Help with home office layout!

last year

My husband works 100% from home and dows many video calls throughout the day. we recently renovated and he has an office near our front door off the living room with french pocket doors.

He built a wall of built ins, and we are very happy with them. however now we are at a loss of how to arrange the room and we need to figure that out to make furniture and decor decisions.

I think the desk should be floating in the center in front of the built ins. However my husband prefers to keep the desk at the front window. since hes the one sitting there all day, he should have this but what to do with the rest? it just feels like a bunch of furniture along the walls and a big space in the center, which looks strange.

The only item that must stay is the desk, which is a nicer electronic standing desk that he does use. All the other hodgepodge of furniture in there is not meant to stay. please help! photos and layout below.

Thank you for any and all suggestions!

Comments (11)

emilyam819
last year
Can the rug fit if rotated?
Then I’d just choose one thing that’s nice to look at for under the window (file cabinet, small table, cozier chair).
kl23
last year
I can see your husband's point. In the current position, for zoom meetings he has good light on his face and a nice backdrop. Aside from meetings, I assume there is a nice view out the window. A desk in the same orientation but floating is ok but the side of it would be the first thing you see when you walk in. And the lighting might not be as good on his face; you should check. Then there's the issue of cords to trip over. Neither of you are wrong. I think one of those two could work ok. Ask your husband why he doesn't like moving the desk back from the window. Is it zoom lighting, view out the window, cords, or the side of the desk view... Or something else. All these are legitimate issues.
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@Jess. You're Welcome! It's difficult to get a perfect room and your needs in a small space. For me, placing the desk there, would be fine for these reasons.... This is a Dual-Purpose Room 1. Your desk has a light weight feeling to it, it's not bulky, although one with more storage might be better functionally. (which is still ok) Not a lot of choices for you 2. Because you enter the room moving to the left, that pathway is all clear. 3. You won't run into a desk at current space, when entering the room 4. Better use of the space between the closet and doorway, given it's construction 5. Visually, a better, more inviting floor plan overall 6. Furniture placements are more aesthetically pleasing (better balance) 7. Better use of space you have 8. Sofa & coffee table area are inviting and functional. It won't feel like there is nowhere else to place the sofa in your home 9. You will 'feel' good about the room and like going in there 10. The room might even feel larger
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Question: Do you use a large computer monitor(s) or just a laptop, and where are your outlets located? Asking because I have a similar space and the outlets pretty much dictated where the desk had to go; But I have two enormous monitors and an old tower pc that are required for my work; many folks just use laptops these days. And can you use the closet for file storage and printer?
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kl23
last year
If you are saying the desk definitely stays at the window, then go ahead and say that. When you said what you wanted, I wondered if you were saying it's still undecided. Some things I like in my office are a place for a printer, not on my desk, a small refrigerator and microwave. My husband likes a shredder. What else does your husband want in there? A comfy chair and a footstool to give his back a different position? I know one colleague with a treadmill he puts in front of his standing desk. Is that of interest?
Shelley Miell
last year
Beautiful built-ins and a great office space! What a great start. 😁 My first thought is to invest in a really good, ergonomic office chair. Your husband’s desk is nice, but standing for long periods of time can get just as hard on the body as sitting. Here’s a excellent link to how to set up an ergonomic office space. https://ergonomictrends.com/creating-perfect-ergonomic-workspace-ultimate-guide/

If your husband is happy with the set up, and you don’t need more furniture, I’d leave it as is and get rid of all the little cluttery pieces of furniture. Just have his desk, some good lighting, and the built-ins. It’s a nice space.
Silver Fox 88
last year
If you could buy or somehow stretch the office table to become an L shape table and span the same area it is now as well as the adjacent wall with the other window, I think it would look less empty. There would still be an empty space in the middle but you could fill it up with a colorful rug. Near the built-in add a comfy armchair and ottoman and let it extend sort of to the middle of the room to fill that empty center. Fill the walls with Art he likes or family pictures/degrees.
Shelley Miell
last year
P.S. I have to agree with KL. We really can’t help you with furniture layout until we know what else your husband needs to do his job. For example…does he review hard copies of documents, or is all his work digital? Does he need more storage? For what? Etc…
Silver Fox 88
last year
Something along these lines, adjusted to how your husband uses his office
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lisedv
last year
How about something like this?

Although not facing the window, his desk is still by the window so he can see outside. Cordless roman shades would look nice on the window and your navy built-in would stand out better with warm white walls such as BM Simply white. A navy & white rug (thin washable rug by Ruggable) would complement the decor along with a nice tan leather reading chair and ottoman as well as a guest chair, plant and brass lamp. It's hard to tell what finish the pulls & knobs are on the built-in but brass would be nice to complement the brass lamps you have at the top of the bookcases.
marylut
last year
The room needs to be conducive to HIS work style and the atmosphere he wants to convey to colleagues. For zoom calls he needs good lighting on his face and appropriate background (which the built-ins provide). Does he need a studio tripod light? Is all his work equipment in yet? Does he need a chair to relax in? He definitely needs a cord channel to disguise the unsightly electronic cords. Does he like the rug - it seems to be the right size? Does he want drapes across the office side of the pocket doors for acoustical and privacy reasons? As long as the window blinds match the other windows across the front of the house, he doesn’t really need any other window treatment - unless he wants this space to feel more like a study than an office.
thinkdesignlive
last year
I like the way lisedv has laid out the room. Husband is still near the window and chords managed off the wall (a plant or basket by that corner would hide the chord clutter)…..and the room won’t feel so vacant with the desk in this position. Art on the wall behind him is just as nice for zoom meetings
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BANDD DESIGN
last year
We thought it might be nice to include some office layouts from our designs. Perhaps looking at these will help you decide where you want the desk and maybe other decor items.
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