Working from home. That’s a luxury only a handful of employees had before 2020. Now, that phrase applies to millions who may never return to the office where they worked before the pandemic. As such, it’s become increasingly important to establish the ideal work-at-home space. A place where you can enjoy privacy no matter how busy your house gets on a normal day.
If you’re building a new home, you have the perfect opportunity to design your work-at-home space to your specifications. It won’t need to be an afterthought. No tiny space in the kitchen or that makeshift office you’ve set up in the family room. If you give your work-at-home office plenty of thought before building, you can design it to meet all your needs.
Location, location, location
Just as you scouted out the perfect neighbourhood for your home, you need to decide on the ideal location within your house for your home office.
Ideally, you want to be situated away from the busy parts of the house. Therefore find a place where kids won’t be playing, and there’s no TV to distract you. Plan your work-at-home room where you’re unlikely to be disturbed. This might mean a second-floor office if you’re in a two-story home. If you’re in a single-story house, it will mean something away from the kitchen or family room.
If you expect clients to come to your work-at-home office, plan for a space with a separate entrance or, if that’s not possible, close to your front door – such as right off the foyer – so that visitors don’t disturb others who are part of your household. Your family’s privacy remains important in designing your office space and determining where it should be located.
Give some thought to the lighting as well. If you prefer lots of natural light, ensure your work-at-home room is located somewhere in the layout where you can include a large window. If that’s not possible, consider a skylight.
Also, include a powder room alongside the work-at-home office or ensure easy access to a bathroom during the workday. This way, you won’t have to travel to the other side of the house to use the facilities.
What should be included in a work-at-home office space?
Since you’re designating one particular space as a dedicated office, you can plan for specific items and amenities you’ll need in that room. You can take this work-at-home space and truly make it your own without worrying about sharing it with the rest of the family for other purposes.
So, think about what you need. For example, if you use many reference books in your job, you’ll want some built-in bookshelves to accommodate your collection. Or maybe you’ll require lots of storage for client files and other paperwork. If so, ask your builder about built-in cabinets that’ll satisfy your needs.
If you’re likely to have lots of technology in your office, plan for that. It may require space for more than one desk and demand extra outlets for all of your equipment.
Don’t forget about lighting. Include plans for pot lights, recessed lighting, or anything that will help you see better during long hours in the office.
A good rule of thumb is to focus on your exact needs and talk to your builder about how to meet them. View our process, make a list of your must-haves and wants, and see which you can include in your work-at-home space. Most builders have become increasingly familiar with the work-at-home office space and are eager to offer suggestions to help you get the most out of this space.
At F.M., Construction, we can start from scratch and help you build the ideal work-at-home space for your new build. We’ll put our heads together to develop plans to help you get the job done. For more information about our new home construction and other services, including renovations or updates to your existing home, call us at 604-880-4081 or use our contact form.