How you can make working from home office work well
Is it me, or, as the pandemic slowly whimpers away, are you, too, hearing those who have been cooped up working from home chanting: There’s no place like the office, there’s no place like the office?
Although the perks of working from home are real — zero commute, less money spent on gas, less time figuring out what to wear, easy refrigerator access — so is the struggle. The dogs time their barkfests for when you’re on a Zoom call. Your bored neighbor lies in wait for the moment you go out for the mail to ensnare you into a conversation about their crabgrass. Your partner eats the leftovers for lunch that you had your heart set on. And, face it, the gossip in the home office is subpar.
Over the years, I’ve had it both ways. When I had to go to an office, I wished I could work from home. When I had to work from home, I longed for a real workplace. Part of the appeal of a business office is that it is designed for one purpose to help you do your job. It’s not designed to help you relax, cook, entertain, sleep, bathe or raise children. Professional offices typically have proper lighting, ergonomically designed desks and chairs, reliable Wi-fi, ample storage and the right vibe.
But, what if your home office delivered all that?
“Great home offices don’t happen by accident,” says Chris Peterson, author of “Home Office Solutions: How to Set Up an Efficient Workspace Anywhere in Your House,” out late last year from Fox Chapel Publishing. “They require an incredibly thoughtful process that goes well beyond deciding where the desk will go.”
As the world creaks open, and more remote workers contemplate their workplace options, those who would like to keep working from home, at least some of the time, would do well to take a leaf, or maybe a few chapters from Peterson’s book.
I recently chatted with Peterson, who was working out of his 900-squarefoot town home in Ashland, Oregon, about how we can make working from home work better:
Q AHow did you become a home office expert?
I’ve worked in publishing for 35 years, mostly writing about home improvement. I worked on Homeowner Magazine, and have written DIY books for Black & Decker, including a series on how to build a home addition. For the last 15 years, I’ve worked full time from home. In that time, I have lived in five places ranging from a tiny basement apartment to a large house. I created a home office in each one, and learned a lot about what works and doesn’t.
Q AWhat does every home office need?
I look at offices as needing three legs of a stool. They need to be super-efficient, to be super comfortable and to look good. They have to fit the design of your home, and not stick out like a sore thumb.
Q ATell me what doesn’t work. What backfires?
I had a huge backfire. I am a midcentury modern guy, so I decided to find a modern chair. I found one that looked really cool, but it was literally a pain in the rear. I learned that your chair is the most important part of your work environment. When buying one, you must sit in it first, because the right chair is so particular to your anatomy. Don’t make this purchase online. And don’t scrimp. This is not the place to save money.
Q
Some houses have an obvious place for an office, but for those who have to find a space, what should they look for?
A
I cannot stress enough the importance of natural light. Of course, you have