By Sayeh Pezeshki
Home Office Expert
One space. Multiple people? No problem. There are a lot of tips and
tricks to making a space universally work for all occupants. If you ever
find yourself sharing a home office, you need to recognize what the
needs of you and the other person are. Remember your college roommate
and how you had to discuss a few ground rules at the beginning of the
semester, like when to turn the lights off or who gets to use the shower
first? Well, think of your shared space the same way. Even if the two
of you are best friends or husband and wife, setting a few ground rules
will ensure that the workspace is tension free.
For instance, will
you both be using the office at the same time? If someone has to take a
conference call, will you step outside or move to another area of the
office? These may seem like basic questions, but they make all the
difference in a work space. Once you settle these guidelines, you can
start decorating the space! Keep in mind that the space isn’t
necessarily only yours, so make sure you keep the space neutral and pick
multi-functional pieces.
Keep it gender neutral.
In a multi-functional
space, try to avoid non-neutral colors. Even though that fuchsia paint
color may look fantastic, not everyone necessarily loves such a bold
color in an office space. I recommend sticking to a neutral and
sophisticated color palate. White desks are good options because it
accommodates everyone. Also, to personalize each desk, add your favorite
pops of color using fun accessories. Accessories on each desk should
be personal to the occupant, so allow everyone to use their favorite
color.
Orient the desks to maximize efficiency
The
set-up of a multi functional room is very important. Prior to placing
the desks in a permanent position, I recommend mapping out the room and
testing different options. For instance, you can place the two desks
side by side or you can separate them into different corners. When
placing the desks in the room, make sure to keep in mind where the
natural sunlight is coming from and where there are optimal electrical
outlets.
Pick multi- functional pieces
Not
everyone uses an office space the same way. Some people may work better
sitting at their desk, while others prefer to move around. When picking
out furniture for the room, try to pick furniture that has
multi-purposes. Coffee tables that can easily be moved around the room
or floor lamps that extend to multiple heights are great functional
pieces for an office space. Make sure that the pieces also have plenty
of storage options. In a small space, you will need as many storage bins
or hidden cabinets to keep any extra stuff hidden.
Who doesn’t love some inspiration?
To
decorate a space, pick pieces of artwork that are simple and appealing
to everyone. I recommend framing inspirational quotes. Everyone in the
office can pick his or her favorite motivational print to put on the
wall.
Set aside space for a common area.
Having
space to get comfortable and take a quick break during work is
essential. Devoting a few minutes to recollect your thoughts or enjoy
coffee will maximize your work-time productivity. In the office space I
recommend sectioning off an area for a couch and a coffee table. This
space will be useful if guest of clients come into the office.
source: about.com
