First of all congratulations on making the move to work from home, it is the future for the working class around the globe especially given this corona virus pandemic. To achieve success with a home office set up, there are things you have to do correctly. This success starts right from the size of your home office, which ideally is relative to the design you want, available space, among other factors.

So what size should a home office be? As we have mentioned before, the size of a home office is relative. However, the minimum standard size is 70 sqft for a habitable room. There is no limit to how large your home office can be; it could be the size of a small bedroom that is 100sq, a large bedroom that is 200sq, or even the size of an average living room, which is 319sq. This article will look further at the size of suitable home offices from which you can pick ideas.

Keep reading to learn more about the size of a home office, things that you need for a functional home office and tips for having a good home office.

Size of a Home Office

A home office can range from getting your laptop and related file box on your kitchen surface, having a desk inside your bedroom to a small space in any other room including your living room, or having a large study room or library dedicated to being a home office.

With that knowledge, let us look into the sizes of home offices that you can pick and implement ideas deepening on your ability.

• Offices That Are In Spare Spaces

Home offices that are built on spare spaces are typically small, but not smaller than 70sqft. Now you might be wondering what spare spaces are available in your home, do not worry we have done all the work for you. The spare spaces include a corridor, under the stairs, in nooks and closets among other extra floor spaces.

Another characteristic of this small size home office is that they do not have a door nor are they a room where you can enjoy the luxury of privacy. In addition, most home offices set up on such space have a design where you can push the seat under the working desk once you are done working. This helps to create room for other non-office activities in your home.

• Office Booth

Office both home offices are built on a larger space than the one mentioned above (slightly larger than 70sqft). A characteristic of such offices is that the entry of the office is on the thinnest side of the office space.

With this kind of an office set up, you can only sit on one side, which is to say that the chair should be against the wall. Unlike offices built on spare space, office booths have doors that allow you to have some privacy as well as focus on your work.

• Offices in Separate Rooms

As the name suggests, these are home offices that have been allocated their own separate rooms. Typically, these offices are large in size, ranging from 100sqft to as large as possible. They can also be identified by having a window, a door that allows privacy and shelves on the wall depending on the design adopted.

The smallest of these kinds of offices look like cubicles. For cubicles, they may or may not have windows. On the other hand, we have libraries, study rooms and large rooms set aside to be home offices.

To maximize the space of this kind of home office, make sure the door swings to the outside. Alternatively, you can have a sliding door.

Things you need in Your Home Office

Now that you know the viable size for your home office, what do you need to have a functional office? To establish the things you need in your home office, you have to answer this question first: what do you intend to do in the office. Answering this question helps to establish what equipment you need, the size of your home office, the location, and any other related issue.

For instance, do you want to do practical work like compose music? Then you may need some musical instruments like a piano. If you want to read from your home office, you will need a comfortable sofa or chair and a lamp for the night. On the other hand, if you want to print out documents and file them, you will need a computer, printer and shelves to mention but a few.

The following are some of the equipment you might need for a home office

• A desk

This is one of the most important pieces of furniture in your home office. For starters, it determines how much space is left for you to maneuver in your office. You also know that you can never have enough working space.

An office desk can be inbuilt, either floating in the room, or placed against the wall. An inbuilt desk is best if you are looking to save on space. The desk is built on your walls meaning the floor space is left for other things such as printers. Built-in desks can also be good bookshelves for your favorite reads.

A floating desk, on the other hand, is a desk that is placed at the center of the room. It is most suitable for a spacious home office. The desk placed against the wall is also good for saving some space and it helps you focus on your work.

• A Personal Computer

You can have a desktop computer or a laptop. If you go for the former, you will have to consider getting a keyboard. Most computers are placed on the desk space, however, if you have to place yours in an in-built desk, make sure that there is space for other equipment. Your inbuilt desk has to be big enough.

It is also recommended that you have a keyboard tray. Most keyboard trays are set at 24 to 26 inches. If you are using a laptop, make sure the surface is decluttered and organized to allow proper air circulation and cooling for your machine.

• Desk Chairs

If you have a desk, definitely you need a seat. This calls for a desk chair. Desk chairs come in different designs, colors, sizes, and shapes. Choose one that is comfortable and helps you easily move from side to side as you reach for different items on your desk.

When choosing a desk chair, be on the lookout for its legs so that you make sure they are compatible with the floor of your office. You do not want to scratch your floor and create dents.

• Printer

Most white-collar jobs require a lot of documentation. This means you will need a printer. Printers vary in size, there are big and small, a footprint printer is at least 18 by 24 inches. Therefore, when you are designing your home office, consider enough space for a printer.

Other related pieces of equipment include a paper shredder, filing cabinets, and shelving units. For all these equipment, choose wisely making sure they will not eat up all the space and clutter your home office space.

Tips to help You Achieve a Good Home Office

• It should have enough space for the storage of different materials including documents.
• Be positioned and designed with consideration of its use or purpose.
• Have natural lighting. Small home offices should be fitted with the best lighting.
• The office should have enough sockets to enable power connection
• Make sure your home has good telecommunication network or rather be in a good Wi-Fi range
• If you are having your home office designed by a contractor, show them a front elevation that captures all the details. Make sure the details are implemented
• It is recommended you have a door on your office for maximum focus.
• When designing your home office, make sure the office desk can pass through the office door.

Related Questions

Should my home office desk always face the wall?

This is one of the biggest concerns for people looking to establish a home office. Having your desk facing the wall has both its advantages and disadvantage. To start, when your desk is placed towards the wall, it helps to limit distractions from the surroundings including looking out of the window. However, the same strategy can create a feeling of claustrophobia since you are not able to see beyond your desk. There is a sense of being closed off which may equally reduce your productivity.

Therefore, to have the best positioning for your office desk, place it at the center of the room making sure it is facing towards the wall. This allows you to focus while you still enjoy some space. However, notice that this is only possible if you have a large space for your home office.

Can I place my office desk in front of a window?

No, this is not a good idea if you are looking to be productive which I assume is the reason you brought your office at home. The thing is, the view from the window can be a constant distraction once it is in front of you. You not only focus your interest outside but also people from outside have easy access to you denying you privacy. Does that mean having a window in your home office is wrong? Absolutely no, however, the positioning matters.

We, therefore, recommend you place your desk so that the window is perpendicular to one of the walls the office desk will be facing. This way you will have to turn your head to look outside. Therefore, it will reduce the number of times you look out and at the same time, it will be a good activity when taking a rest.

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