If you spend a lot of time working from home and don’t have a home office that’s completely functional, then you’re probably chomping at the bit to get this space renovated. Well, what better time than now?
4 Home Office Renovation Tips
To a degree, your immediate work environment has a direct impact on your productivity and output. If nothing else, it certainly has an impact on your creativity. So instead of just trudging along, perhaps it’s time to renovate and redesign your office so that it reflects your personality and plays to your strengths.
Here are some tips to make the process go as smoothly as possible:
-
Set Your Goals
The very first thing you need to do is set your goals for the renovation. What are your needs versus wants? What sort of expectations do you have? Are there certain deal-breakers that must be honored?
Going into a home office renovation blindly is like walking into the grocery store without a list – you’ll end up buying random things. Set your goals, but don’t be too rigid. Things will change and there is a time for adjusting your expectations, but you need a game plan.
-
Think About Design
Practical issues like where the office is located and how many square feet it is are important, but so are design aspects. There’s ample research to suggest that aesthetics impact things like creativity and productivity. If you want to maximize the value of your home office, you have to take this into account.
From a functional perspective, a home office needs plenty of built-in storage. Whether this includes built-in cabinets, closet space, or custom filing cabinets is up to you, but don’t assume everything will fit neatly into your desk. It’s also smart to think about lighting – natural and artificial – paint color, material selection, and furniture.
-
Find the Right Contractors
The success of your home renovation project will be determined, to a large degree, by the contractor you select. Get multiple estimates, but don’t always assume that the cheapest option is the best option.
“A low price might mean that the contractor is planning to cut corners, and costs could go up once you correct the mistakes or clarify what you really want,” realtor Fred Haywood explains. “If one estimate is significantly less expensive than the others, ask that contractor what exactly is covered in that estimate to ensure it will complete that project to your satisfaction.”
At the end of the day, the contractor you select should be affordable, but you should also feel comfortable with them. Don’t underestimate the importance of this relationship. When you have a contractor you can trust, every decision becomes easier and you don’t have to spend so much extra time retracing their footsteps.
-
Take a Deep Breath
Depending on the size of the project you’re undertaking and whether there are any major changes – such as an expansion – your home office renovation could take anywhere from a few days to a few months. Instead of letting yourself get stressed out over the details, take a deep breath and remember that it’s all part of the process.
Design the Ideal Home Office
Everyone’s home office looks different. Just because your business partner prefers one style, doesn’t mean you have to do the same. The key is to find a design that’s functional and efficient for your personality and line of work, all while keeping costs within your budget and finishing in a timely manner.
If you can do each of these things, you’ll be just fine.
Jenna Cyprus is a freelance writer from Renton, WA who is particularly interested in travel, nature, and parenting. Follow her on Twitter.
