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Wednesday, April 10th, 2019
Hooker Furniture Home Office Office Wall System
Did you know that there is now as much as 1 in 4 Americans who value the benefits of setting up a home office? This is especially useful when they own a small business or when they work as remote employees. Of course, this is an activity that comes with many challenges.
A checklist could help you jump-start your home office set up.
First, a Business Line
Keep in mind that working from your own home means the boundaries between your family life and work could get blurry. You have to set up some degree of separation. You can do this by having a separate business line. All the business calls should go there – no personal calls please.
Implement Office Hours
As important as setting apart a space for your home office, you also need to allot the hours when you’ll be working in that space. This should be the hours that have been personalized to suit your work requirements and interests.
You could be a work-at-home mom who looks after her small kids and who does all her work online. In such a situation, you could just set up a corner desk where there’s a Do Not Enter sign that you could hang when you’re busy and not to be disturbed.
Create Boundaries
Yet again. But this time, you have to learn to separate the business and personal finances. The savings accounts for these should be kept separate. This will save you lots of tax money and time.
Another issue that you could run into when you’re in a home office setup is giving in to interruptions so you have to make it clear to everyone that when you’re working in your office, that you’re not to be disturbed unless it’s already an emergency.
Another way to make boundaries is to set a schedule. Do not get sidetracked by anything. Tell yourself that you’ll stick to this schedule no matter what.
Ascertain the Insurance Coverage
Never assume that the renters or homeowners policy already covers your home office. Take a look at your current policy to see if you have liability coverage especially for accidents. Make sure that your delivery people, even your business visitors, should be covered.
Stand for Better Health
It’s comfy to sit once in a while but it’s also good to get up – once in a while – to regain focus. You also ease up the tension on your neck and back as you do this.
So go ahead, sit then stand and then sit and stand again alternately during your work hours. Keep doing this and you’ll see that you’ll become more productive.
Also a Comfy Chair and Desk
For those alternate hours when you would need to be seated, you have to make sure that you have a comfy chair to sit in. this should have adjustable arms and seat. Preferably, it comes with casters a swivel tilt, and lumbar support.
The ideal desk is one that is ergonomically designed. You wouldn’t want to work in just about any flat surface so it is best to shop for the right desk from the outset.
Of course, the Computer
All businesses need this nowadays. Pick a computer that you researched online. This has to have the features that you need for your small business or for your employment.
Find a laptop, too, so that you could be have a mobile office.
High-Speed Internet
Dial-up connections are long gone. Every office now has to have its broadband connection so that you could work efficiently.
Ample Lighting
Just like shopping for a good chair or an ergonomic desk, you also need to make sure that the lighting is correct. You would like a lighting fixture that won’t leave you squinting or one that won’t allow you to read.
Desk lamps look great in a workplace. They improve the office aesthetics plus they also provide the lighting that you need on your desk. Use LED light on your lamps so that they give off more illumination while costing less on your bills.
Tags: home office design, home office essentials, home office furnishings, home office furniture, home office setup, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings
Posted in Home Office Design, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements | Comments Off on Home Office Setup: A Quick Guide
Thursday, January 25th, 2018
The exquisite Belvedere Collection: Here is a writing desk that is perfect for your classic home office.
While anyone can do his job wherever he may be, this is not an option that is readily available to all. If you are one of the few who has the choice to sip a cocktail while doing your job, then you’re blessed. And since you have the freedom to work practically anywhere, this does not mean that you shouldn’t have a steady place where you’re supposed to be productive. It’s time to set up your home office.
The benefits of working at home are too many to enumerate but the most obvious are having no geographical limits, savings from transportation expenses, more time with one’s family, a quieter ambiance (which is dependent on how well you chose the home office location), fewer distractions, and the avoidance of traffic.
While you have realized the logic behind working at home, many employers realize that some employees may be wasting their work hours in tasks that are not really work-related. As the one who’s employed, then you have to do your part in maintaining if not doubling your productivity. If you have just set up your own business, then all the more that you need to put your shoulder to the wheel.
