We have a history of using rooms that were clearly designed to be dining rooms as offices. A home office room is mandatory for us because I work from home fulltime. I just got kicked out of a bedroom and into the dining room (that DH was already using as an office) to make room for DS. I won't PIP because it's a mess, but our office contains two large desks (covered in computers), a 2x2 Expedit with our printer on top, our pet snake in his tank, DH's commute bicycle (the office is just off the front entryway), and DD's stroller.
For your scenario, I would consider the following factors in deciding where the computer/desk area will go. Which way do you want the monitor to face? DH and I generally prefer to see people come in before they see our screens (so if we're working on a surprise or other secret thing we can hide it). However, if this is a computer you ever expect your kids to use, you might want to place the monitor such that you can see what they're doing on the computer as soon as you enter the room and from across the room. That way you can tell if they're screwing around playing games when they should be writing a 10-page paper, etc. Another decision related to the positioning of the desk/monitor - do you want the user of the computer to be able to watch TV while using the computer? If so, the pic you posted is a great setup.
Sadly, facing the tv is actually a big part of why we want to set the room up this way. Right now, I often find myself working on the couch with the laptop and having the news or whatever on in the background anyway. This way I could be sitting at a proper desk and doing that.
Good point about older kids working on the computer though. We'll have to figure that out a little later when it becomes a reality with SS.
You could always strategically position a mirror to be able to see (at least sort of) what's on the monitor from across the room, and that's something you can always do later.
our office is the guest room too. Plus we also keep a giant expedit bookcase of all my art/craft supplies in there. It's too small and is very crowded, but we hate having guest, so I guess it works out! If/when we have another baby, we are going to have to re-do the whole thing and I have no idea where we'd keep our files and all my art supplies...or move. Yeah, probably move.
Post by browneyedgirl9 on Mar 27, 2015 15:11:00 GMT -5
We have a large open space at the top of our stairway upstairs. The previous owners used it as a sitting room. We have that set up as an office. It has a desk and cabinets. I want to get a large bookshelf well.
Thanks guys! I do love working in here with all the natural light. Our guests are not as crazy about it because it gets BRIGHT in the morning, lol. Luckily most of them are coming from the east coast so they are waking up early anyway thanks to jet lag--plus you can't sleep in too much in a small house with two young kids
I LOVE my computer setup. I work from home and the dual monitor setup has changed my life. I use the laptop as my secondary monitor and the big one as my main. The laptop stand is an older version of this one: www.amazon.com/iStand-Notebook-Center-Speakers-IH-A711SS/dp/B002ISTN2S
The printer is on my H's desk which I never photograph because he keeps a sloppy desk and I keep mine neat, lol. You can see where his desk is in the first picture--his chair is there near the lower right. He has the same desk as me and the printer is on a stand like this one:
... but with longer legs so he can fit more stuff (pencil holder, tray for paperwork) underneath it. It is wireless so I don't have to connect directly to it.
When I started WFH full time, we converted our guest room into my office. We removed the bed and mattress, moved the dresser into the closet, etc. We've missed having a guest bed.
In the new house (4 weeks!!) we will have a study off the front door, plus a guest room.
Its nothing fancy, but I hope to do some built-ins in the new space.
Post by countthestars on Mar 27, 2015 16:14:53 GMT -5
It's so embarrassingly messy right now, but there is a bookcase besides my desk where my laptop is docked. The execution isn't as good as the blogs I was basing it off of....
Post by InBetweenDays on Mar 27, 2015 16:22:32 GMT -5
Nothing really inspiring, but I work from home 2-3 days/week so we have a somewhat dedicated office upstairs. It also has a pullout couch for guests, but we have a guest room in our basement so this really only gets used when the kids have sleepovers.
Post by turtlegirl on Mar 27, 2015 17:01:30 GMT -5
It's actually the biggest non-master bedroom in the house. But it's in the front of the house, closest to the main rooms, so we didn't want to use it for a kids room due to noise levels for naps/bedtime.
Here it is in its current state. Yes, my DH has an office chair that looks like a race car seat. He's like a 5 year old.
DH is in school and likes having a big desk to spread out for homework. I WFH a few days a week, although I usually do that on my work laptop on the couch. The other wall has a big closet that we use for the vacuum, leaves of our kitchen table, extra folding chairs, my craft supplies, etc.
DH's office is in the finished basement. He WFH one day/week and needs 2 screens/1 TV sized screen so unless he goes to a position without WFH, it is pretty set. I keep my laptop elsewhere and only use his desktop if I need to print something.