5 Creative Ways to Add a Home Office

When you need to have a home office, you may have to think creatively to transform your space. A functional, attractive home office is easy enough to achieve if you have a spare bedroom, but if you don't, you'll need to be a bit more resourceful.

Our REALTORS® recommend the following 5 ways to add a home office space to your house:

1. A spare corner
   If you don't have a separate room to dedicate to a home office space, a spare corner can be used. Fortunately, this is a very economical option, since all you need are some basics such as a desk, shelves, and storage cabinets. Some artwork and/or paint can help spruce up the space, and if you don't like the idea of facing the wall, simply turn your desk around so it's facing the room. And if you have your choice of which room to put your corner office in, choose one that isn't constantly filled with chatter and other distractions.
   
   
2. A dining room
   A dining room is often underutilized, so if your home has one, it might be a good spot for a home office. The area usually has enough room for a desk, and you're not very likely to miss having a separate dining room, except perhaps for during the holidays. A dining room doesn't usually have doors, so you won't have privacy if you need to meet clients in it. But a lack of doors can also be an advantage since it can let you keep an ear out if you have children at home.
   
   
3. An outbuilding
   An outbuilding on your property can offer a separate space for a home office, and it's usually large enough to suit your needs. With the lack of water and sewer connections and with only a basic electrical setup, you won't be able to meet clients here without a major outlay of cash. If this isn't a concern, you may be able to get by with an electrical upgrade and the ability to add additional lighting and a window air conditioning unit or a space heater.
   
   
4. A wall
   Even a wall can be used as a space for a home office. When you're using this type of space, thinking vertically instead of horizontally is key. Use easy-to-install floating shelves or bookcases to build up rather than out. As long as you can reach what you need — even if you need to keep a step stool handy — you can take your space all the way up to the ceiling. Consider painting wide stripes or another design on the wall to delineate the separate space.
   
   
5. A converted garage
   It will probably take a good infusion of cash to turn your garage into a home office, but the results can be amazing. The space is large and requires few alterations, but you may need to add additional electrical capabilities, in addition to heating and air conditioning. Since a garage has a separate entrance, it can be more suitable for seeing clients than some other options. Of course, you'll need to have room to park your cars away from the garage or to stow the miscellaneous "stuff" that has accumulated in the space.

Contact us to learn more about creative ways to transform your home. In addition to making your home more functional, changes like adding a home office can make Mansfield homes for sale more marketable.