Setting Up the Home Office
As more and more homeowners have set up their home offices, quiet rooms, and libraries, this does not mean that you can take the design for granted. Having a home office as a regular part of your home now should not make you default into a room where there’s a table, a chair, your laptop, and nothing more.
There are ways for you to increase your productivity in your new home office. You should consider making this zone one of the most interesting spaces in your entire home.
First, learn to coordinate the patterns. You have been in an office setup. You know that it sometimes takes a professional-looking setting for you to jump-start your activities. Don’t just go for the matching types of patterns.
Develop an interesting pattern on the window treatments as well as the home office furniture that you choose. While you are encouraged to experiment and bring in furnishings that interest you, it also wouldn’t hurt to trust the sets of office furniture and accessories. These should help you keep your office more streamlined and organized, something that a newbie designer should trust.
Be inspired. It pays to have your creativity spurred by your favorite color or by the mood that you would want to invoke in that place. Use accessories that will pop from the background. Silver, brass, gold, and other metallics are effective pieces to add.
A swivel chair becomes more interesting when there is, say, a fusion of leather and metal.
Your home office can also have its unique statement if you choose a statement chair. Be bold in your choice. Don’t go for everything that’s cute and too cubicle-like. Transform the overall vibe in the room by adding a chair that will instantly catch the attention of any visitor. If you want this chair to pop from the background, then be sure to use a white backdrop or anything that’s neutral.
If you want to travel the safe path, then you won’t go wrong with natural elements.
5 Home Office Setup Mistakes
Many people have already committed the no-nos when it comes to home office decoration. You don’t have to learn from your own mistakes. This time, read about the classic mistakes that homeowners have made –
Ignoring the floors up the walls. An inviting home office is all about having a nice coat of fresh paint. Some inspiring prints on the walls could also make a huge difference.
Leaving the cables out in the open. Cables that remain unhidden are accidents that are waiting to happen. Keep these cords hidden.
Un-comfy chair. ‘Need we say more?
Wrong lighting. Who says home offices should only have task lights?
Having limited storage. Now, there are desks and chairs that double as drawers or storage units – make good use of these.
Tags: home office benefits, home office design, home office elements, home office furnishings, home office furniture, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings
Posted in Home Office Design, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements | Comments Off on Dream Big, Work Harder (At Home)
Friday, May 12th, 2017
Biltmore Collectors’ Room at two different angles.
Is your home office designated for running your new business? Or is it a place for the random telecommute? It could also be the nook for organizing your week as well as planning how to pay your bills.
You deserve a lot more than the usual desk and chair for your home office. A home office – your home office – should reflect who you are and it must also be comfortable enough so that you can expect a lot of productive days ahead.
Pick the Perfect Location
You are likely to spend countless hours in this home office so never be frugal with the space. Rather than keep a rarely-used guest room, it is best for you to set up a spacious home office instead.
Think also of the amount of foot traffic that would flow into your home office. How skillful are you in terms of keeping distractions at bay? If you’re not that good in shutting out noise and other distractions, then it is best to find an area that shuns these interruptions.
Form + Function
The desk, chair, storage units and shelves should serve your requirements and not the other way around. Think of the workflow and the stuff that you need within your reach especially during the work hours.
Find pieces that are both functional and beautiful. These pieces must complement all the other rooms in your home. These should not spell characterless.
If your home happens to have a traditional décor, then go for warm and soft, comfortable chairs. A loveseat would be an awesome seating unit for your visitors. A contemporary home, on the other hand, can feature metal furniture or artistic pieces.
The Chair as an Investment
You will be spending many hours in your office chair so make sure that you invest in an ergonomically-correct seat. This means that the chair offers lumbar adjustment for both depth and height. The backrest must be about 12-19n inches in width.
Consider this home office chair as an investment.
The Home Office Palette
Don’t automatically resort to beige. You would need a hue that will turn the cogwheels in your mind. For a few people, this is cheerful orange or the exciting tone of lime green. Still, others require a calming shade such as sea foam blue or botanical green.
