Home office design- new build. Help! I hate cords showing!
We are building a new home...the office is going to be the death of me. I love looking at all of the pretty photos- but there are no ugly cords in any of the photos. That's just not realistic to me. I prefer a desk top computer ( my processor is the size of a small cable box). My screen is 32".
But...every thing I see..no cords. Come on...things have to be plugged in.
Based on the layout- I am thinking a media outlet and power in the floor- somewhere off center.
Can anyone give me what works best for a room layout? I like the idea of the built in desk at a right angle. But- are you limiting the future ideas? I also have a copier/scanner that needs to be in the room...but that is wifi.
Paper shredder is also plugged in.
Lighting can be from above ...that part I am not too worried about.
Many Thanks for any or all suggestions!
Comments (12)
David Cary
3 years agolast modified: 3 years ago
PROMark Bischak, Architect
3 years agoRelated Discussions
Need HELP designing a home office
Comments (15)How important is it to keep this room, which you use for your business, as a multi-functional room? Could you "put yourself first" and convert it to being only your office? That's what we're doing. Our office is 11x12 ft. It will hold a corner or L-shaped desk, a tall bookcase, a comfy reading chair, and a wall lamp. I need open, uncluttered space to "think," LOL, and I need all the thinking help I can get. There's a 30"x8' closet along the wes wall, one window on the north wall, and one door on the south wall. We've removed the two bifold closet doors and the small (12") wall area between them. We're putting slider doors in. The closet will be fitted with a clothes bar, floor-to-ceiling adjustible shelves, and a heavy-duty file cabinet. There'll be enough storage for all our "business" stuff by 100%; the doors will keep it "out of sight" except for the things we use daily. I have a "nothing goes on the floor but our feet" policy in the house. I like to be able to sweep or vacuum unimpeded. This is only a suggestion, but I don't like keeping the CPU on the floor. It sucks in dust and hair from the floor, you have to struggle to access it, and you can't keep a close eye on the connections. Could you get a desk that has a lower shelf to hold the CPU, possibly on the L-area? Or set it on a shelf above the desk? I like to have the surge protector box with all the plugs near the monitor or on an elevated shelf by the CPU. I want to see the condition of the cords at all times. I admit, I have a cord/safety phobia; I label each plug, coil the cords to control the slack, and secure them with zip ties. That eliminates a lot of the "cluttered" look, too. No cords on the floor! Is it possible to completly empty your office and then replace each of your needed items in the order and places you want to use them? P.S. "Do as I say, not as I do" applies here, too. DH will be using this as his dressing room for his office-work clothes only. That's why the large storage closet will include the hanging bar and a dresser. Still, nothing will be out in the room that suggests it's anything except an office library. If hubby were to build the wall/Murphy bed I want, I may consider putting that in the office. It would take up 16" of the floor space and could be used by the rare company that can't use the basement bedroom....See MoreLove our new home, but hate the antique white cabinets/kitchen! Help!
Comments (50)We moved into our forever home last year. The kitchen and bath cabinets and layouts were the one of the things that didn't really work for us. the first thing we did was change the cabinet hardware and wall colors in the whole house. First step in making it better. We now like the kitchen layout and cabinets, they grew on us. The added expense of changing everything wasn't worth it to us. And we are okay with that. Just saying this to be another voice to live with it for awhile. Put the color you love on the wall instead of the cabinets and decorate with it. If you decide in a while you need to change the expensive things, you will have had time to figure out what works and what doesn't in its current layout. And already have the things to coordonate with it. I think the flooring and countertop would look nice with navy walls and copper accents. I would forget the sink. but it is your house. do what will make you happy. We still plan on changing the master bath/closet/laundry area of our home. But adding a garage comes before that. Priorities. Have fun making your new house your home....See Morehelp! hate the area around front door of new construction home
Comments (20)Bedroom 3 is my office. Very custom built for my family. Bed 2 has such a big closet because it’s my special needs son calm down space. Can’t do much taller door because will hit front entry light. Thinking of changing front entry light to recessed because then could. Appreciate all your ideas! Meeting with designer tomorrow but wanted ideas. Thank you!!!...See MoreNew house build: "Pretty Good House" - I'm stumped on the HVAC system!
