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Making your Home Office Work.
Special feature from KCHBA

The numbers continue to grow. Your kitchen table or that tiny little corner of a basement, that once housed a typewriter and a telephone is now a special room in your home that houses additional telephones, faxes, personal computers and gives you space to work.

The number of telecommuting employees and other people with home-based businesses is at record highs and is also expected to grow significantly. Even if you work outside your home, a home office offers you a place to handle your personal business.

In many new homes today, home offices are becoming as commonplace as a kitchen or garage. When considering new home plans, it’s also important to study the floor plan for this important workspace with the same thought that is given to your bedroom and your bath.

The location of your home office can vary from home to home. Many new homeowners are choosing to eliminate the formal dining area for office space. Others are choosing to take the unneeded guest bedroom.

Depending on your needs, it’s important that the area you choose have as much privacy as possible. For example, if your home office is directly off of the entryway, you’ll want to make sure that the room can be closed off from the rest of the home to ensure privacy.

In the planning stages, it’s also important to think about the equipment you will need. Make a list and see if you’ll require specialized wiring and additional counter space for your computer, fax machine, copiers and telephones. If you have children, you might consider adding wiring that can allow monitoring and security systems.

In addition to equipment, you’ll also need to think about the furniture you plan on using. If you need a place to meet clients, then, in addition to your desk, file cabinets and bookcases, you’ll need space for a meeting area that can accommodate the additional furniture.

Lastly, don’t forget your lighting requirements. Study the amount of natural light and glass that the room has. Now is the time to add extra lighting and any other items that you need today or that you think you’ll need in the future.