The Home Office View
Be sure to position your chair and the desk at an area that is more interesting than the back of a building or a blank wall in the room. Even when you love the wall color, refrain from positioning your office furnishings in front of a blank wall.
It is important that you are able to look at a scenic view as you go about your day. The natural light offered by an open window is most ideal. If you happen to have a windowless home office, then at the very least, hang a lovely picture right above your desk. Also, be sure to position your chair right across the door.
Homey Home Office Accessories
If you’re not going for a contemporary look, then you must enhance the comfortable look and feel in your home office. Look for a rarely used mug and have it hold your favorite pens and pencils. Use a decorative waste basket, hang a bulletin board that’s wrapped in fabric, and conceal all utilitarian bookshelves.
If you can, invest in a more rustic bookshelf. Be sure to hang framed family photos or inspirational prints on the office walls.
A home office that does not have much square footage, could make good use of horizontal and vertical organization. Use a basket to file your papers, notes and mails. As for to-do papers, designate a lovely drawer.
Tags: home office design, home office furniture, home office style, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings
Posted in Home Office Design, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements | Comments Off on The Home Office of an Executive
Thursday, December 8th, 2016
CYNTHIA ROWLEY FOR HOOKER FURNITURE NOTE-TO-SELF WRITING DESK
Offices are homes away from your real home. These are the places where market shares and business opportunities are fought for. These can only be achieved where productivity is high and where the business is on a roll.
But what happens if the office is moved to your home? How then can you make your home office as productive as your traditional office?
Splash Some Colors
Ideal home office spaces should mirror the kind of work that you do. Banking, legal services and other such work would be most productive inside a neutral office. Creative offices, on the other hand, like those used by graphic designers and photographers should have a more vibrant office. Whether you’re engaged in more serious desk work or are on the go at times, it pays to implement your preference in terms of home office design.
Branding Matters
Think of ways that you could incorporate the company’s branding to the office design; find out how you could most effectively use the business logo and name. Decide also if you’re willing to hang a sign outside of your home. The placement of the business logo as well as the paint color that you use are both trivial since these have psychological impacts on potential productivity and client calls.
Buy Sturdy Office Furniture
Don’t automatically think that an office-supply shop is the best place to purchase office furniture. Discount stores would surely not be able to provide your home office needs. So, where should you go and what type of furniture should you invest in?
Buying new furniture may be pricier at first but if you choose well, these pieces will last a long time. It beats cheap, mass-produced pieces by so many miles. And don’t think that no one will notice the difference between the investment piece and the mass-produced piece.
Say Goodbye to Garbage
Businesses acquire piles upon piles of boxes, papers and other important documents. Take time to sort these out and decide which ones are still important to your business. Set aside a few minutes every day to clean up your home office space. You don’t have to dive into the piles for hours at a time. Instead, schedule a few minutes to go through the office debris. Pretty soon, you’ll see that you’ve already organized what used to be a cluttered area.
Hooker Furniture Home Office Vintage West Executive Desk Chair
Consider the Design
When you’re on a business trip, even when you’re on vacation, you often stay in hotels, right? These places showcase the best lighting and interior design. Most small businessmen ignore these necessities.
Design doesn’t have to be a new coat of paint or a plush rug. Sometimes, it is as easy as setting up the things that inspire you to be more productive. This could be a photograph or two or it could be a display of your personal collection.
Having a spare room isn’t tantamount to having a successful and productive home office. Your workspace can be placed right by the window where you can have a great view while you work. A little sunshine and the feel of summer breeze on your cheeks while you type away some words on your laptop could make a huge difference on your productivity.
Double Duty
Working on a traditional desk isn’t a surefire way of making you more productive. You could, therefore, use other furniture pieces in place of a desk, say, an armoire that doubles as a storage unit that stashes silverware, glassware and chinaware. It is also a lovely desk when you’re busy working.
The Fundamental Palette
‘Wanna be extremely productive? Then be ready to go bold and bright. Use the most invigorating colors. Be sure to add extra shelves so that files and office supplies are kept out of sight.
Tags: home office, home office design, home office furniture, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, office space layout
Posted in Interior Design 101, Office Design | No Comments »
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