My office.
Let's just say I'm regretting the decision. The most pressing issues are the lack of storage and the weird placement of the vent. It's centered right under the window, which to me was also the logical place to put the desk. The two are not playing well together. Take a peek at the current room setup so you can see what I mean:
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| Drawn to scale! It's 10x10. |
What I didn't include was all the crap I have sitting in the corners because there's just nowhere else to put it. You can imagine.
So here's the dealio: I need some more furniture in there. (I could pretend I'm typing this at my desk, but I'm on the couch watching The Voice. Ooh, that's something else I should investigate: an office TV.) I need storage, and maybe down the line I need a different work table. But storage is first. Pronto.
Of course, there's always the Expedit. I know this is a dining room, but it's the right idea.
I could also move the desk, add towers, and get rid of the Hemnes dresser I have in there now. Looks great, but that's also more cashola. Hmm...
Wall shelving could be good. And I might try to turn my desk away from the wall like this, too. That stupid vent...
Hypothetically, this arrangement or something similar would be great:
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Definitely feels more office-y, no? I could even get fancy and put a chair in front of my desk, just like people who work outside of their houses. Ooh la la. I'll keep you posted about any developments.
What does your office/studio/workspace look like? Are you having any issues with yours? If you could have the office of your dreams, how would it be?
I'd love to have that office in the second picture!
ReplyDeleteWe fixed our living area and kitchen first too. My office was an afterthought. Now I so wish we had planned everything around my studio space!
I like the set up - it would also allow space along the window for a drafting table?! maybe?
ReplyDeleteMy home office/craft room luckily has lots of storage and table top space - it's not quite big enough but I would love a HUGE island in the middle to work around.
My little office room is the next place on my list. I just want to recover the table tops though - no major movements really. I just did so many things in my house already and I'm still not finished - aargh!
ReplyDeleteSarah @ A Cat-Like Curiosity
I just HATE vents in front of windows! The heated or cooled air hits the window and out it goes. Silly builders. I like the desk placement in your last sketch.
ReplyDeleteMy craft room has tons of vertical storage. Take advantage of the wall space you have!
i always love desks facing out instead of facing a wall. might be a good solution since your vent is in front of window. could you adjust last set up idea, and face the desk 'towards' the window, but set back a little so as not to interfere with the vent...say at other end of hemnes desk?? you could put expedit behind you to make a square alcove, and the closet would be behind that for more storage? my office/studio is one corner of my living room, and although I am facing the wall (i'm on desktop and could never figure out what to do with all the wires for a facing out plan. but next to me, I put a bookcase with square cubicles - some open, some have backs, so it creates a wall but not solid. separates my corner just enough.
ReplyDeleteMy hubs and I had to combine our offices because we needed the spare room for the nursery. And getting it all in one room was a challenge! We built a custom desk that's the length of a whole wall with two work stations (one has our desktop and the other is free for the laptop or my sewing machine) and cupboards across the whole wall. The opposite wall is two Expedit bookcases (one big one & a small one) that holds all my books and overflow of craft supplies. Plus I have more decoratie storage across the top. It's a pretty efficient space and we love it!
ReplyDeleteUgh...office space! Mine needs to be about 10 times bigger for one thing! And more storage always seems to be a necessity.
ReplyDeleteI like the tower idea...makes good use of vertical space!
My office/studio has been sorely neglected too! It's a hot mess right now. For one thing my drafting/work table and computer desk are facing opposite walls. I used to catch up on tv shows or play movies while making stuff. I still do, only I can't turn around to see it so it's like radio days where I just listen and imagine what's happening. Hahaha.
ReplyDeleteI think wall shelving is a must, I'm looking into installing some shelves also and getting some pretty containers/boxes to throw all my crap in. Also, pulling the desk into the middle of the room is good, as long as you won't have glare on the computer from the window behind you. I used to sit at a computer near a window in one office and no matter how I angled the screen or blinds, there was always glare. It gets old. But you might be far enough away from the window that that won't be an issue. I hope you'll share pics when it's finished! :)
I think it's far enough away that it will be okay. I did the scientific thing and just stood there with my laptop, haha.
DeleteOh my...You don't even want to know about our workspace (can't even call it an office)! I love the 2nd and 3rd photos you have pictured. That's a daydream for me. Now, lots of our creating is done with kiddos and me just offering some help. We definitely need some better storage! We have little stackable containers all stacked up everywhere (at least they are stackable, though).
ReplyDeleteThat's interesting about the vent being right by the window - such a bummer. Good luck with your office, and I can't wait to read about your progress. =0)
~Kim
2justByou.blogspot.com
Oh yes, getting the office in order is definitely a priority! I always hate buying furniture for studio space because I need pieces that are dynamic- I tend to have craft ADD. I like the new floor plan arrangement:)
ReplyDeleteI sprawl out when I work, so I have practically have all of the above! We have a desk between two towers on one wall, with another desk smack dab in the center of the room. Noel thinks it's "weird," but I think it feels like a big girl office at a real company. :)
ReplyDeleteI have two long worktables, one is flush against the wall and the other moves out into the space in an L-shape. I love it. I will always have my office this way ;)
ReplyDeleteIf I could have the office/studio of my dreams, I would definately opt for the tower storage!
ReplyDeleteBest of luck with the process! My biggest issue is that I like to work in front of the TV, which is not where I store all of my beading supplies. I haven't figured out how streamline the whole process yet without investing in a lot of office entertainment or letting all of my crafty supplies take over one of our main living areas. I do all right with my computer organization space, though.
ReplyDeleteI'm right there with you with not enough space! Not sure what we're going to do about it, but Andrew has this amazing idea to get salvaged wood from the architectural salvage place and make these industrial/rustic shelves for me along our brick wall. Hopefully his plans come to fruition soon because I'm up to my ears in all sorts of stuff that has no home.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds AMAZING. Please do it and send me pictures.
DeleteThank you for sharing ideas so generously! I need to think of how to store all that precious clutter, too; I definitely need shelves. Even my books are not easy to store, and I keep buying new ones...
ReplyDeleteI meant to post a picture of our office space once it was complete but I can break down a bit here. We have one window that is high enough that I can keep my desk underneath it with no problems. We have a walk in closet where most of my supplies are located. We have one desk for my boyfriends computer and then my work table where I keep my computer as well. We also have a sofa futon bed and across from that we have our tv. It seems a bit cluttered but it's actually pretty nice the way I set it up. Now, I need to put some things on the walls. I like the second design for the office. Definitely seems more open that way for a workspace.
ReplyDeleteI loved hearing about all of your spaces! Getting lots of good ideas...
ReplyDeleteGreat looking desk! : ) The colors mix in with the white quite nicely. Rearranging the office gives it some new life. This displaces the stale work, and keeps the area organized and clean. It also makes the “work-feel” energized, much like zen in your office.
ReplyDeleteBlake Mitchell
Your ideas on home office space are splendid. Thanks for adding the diagram since it provided readers a clearer picture of your home office plans. :)
ReplyDeleteYour ideas are so neat. :) No need to worry since you can always come up with the best solution, considering all those inspiration.
ReplyDeleteYour office space ideas are nice! I agree that you should work on storage first so that your space will be clean and organized. It is better to have a clear working space that you can actually work in peacefully. Messy rooms can actually add stress to your work.
ReplyDeleteRosalee Scher