Advice For Starting A New Office

Most new homeowners, when presented with a bare room are overwhelmed with possibilities and insecurities of furniture arrangement. They may stand in the middle of the room, shake their heads, and wonder where in the world to start. Although I can't tell each of you where you should put what furniture, I can give you some questions which will help you think about how you will use your space and some general guidelines for furniture arranging.

How you use your space

Look at the entrances to the room. Do you have doors? Do they open in or out? If they open in, you will need to allow room for those to open fully.

Do you use the room as a pathway to another room? Is the room a destination room? In other words, is the room one that people go to or go through? If they go through, you need an easily navigable pathway from one room to another.

How do you want to feel in the room? Do you want it to be cozy and intimate? Do you want an open and spacious feel? Furniture in a cozy room tends to be places in closer groups.

A open feel needs more space between pieces. Are you going to use the room for entertaining? If so, you need flexibility in your furniture choices. Extra seating may be placed out of the way and be moved into use when company comes.

Furniture Placement Guidelines

Between the sofa and side chairs, designers normally allow 48 to 100 inches. But you should adjust the space according to your family's needs. If you feel more comfortable with the chairs closer or if you are better able to hear conversations, then move them closer.

If you are using a coffee table in front of the sofa, the normal placement is 14 to 18 inches from the sofa. But again, if you have short arms or long legs, adjust the table until you are comfortable.

For television watching, the normal guideline is to place the television at 3 times the size of the screen. But with some of these new big screen TVs, 3 times the size of the screen is in the next room!

Three feet of space is recommended for traffic lanes. But if you have large family members or lots of kids, I would recommend allow an extra foot for safety for your furniture and for your family members.

In the dining room, a average adult needs a depth of 20 inches for a dining room chair, plus 16 inches to scoot back the chair back from the table. Again, adjust the measurements to fit your family.

At the dining table, you should allow 24 inches per person or more. If your family tends to gesture as they eat, as mine does, allow another 6 inches.

In order to serve your guests, allow 46 inches between the wall and the dining table.

For ideal bed placement, allow at least 24 inches between the bed and the wall to get out of bed comfortably and allow 36 inches between the end of the bed and the bedroom or bathroom door.

As you can see, these guidelines are approximate and should be adjusted for your family. Keep in mind, however, that if you are entertaining guests, your placement will require further adjustments for their comfort and ease of movement. The best way to plan a placement is on paper.



Various websites such as OfficeAnything are available to help you with the design process.

The decision to start an office may be one of the most complex and unfamiliar decisions that you will have to make. This guide will step you through the process of starting an office and help you make the right decisions that are critical to your success.

Budgeting for Costs of an Office

The most important task that will insure the success of this project is to start a budget. Unless you have an unlimited supply of money, the finances required to start an office will be your most limiting resource. A simple spreadsheet that details each one of the sections listed below will help you calculate the total cost of starting your office. If money is tight and credit is a problem, you can rent office furniture.

Do I Need An Office or Can I Work at Home?

Running your office at home can save you a lot of money. But there are seven questions you need to answer before you make this decision. Consider each one carefully and the impact it will have on your business and the other people in your home. Get off on the right foot and success will be yours. Start on the wrong foot, you will struggle through the remaining tasks.

Purchase or Lease Your Office Space

If working at home is not right for you, your business and your family, you will have to find office space outside your home. Commercial real estate can be unfamiliar territory, but the task is important. Determining the right amount of office space in the right location will help the business over the long term.

Obtain Only The Necessary Furniture

Regardless if you will be working at home or in office space outside your home, you will need office furniture. Some office furniture will be expensive and some may be inexpensive. Some will be necessary and other furniture will be nice-to-have. This guide will help you discern what you need and what you don't need. In addition, you will get some tips on saving money.

Acquire Essential Office Equipment

In addition to furniture, your office will need a variety of office equipment. It is at this point in the project your budget can really get blown. Here is a list of office equipment and money saving tips that will help you stay within your budget by getting only the office equipment that is truly necessary.

Buy Only The Basic Office Supplies

Last, but not least, are office supplies. This will most likely be the smallest line in your office start up budget, but it can not be overlooked. Office supplies are not expensive but they must be accounted for in order to avoid spending more money than you have. Don't spend too much time on this task, but at the same time make sure it is not forgotten.