Comments (29)@booty bums See here to respond to the questions you bring up. @Seabornman That's exactly true here, too (another NE state) on the solar. Just so folks who aren't familiar understand how this works. It's called "net metering". I live in one of the darkest states in the country, but the sunnier months produce excess electricity. This goes on the grid, and I get credits for it that I use in the winter. As I mentioned, I have NO heat bill. I actually have no electric bill year round. My house is all-electric. This also means the electric company doesn't have to buy (expensive) electricity; instead, it can use the excess electricity coming from folks' solar panels. This keeps prices down for everyone on the grid. IMO Most anyone with a home would want to check to see if there's net metering in their state. You might pay off solar panels way faster than you think. For instance, are you paying $500/month for heating or cooling as many people do around here? Also, if you can't do solar panels (maybe your house is in the shade), in some states there's community solar. You buy into it. The panels around here are in old meadows and landfills, generally out of sight. I'm guessing excess energy from any alternative source could be uploaded to the grid. I had thought of using a windmill in winter! But I'm not sure how my electric company handles this. IMO every state should have the net metering option or get them legislated ASAP. Soon solar (or another alternative energy source) will be essential for selling a house. ****** Incidentally, my state also audits the "tightness" in your home. There are extra incentives that go along with this. ***** Footnote: while the netZero set up in my home might sound complex, it's actually very simple. Just clever. Basically: 10" thick walls, energy-saving materials like double-paned windows, solar, shed roof, CERV, heat pump. Habitat for Humanity is building houses like this around here; it is LESS EXPENSIVE than what they otherwise build....See MoreCherie
3 years agoDavid Cary
3 years ago- PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
3 years agolast modified: 3 years ago 
PROHALLETT & Co.
3 years ago
Jefferson · More InfoI hate cords too- so my desk is a IKEA dining table pushed all the way to the left wall - yes my power cord shows but it follows the line of my monitor. I could also drill a hole in the desk surface . The console along the back holds files and a wireless printer,
Heather Curts
3 years agoHeather Curts
3 years agochicagoans
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agoLike many, I've been working at home full time for a year+ now. I prefer to have my desk facing the room (not a wall) and not have my back to the door. Of course it's nice to be able to see out the windows, too.
If you do a lot of Zoom meetings (which seem to take up most of my day), consider your background (unless you always use a virtual background) -- IMO bookshelves (filled with books you might never read but make you look smart) or a wall with art is nicer in the background than a door where people might be walking by or walk in. Also, if your back is to a window, your face will probably be in shadow and you'll look like you're in a witness protection program. Overhead lighting alone can be unflattering (if you care) so it's nice to have a table / desk lamp at about face level.
Your requirements for an office may vary greatly, but if it were me and the way I work... in your office, I could see a nice set of built-in shelves along the left wall, and a desk placed near the center of the room, facing toward the right, and slightly closer to the windows so you have a walking path from the door to behind the desk. Great piece(s) of art and family pictures on the right wall. Easy reach behind you for paperwork or books, view out the window to your right, and art in front of you to keep you inspired. You can see whoever comes and goes in the hall, or shut your door when you need focus. I'd get a desk with built-in outlets, and if you can get a power source in the floor then you can just run one cord up a desk leg. For your ceiling fixture you might want to consider a chandy or pendant with a chain that you can swag in case you want to reposition it at any time. The lower right corner could have a wonderful big plant, or if you need more storage for files you could have a nice looking file cabinet there.
a1eventing
3 years agoSimona Stafano
2 years agolast modified: 2 years agoWe did builtin L shaped desk and hid all wiring under with wire management clamps attached at the bottom of the desk. Looking at front you cant see any wires. Also, all power outlets, usb-c, etc are built in on the desk, than wiring go below on the bottom and to a big power outlet attached on the wall below too. Cant show a big picture because I’m working and have other things on top:) but you get the picture. First picture is looking at front and last one is the bottom of the desk. Also make sure the depth of you desk is at least 30” if you have 32” monitor . I have three 32” monitors on top and 30 ” depth is the minimum that works for me.
We change some little things after completion, but here is the link for renovating our office.
chispa