| The home office, unlike other rooms in the home, is | | | | all your work stuff in its drawers. These desks work |
| truly multifunctional. Part work, part play, part possible | | | | well with both laptops and desktop computers, and it in |
| guest room, the home office needs to serve several | | | | turn leaves you with enough room for other furniture. |
| purposes. Since it works as more than just one kind of | | | | Another option is a desk hutch, which you place over |
| space, organization is key. Improving the home office is | | | | the top of the desk. A handy addition, a desk hutch |
| the first step towards making sure it functions like a | | | | gives you more space up top instead of taking up |
| smooth running machine. | | | | more floor space. You can place odds and ends |
| Measuring how much space you have is always the | | | | pieces like office equipment (paper clips, staplers) or |
| first step. Depending on the where the electrical outlets | | | | make the home office like the regular office with |
| and phone jack are, you may be limited in where you | | | | family photos and knickknacks from vacations. |
| can place a work desk. Be sure to buy a surge | | | | With the cables out of harm's way, and a desk set up, |
| protector for all the wires necessary to hook up your | | | | you can add the rest of the furniture you want to |
| computer, monitor, speakers, cables, printer, and lamps | | | | make the home office a flexible space. Add a bed or |
| (whew!). If you own a laptop, you won't need a huge | | | | a futon sofa to rest in or for when company comes to |
| desk, since it's smaller and the printer won't take up | | | | visit. A couple of extra chairs will make video gaming |
| that much room. A flat panel desktop computer will fit | | | | on the computer extra fun with friends over. |
| in nicely with a huge selection of desks. Peripheral | | | | Bookcases are probably the best furniture piece you |
| equipment like scanners and printers can fit in | | | | can invest in for the home office, since they will hold |
| under-the-desk storage compartments. It's a good idea | | | | books, paperwork, and office supplies. A filing cabinet |
| to measure this equipment before purchasing-this way, | | | | is also a good idea for organizing your papers and |
| you know whether it will fit or not. | | | | important documents. Both of these take up little |
| Corner desks are ideal in small spaces. These desks | | | | space but keep the home office under control and |
| maximize space by taking up less floor space but | | | | manageable. |
| giving you enough room to move around in and place | | | | |