Setting Up a Home Office

Claire Kim is a professional web, graphics and advertising designer and owner of Claire Design. She gives us great insights into making a modern home office both functional and efficient.

Claire is a graphics, advertising and web designer, not an interior designer. As a graduate of Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California, and as a working professional who has had a home office before and has an outside office now, she has found out what works for her. She shares her ideas with About.com's readers.

Clair encourages anyone with a home office, whether they see clients face to face or not, to make sure their office has its own door. This can be a challenge if the office is in a second upstairs bedroom.

By converting a garage or part of a garage or a downstairs room into an office this isn't so difficult. "You don't want your clients smelling your dinner when you are trying to talk business," Claire Kim states.

Claire adds that a home work space should look nice whether your clients come see you or not. "This is where you think and generate ideas. Your surroundings should induce your creativity and energize you. Keep it neat, stylish and functional," Claire says.

I asked Claire several questions about how she designs a functional and attractive modern home office.

• Question: Are there particular styles of furniture you like? What particular pieces should be included in a home office? Why do you recommend modern style for a home office? How could you still keep things sleek and uncluttered if you want a different style?
  • "I have found some things work better than others. Not only for more eye appeal, but for facilitating productivity, and for your business success!

    "I definitely prefer modern furniture--but this is my opinion. To me modern is refreshing, stylish, and up-to date.

    "More importantly, your office furniture should be functional. I like chairs with wheels on them so it is easy to move around. Chairs should also be able to rotate and should match your desk and other pieces. You need a table if you plan on having customers or clients in your office.

    "Keep the look simple and uncluttered. This can be achieved with antique pieces, colonial or European designs as well. Don't add furniture just because you like it if you are limited on space. Make sure each piece has a function and matches the other decor. All the better if it can be used elsewhere, too."

• Question: Do you lean toward particular shades of green? Blue/greens, yellow/greens, gray/greens, light greens? Would any other colors work if you don't like green?
  • "I like grays, black, white, gray-greens, and metals together. Other great colors for offices are neutrals. Use the natural color of a brick wall--don't dry wall or paint it. Natural colors always give a rich feeling. Then you can use bolder colors sparingly for accent pieces.

    "Use your open ceiling with metal ducts if you want to create an industrial look. By all means do not use a regular cheap drop ceiling if you can help it."

• Question: What bold colors do you like? Wouldn't bold colors be distracting?
  • "Depending on the base colors, the accent colors will be different. I like fluorescent green, or orange, yellow. Blues are nice, too."

• Question: What if you can't do anything but kill plants? Are artificial okay? Are there any other accessories that you could substitute?
  • "Artificial is artificial. And you don't get the freshness live plants bring to your work space. You can relax your eyes with green plants. And some plants can block the radiation caused by computer. There are really great watering tools on the market. You should try one before giving up on plants.

    "Fountains are nice but they must be maintained. Nature photos such as oceans, mountain and landscape pictures and framed posters are good.

    You can really define your image by finding art or graphics from your website and framing it. This will enhance your business image and bridge your professional identity into your workspace. Also if you have a brochure, advertisement or article on your business this will look smart framed in your office. If you are a business that produces or creates something, frame it or a photo of it and hang it in your office. Make sure your frames or display cases match your decor in color and style."

• Question: What are the best ways to remove clutter when there's so much that you need right at hand in an office? And what if you work in a closet or on a stair landing in a condo or studio apartment?
  • "Use nice lockable cabinets to remove clutter and for storage. Keep your desk neat with stackable file trays. Use your computer to store receipts and files electronically. With scanners you can get a lot of that clutter into electronic form and keep it in your computer. Back up your computer file for using external hard drive memory.

    "Make sure your desk accessories match your decor as well. I like metal stackable trays from OfficeMax or Ikea."

• Question: How could you use these design techniques if you're on a budget? Everyone is looking for ways to spend less money, but they still need to work. In fact, more and more people are working at home.
  • "You can mix low quality and high quality furniture and office accessories together. You'll enjoy them more when you match your colors. One piece may be from Hon Furniture, while the next is from IKEA or OfficeMax or a discount store. Really shop around for your items. Use coupons and shop sales. Remember to think about the colors and styles of your furniture and accessories and match them, even though you will buy them in all different places."

We thank Claire Kim for her helpful tips on setting up an orderly, efficient home office.