By HILARY JOHNSON
Do It Yourself Office Renovation
Your home office is often the center of your professional life. Creating your ideal home office is not just about aesthetic beauty, but is also about creating a comfortable environment that is more conducive to work and creativity.
Renovating your home office can be a labor of love. Whether you are looking to make big changes or just a cosmetic upgrade, a home office renovation is a great do-it-yourself project.
Here are some ideas for your do-it-yourself office renovation:
Choose Your Color Scheme
The color of your office not only determines the rest of your décor, but can also affect your creativity and work flow. Some colors can make it harder to concentrate or distract you from your work. Neutral colors like beige and grey are always safe, but muted green and pale blue colors can be refreshing as well as calming.
Flooring
You want your home office to be a comfortable and inviting space without being too distracting. Something practical like hardwood makes it easy to maintain in the event of mess, or a simple neutral-colored carpet would be comfortable but also maintain a professional look.
Wall Space
You can make use of your wall space with shelving units to hold your books, files, etc. Bookcases can be used, but can take up a lot of space and look bulky if in a small space. In this case, chose built-in shelving instead.
Furniture
The furniture is the focal piece of your home office. Depending on how much space you have to utilize, you can do a lot with furniture.
First of all, you want to find a desk that not only fits in with your décor, but also provides an adequate and comfortable work space. Make sure that whatever desk you choose will have enough surface space, drawers, and cabinets that you need. Your desk chair is also important; after all, you are likely going to spend a lot of time sitting there so it needs to be comfortable.
If your space allows, it is a good idea to bring in some other seating options as well. For visitors or clients, somewhere comfortable to sit is a must. A sofa or a plush chair really makes use of the space and provides another focal point in the room.
Making Use of Small Spaces
For a home office, you might not have an entire room at your disposal. However, you can make use of a lot of small spaces to create a very effective home office.
For example, you can carve out a little nook as part of your living room or den. Utilize the corner or area behind a sofa to place a desk. If you have a staircase that has a hollowed-out area underneath, there is an often underutilized space to put a desk and a few shelves. A small loft or platform at the top of stairs can be used for office space. You could also consider finishing your attic or basement space to be used as an office.
Home office renovation is a great do-it-yourself project. You can really make your work space your own and create a comfortable area to work in.