take turns. Most families in most situations need to be able to get away from everyone else and take care of their stuff without distractions.”

People start to think about office space more once the kids leave home, says Gigi Olive of Gigi Olive Interiors, LLC, in Minneapolis. The timing often coincides with a career shift as well. “More and more of my clients are starting to consult as they get older,” Olive says. “All of a sudden, it takes over more, and they realize they need a space at home to accommodate their changing needs.”

Those who work from home full time understand the importance of dedicated office space and separation from the rest of the home. When Newland started his own firm in 1999, he used a spare bedroom in his south Minneapolis home. But with two young children, that space was quickly claimed.

Newland moved his home office to the family room on the lower level, but it needed some work. Two tiny windows became three large windows that brought in natural light. He added six recessed lights in the ceiling, a swinging desk light by the computer, and a special light for his drafting table. He finished the floor in birch plywood and maintained natural wood surfaces to create an informal woodshop environment. Although Newland installed mobile floor-to-ceiling shelving units and continuous wall shelves, he tries to keep storage to a minimum by archiving his files digitally.

Furnishing Your Office

How you furnish your office will have an impact on its function. Andrew Flesher, a principal of Gunkelman Flesher Interior Design in Minneapolis, says that for his clients, comfort is crucial. “A lot of times there’s a lounge area in the same room, so people can sit and read or use a laptop in a comfortable chair,” he says. “They want a softer look. They want it to feel more like their home—not so corporate.”

Plekkenpol also notes a lack of cold, calculated office design. “We find that it’s more common to include traditional furnishings,” he says. “The people who dedicate a whole room to strictly an office typically have a need to conduct a certain amount of business from there. It’s often nice to have a space for a guest to comfortably sit in the room and converse.”