HOME and OFFICE-2 MOST IMPORTANT PLACES WORLD
• Paint-
Important for inspiration, calmness and an overall good feeling in the room. Your office is your blank canvas so put some paint on it. Don’t be afraid of color and don’t paint it white unless you’re a designer-interior, graphic, lighting etc. even architects can paint a beautiful grey.
If you have clients that visit your office a nice paint color will make them feel more comfortable and relaxed so they can listen to you and hear about what products or services you provide.
Stay away from reds especially in conference areas…too passionate
If you have several rooms are areas use various degrees of the same color or coordinate with a mutual color. Play with it, have fun. Use foam core board with 2 coats of paint for samples and look at them for at least 3 days. Then go for it!
• Organization-
IMPORTANT important and more importantly is your organization. A productive company only can operate and perform at a top level with good organization
ease to find everything
Saves times
You will feel more professional therefore look more professional
Bang out jobs faster and easier
KEY IS TO WORK SMARTER =good organization
File cabinets-can’t afford right away try baskets or cardboard file boxes-inexpensive
Folders-try color coded ones –I have red and purple- can’t help it LOVE color
Bulletin Board- I love the 12” square brown cork you can hang right onto walls with heavy duty two sided tape. The advantage is you can make them any size or. White eraser boards.. can be ordered from any good office store. Look on line too.
Computers, ipads, iphones keep us very organized today-make sure they’re all sinct with one another.
INTERNS-depending on your business-high school or college interns are extremely motivated, smart, willing to help especially in this economy-they can help you with a lot of organization on the computers, filing, etc. I have had 6 over the past years and the ideas that they have come up with have been a great asset to my business. Example –external hard drive for photos.
Lighting
You need a mix of incandescent and a little fluorescent. I am not a big fan of fluorescent but it is necessary to keep the shadowing happening. Incandescent is on its way out and LED s are coming in like gang busters….there still not perfect but look for the most amount of lumens rather than watts per ea bulb that will give you the most amount of light. Of course you’re paying the electric bill so look at the most energy efficient.
A great inexpensive source is IKEA wonderful track lighting that has good design and functions for an office perfectly.
Most are easy to install
Incandescent lamps….look around the house and Home Goods is a great source.
Furniture
Desk is obvious. If you can’t afford to buy one right away look around your house you would be surprised what is not being used and viola…instant desk….maybe your kids have moved on….snag theirs
I used a very metal sewing machine base with a piece of marble on it…..let me tell you it worked!
TAG sales are a great place to find desks..and remember you can always paint them if not in great condition.
SIZE of desk..Remember to have enough desk surface so can easily work without feeling crowded. You want enough space so you can create comfortably.
Extra surfaces for printer, fax(although may on the way out)
BOOK CASES for storage-be sure to get well made ones that will stand the test of time….you may need to put a little more money into these. Much older book cases were very well made so look around for these and they can be easily painted.
Chair
obviously you need one for the desk I highly recommend buying a brand new office chair with proper back support it will make your day much more productive and happier.
you still we need maybe 1 to 2 other chairs for your assistant or for a client’s meeting. Look around your house and tag sales. Be sure they’re the same chair or matching looks more professional.
Area Rug
You’ll need a rug for comfort, sound proofing and it helps with the cold weather. You can pick up small area rugs at the many rug distributors. Home Goods again is an excellent source. And don’t always select a commercial looking one…..have some fun or elegance with it……Remember also if client’s are coming to your office there is always a first impression on your professionalism. Weather too…..have a place for people to drop an umbrella into or maybe even a rubber mat for boots and a place to hang coats….either a closet or a coat hanger.
Window Treatment
Ready Mades-look on line
Canvas drop cloths as panels. The oatmeal color is great and you can paint on them-maybe big blue horizontal stripes or whatever you like.
Woven Shades-sharp and clean looking good for privacy and sun
Accessories
Plants…please put plants in your office. Will make you feel better visually and will help visiting clients to comfortable.
ART WORK or wall accessories are the icing on the cake. Please make sure your walls are not blank, a room is not finished until the icing on the cake is place
Frame any Awards, Degrees, or special accomplishments and display nicely and uniformly. You can either practice placement with blue tape on wall or on the floor first.
IF ALL ELSE FAILS……HIRE A PROFESSIONAL INTERIOR DESIGNE
Home Office Inspiration by TR Design in Dedham,MA
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