Great ideas on creating a perfect home office
More and more people buying a Hartz Home desire a home office. What’s driving this trend? First, it seems more people are working from home these days. (Forbes magazine estimates that more than 20% of all Americans now work from home.) Second, a lot of home buyers simply want a dedicated space for paying bills or for the kids to do homework.
Functional built-in desk in Key West model.
This is why Hartz Homes has added a “dedicated work space” to many new floorplans. Whether it’s called a flex room, study, office, or library, this space is in high demand. Home buyers are no longer satisfied with setting up shop in a spare bedroom or in the dining room.
The Brightside model features a convenient “homework station”.
Hartz Homes would like to share some ideas about outfitting these spaces to create a highly effective and efficient work zone.
First, create a plan. Think about how the space will be used and who will be using it. This will dictate what furniture to use and how to arrange the room. For example, will you need one big desk or several kids’ desks? The plan should also include what electronics will be used and where you’ll need outlets. And, don’t forget about overhead lighting.
Examine the furniture that you already have. Can you use (or re-purpose) some of this furniture for your new home office? If you don’t have to buy some pieces, you’ll save a lot! Is there a comfortable chair or loveseat that can make an enjoyable reading space?
To highly personalize your office, consider making your own furniture. A Hartz employee made a desk from a tree that was removed near his boyhood home.
A Hartz employee made this desk for his home office.
If you don’t have the skills or time to make elaborate furniture, simple designs will also add personality to the room. Just put an attractive board across two filling cabinets. Voilà! Instant custom desk. (Of course, you may want to stain the board and put attractive molding around the edge.)
Besides a desk, craft other things to personalize your work space (and save money). Think of other ways you can use inexpensive materials to create shelves, filing systems, in-and-out boxes. Use a decorative flower pot to hold pencils and scissors. Buy several multi-level shoe shelves to put on top of the desk to hold a printer, some paper, or books.
Be creative and have fun setting up your office.
If making stuff is not your thing, but saving money is, you’d be amazed what you can find at garage sales, flea markets, consignment shops, and thrift stores. It seems that people are always getting rid of book shelves and desks, and you might find just what you need. Remember, take your measurements with you when you shop for furniture. It would be a shame to get a great price on a great desk, only to find that it doesn’t fit in your space.
The Captiva model offers a cheery home office.
When you move, often you have furniture that no longer works in your new home. Consider trading these obsolete pieces with a friend or relative. If you have a dining table that doesn’t fit in your home, how about trading it for a desk that you need? Or, do you have children’s furniture that a neighbor can use in exchange for book shelves?
You’ll be spending a lot of time in your brand-new office from Hartz Homes. Hopefully, these ideas can help you create a space that’s comfortable — and productive — that you’ll enjoy for many years to come.
Please check out these new home communities from Hartz Homes:
Armitage Pointe of Addison, Illinois (Chicago area new home construction)
Bella Vista Townhomes of Bolingbrook, Illinois (Chicago area new home construction)
Heather Glen of New Lenox, Illinois (Chicago area new home construction)
Hibernia of New Lenox, Illinois (Chicago area new home construction)
Lago Vista of Lockport, Illinois (Chicago area new home construction)
Leigh Creek of New Lenox, Illinois (Chicago area new home construction)
Manchester Cove of Mokena, Illinois (Chicago area new home construction)
Marquis Pointe of Montgomery, Illinois (Chicago area new home construction)
Marywood Meadows of Montgomery, Illinois (Chicago area new home construction)
Nantucket Lakes of New Lenox, Illinois (Chicago area new home construction)
Oliviabrook of Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois (Chicago area new home construction)
Park West of Manteno, Illinois (Chicago area new home construction)
Playa Vista of Plainfield, Illinois (Chicago area new home construction)
Sky Harbor of New Lenox, Illinois (Chicago area new home construction)
Whisper Creek of Mokena, Illinois (Chicago area new home construction)
Hartz Homes has new home communities in:
Addison, Illinois (Chicago area new home construction)
Aurora, Illinois (Chicago area new home construction)
Bolingbrook, Illinois (Chicago area new home construction)
Lockport, Illinois (Chicago area new home construction)
New Lenox (Chicago area new home construction)
Manteno, Illinois (Chicago area new home construction)
Mokena, Illinois (Chicago area new home construction)
Montgomery, Illinois (Chicago area new home construction)
Plainfield, Illinois (Chicago area new home construction)
Oakbrook Terrace (Chicago area new home construction)