Since the pandemic, working from home has become the norm for thousands of previously office bound employees. Most made do with the space they had during lockdown, but when working from home became a permanent situation, many realized that working from the dining room table or their bedroom was not ideal.
“Working from home certainly has its challenges. But having the right space to work from can make all the difference,” said Annette Stahl, Transformational Design Coach with Stone & Story Real Estate Group. She helps homeowners create the perfect space in their homes for whatever it is they need. “After the pandemic, the number of people wanting to create a home office jumped from 30% to 70%,” Stahl said. We asked her to share some tips on creating the perfect home office.
“We start with the three Fs - Function, Feel, and Flow,” she said. “Function is the most important of the three and you must start there.” First, determine what you need to do your job. Is it simply a laptop and a small desk, or do you need more space to physically lay things out? Do you prefer to sit at a desk or would a standing desk be better for you? Do you need any other equipment? How much space will that require? If you have trouble picturing the space, measure the things you need and cut them out on craft paper. Use boxes to function as your desk, computer, filing cabinet, etc. to get a real feel for how much space you will need. “Once you know the amount of space that is required, then you can look at the house with an eye for options,” Stahl stated. “Then we weigh the costs and benefits of each option.”
“It’s crucial to have someone with an outside point of view because you have always lived in your home the same way. A fresh set of eyes can see things you may miss,” she explained. “Sometimes, we can repurpose an existing bedroom. Other times, we can add barn doors or French doors to a dining room to create privacy. But we must determine how you want to function first to discover your options.”
The next step is Feel “We need to know what you want the space to feel like. Do you want to be inspired, focused, efficient? What space aligns with that feeling?” she said. A window with lots of light can be energizing for one person, but distracting for another. Multi-taskers may want to be on the main floor with access to the kitchen and laundry room, while others prefer to be tucked away where they can focus intently for hours. “It’s different for each person, so knowing their struggles and how they like to work helps us decide which options work and which don’t,” Stahl said.
Finally, they look at Flow. Every family is different. If kids are at home, you may want them to be able to communicate with you, so you may prefer an office that has an easy flow in and out. Or, the children may be the very distraction you are trying to avoid and you need walls and a door to keep them out. “Since COVID, we have seen fewer offices in open spaces and more of a need for privacy,” Stahl noted.
If you are struggling with making your home function for you, contact Stone & Story at stoneandstory.com to explore your options. They can design an inspired workspace that really works for you!
Visit CityLifestyle.com/Topeka to view photos from this article.
“It’s crucial to have someone with an outside point of view because you have always lived in your home the same way. A fresh set of eyes can see things you may miss.” - Annette Stahl, Transformational Design Coach
