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You're tired of moving your office off the table every mealtime.
Your eyes burn by the end of the day, and your neck and shoulders
are as tight as an elastic band. It's time for a real home
office but you have no idea where to start. But before getting
up off the couch and running to the nearest mega-furniture
store, first take some time to plan out your office. No matter
how simple it may be, if you skip the planning process you
run the risk of your monitor not fitting under the hutch or
a new desk stuck halfway up a flight of stairs.
Planning
As kindergarten as it might sound, start by drawing your physical
space. Measure all of your computer equipment and furniture
you plan on keeping. Commit it to paper, because you won't
remember how high the window is off the ground when the deal
of the decade stares you in the face.
When planning, consider how you like to work. What are your
business needs? How much shelving do you need? How much filing
space do you require, and how much will you require next month.
Expect your business to grow, so plan 25 to 50 percent more
storage than you need. If you have clients visiting your office,
that will dictate a certain professional image. We have clients
meet us in our home office. It keeps us off the road during
rush hour and gives us a chance to show how we have mastered
the home office.
Next, set a budget. As simple as it may sound, people have
no idea how much to spend on their office.
A well designed and furnished home office will increase
your productivity. If you can save yourself just 10 minutes
per day, that works out to about 40 hours a year.
From our experience, the average efficient, ergonomic and
comfortable home office costs between $3,500 and $5,500 depending
on design, finishes and details. Remember an office is an
investment into your business that will start earning you
timesaving dividends immediately.
Shopping
Trip
Okay, now you have a plan and a shopping list. You've decided
how much you want to spend. It's time to go shopping. Our
clients tell us that next to visiting the dentist, shopping
for home office furniture is one of life's more painful experiences.
Office superstores carry a large variety of lower quality
furniture intended for the American mass market. If you know
exactly what you want and you fit the mold, you may be able
to come up with some real bargains, but you will have to make
all the choices. Check guarantees very carefully. You will
want your furniture to last more than a couple of years. And
be prepared to spend some time assembling it.
Office specialty stores sell large volumes of office furniture
to commercial buildings and understand the corporate world
very well, but they don't specialize in the home office, even
though their sign out front might say they do. One company
designed a single desk that was 10 feet long. Make sure you
ask the right questions. When in doubt, refer to your plan.
Ask for a drawing or a 3D-computer print out of your home
office and spend time going over it as if you were actually
in the space. Again,
check guarantees and make sure the price includes delivery
and installation.
Decorators and designers will provide you with everything
from personalized service to drawings, colours, finishes and
furniture. They will even do the plan for you, but make sure
you participate fully. They will charge you between $75 and
$250 per hour depending on experience and reputation. Regardless,
check their portfolio for expertise in home office productivity
and ergonomics, and always call references. One designer did
a custom desk for a client that couldn't accommodate a keyboard
tray. Another decorator sold a client three custom workstations
that turned out to be completely unworkable and un-returnable.
Aesthetics is important but not paramount. And remember, if
you buy it you own it.
Design Connection is a hybrid company- a cross between a design
firm and an office specialty store. We specialize exclusively
in office furniture for the home and small businesses. Therefore
we can create spaces that are productive, ergonomic and comfortable
to work in. We come to your home and provide you with a complete
service from planning your space to selecting furniture, designing,
renovating, and project management. All our products come
directly from the manufacturer, and after we deliver and install
them we will even set up your computer for you so you are
up and running immediately. Since we understand being small,
if all you need is one chair, then that is all we provide.
You
can reach Design Connection at (416)
245-5575
Make an appointment to see their new working home office showcase.
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