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Blog: My New Home -- An Organizer's Adventure in Building, Selling, Moving
 Designing Your New Home Office
The nice thing about new construction is the lack of constraints. When designing your home office you can have anything you want. Forget the windowless 8' X 8' office cubicle where the only choices are whether your door is in the middle or to the side and whether your desk will be L-shaped or straight across the back.
I've found, however, that the staggering number of possibilities in a new house can be paralyzing. It's easier to pick two or three things from a system of 5-ft high industrial office systems than to start from a clean slate.
To narrow down the number of decisions on your new home office, it helps to develop some strategies to guide you.
Key Question: Do you work best with lots of stimulus around you? Or is it important for your surroundings to help you focus on tasks?
I'm generalizing, but to make this comparison clearer, let's develop two extreme strategies: the CREATIVE OFFICE vs. the PRODUCTIVE OFFICE. The first office strategy emphasizes inspiration and stimulation of the senses. The second strategy minimizes distractions and maximizes efficiency. Deciding on your strategy will help you chose the size, style and equipment for your new home office.
The CREATIVE OFFICE
Large size, sometimes irregularly shaped
Open space
Strong light (south/west windows)
Views include outside activity
Variety of surfaces for work
Inspiring colors/textures
Space for favorite objects and materials
Multi-media (TV, Radio, Stereo)
Functional storage and filing systems
Dynamic organizational systems
The PRODUCTIVE OFFICE
Small or medium size
Efficient, well organized space
Desk /computer in center
Single, clear work surface
Soothing, reflective north/east light
Peaceful views
Functional storage and filing systems
Easy, functional organizational systems
Sound proofing
Privacy
Now, why can't an office support both creative and productive activities? Certainly, it can. The way you combine the attributes of the two strategies in your new office will ensure you have the appropriate space for the activities you will perform there -- whether you are designing jewelry, making phone calls, writing a novel, or number crunching on your computer.
A lot to think about? Submit your questions on home office organizing at www.tidycove.com.
posted on: 2/15/2008 1:30:00 PM by Ginny Gassman
category: Moving
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My New Home -- An Organizer's Adventure in Building, Selling, Moving
by Ginny Gassman
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About Ginny:
Ginny Gassman is the owner of Tidy Cove, LLC, which provides professional organizing services for the New Hampshire Lakes Region. Tidy Cove publishes a free organizing tips newsletter.
Ginny's Website:
www.tidycove.com
Things that make me happy
- 15 minutes more sleep
- Labrador Retrievers
- flat water
- pasta
- sunshine
- nieces and nephews
- champagne powder
- Casablanca
- The Pats
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