Hiring an Architect for Your Home Office

Posted On December 15, 2023

Many of us have now found ourselves working from home. This is a big adjustment if you have not already planned for this. Perhaps you have somehow managed to carve some space on your kitchen table or share a small desk in one of your kid’s rooms, but now realize working from home may be part of a long-term plan.

If you are permanently in the WFH territory, adding an office to your home will go a long way toward boosting your productivity and keeping you organized. Here are some professional tips on how to reimagine spaces with the addition of a home office, guided by architects from an experienced residential and commercial architecture company.

Home office designed by an architect

Temporary Solutions

If you need to use what you have quickly, one possibility is to switch up your furniture arrangement to accommodate a small desk. Or, use a screen or room divider to section off a corner for a home office. You can also use some space in your garage, mudroom, or even a small alcove, but make sure to test your wifi and cell signal strength (you may need to purchase a wifi booster).

A minimalist home office setup
Clean, uncluttered work area with wall-mounted backing and shelving

Find an area that has some natural light, preferably facing the back of your computer monitor to avoid screen glare, which also makes for better lighting when video conferencing. If you don’t have a blank wall as a background, our home office architects suggest including some space to accommodate a backdrop or green screen in case you need to use a virtual background.

Use inexpensive materials for your home office like pinewood boards and shelf brackets to create either a sit or stand-up shelf to place your computer and other office items along an open wall. Adding a new paint color, hanging pictures, plaques, or a functional whiteboard are other easy ideas our home office architects recommend to complete the transition.

If you have a lightly used closet, this is another option for a home office conversion. A narrow or rolling desk can be used to transform a small room or under-stair closet, where existing or new shelves can be added easily.

Staircase closet repurposed into a home office
Clever use of under-utilized spaces
A desk repurposed for kitchen and office use
Multi-use desk/office with ample lighting

Our home office architects also recommend taking advantage of hallways with existing built-in linen cabinets as another amazing method for a home office addition. Use the existing top shelf as a desk top or extend it to maximize surface area. Use cabinets for office supplies and hang a pegboard to accommodate items that were once stored inside the cabinets.

A small home office setup
Great use of a small space and easily accessible items

Permanent Solutions

If you simply do not have an extra closet or counter space that you can repurpose, or if you’re looking for a custom home office addition, let EZ Plans design an exciting, creative, and motivating space that will put you at peak productivity. Our licensed home office architects will offer expert advice on connectivity and flow from your existing layout to something that meets your everyday needs.

A white home office built by an architect with plenty of natural light

If you have been thinking about a kitchen remodel, now is a good time to integrate a home office into the design to create a cozy and ergonomic setup. These spaces are not only easily accessible but can also double as either a business workstation, a homework table, or a great place to organize recipes during your downtime. Our home office architects can utilize small nooks and underutilized spaces for a design that will seamlessly blend in with your existing setup.

A home office built into a kitchen
A multi-functional office space next to kitchen
Office as multi-functional space

Building a multifunctional Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) on your property is another great solution for adding an office to your home. If you have a family or your work requires you to receive clients, getting home office architects to separate your workspace from your home will help you establish a work-life balance.

Converting your garage or even building a new ADU separate from your main home can add tremendous value to your property and double as a home office, a guest house, or an apartment for rent.

An accessory dwelling unit converted into home office
Garage apartment

Let’s Get Started

Whether it’s repurposing an existing space or building a new home office addition, now is a great time to consider EZ Plans to help you achieve your home office architecture dream, and other living spaces, from design to permit.

EZ Plans offers a full-service residential service with experienced, licensed home office architects who can design your dream workspace or home.

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