Custom Home Building: Designing a Home Office That Boosts Productivity
The home office has become an important part of the modern home. With many people working from home or running their own businesses, having a quiet and productive workspace is essential. However, having a productive home office extends beyond just having a desk and a chair. You need to create an environment tailored to your work style with minimal distractions.
When you decide to build a custom home in Minnesota, Bigelow Homes highly recommends including a home office. As you design and create the blueprint, you have the opportunity to integrate a home office, rather than retrofitting an existing room or space.
With this in mind, let’s take a look at some ways to design a home office that is productive and motivating.
Strategic Location & Layout
The location and placement of your home office within a custom home blueprint are foundational to its productivity. First, prioritize having a dedicated, separate space for your office. It should have a door to help minimize distractions, and it helps you immediately transition into “work mode” when you enter.
You also want to ensure you have optimal natural light. For example, north-facing windows provide consistent, diffused light without a harsh glare. East-facing windows offer bright morning light and softer light in the afternoon. You will want to avoid west and south-facing windows, as they can lead to intense afternoon glare and heat gain. North and east-facing windows will also help maximize your home’s energy efficiency.
When deciding where to place your home office in the house, avoid locating it near laundry rooms, playrooms, or other noisy areas. You can also opt for insulated walls to help minimize noise transfer.
Built-In Ergonomics & Comfort
Designing a home office in a custom home is a perfect opportunity to include a built-in desk system that perfectly fits the space. Ensure it has ample surface area, adjustable height options, or an optimized height for your primary seating.
Other aspects you can include are task lighting integration, temperature control, and comfortable seating. These will help you stay focused by limiting the number of times you need to look away from your work to adjust the temperature or lighting.
Integrated Storage & Organization
Avoiding clutter in your workspace helps keep your mind clear. Custom homes offer integrated storage and organization solutions, including built-in cabinetry, shelving, hidden storage, a dedicated filing system, and cable management systems.
You also have the chance to decide between display shelving and closed cabinetry.
Optimized Technology Infrastructure
Productive home offices need robust tech support built in to eliminate problems with too few outlets and Internet connectivity. Ensure your home office has ample outlets in strategic locations, which helps avoid messy power strips.
You can also ensure that you have high-speed Internet access in the room using hardwired Ethernet cables (CAT6 or higher).
If you have a lot of video conferencing calls, consider including a dedicated wall with a plain or tastefully decorated display as your background. Include dedicated lighting as well to ensure your camera is well-lit and clear.
Build Your Custom Home in Minnesota With Bigelow Homes
By thoughtfully planning these elements during your custom home design, you can create a home office that is not just a place to work, but a true productivity space integrated with your lifestyle. At Bigelow Homes, we strive to bring custom dream homes to life.
With many years of experience building homes across Minnesota, we possess the knowledge and resources to ensure your new home is tailored perfectly for your family.
Request more information online or call us at 507-529-1161 today!