Giving your offices a modern look and feel

In today™s competitive world, office furniture needs to encourage efficiency and productivity and offer a workspace that is attractive to your staff and clients. Buying contemporary office furniture will help you achieve this. Picking modern office desks and chairs and storage solutions will help to build this type of work environment. Typically you™ll be looking at modern aspects in your desks, computer workstations and executive furniture and storage, meeting and reception furniture options. You may wish to look at buying glass modular desks option to give a cutting edge feel to your company. You might want to go that bit further and order eco friendly office furniture. Eco friendly office furniture There are several furniture options on the market if you want to look at these options. For example, there are office screens, both free standing and desk standing types, which are built of sustainable materials. It™s also worth knowing that some office workstations use wood sourced from managed forests and are crafted using environmentally friendly techniques. Kompass workstations are one such product line. They offer plenty of desk top and storage space to hold office equipment and supplies. Putting the modern office furniture together When you™ve short listed your items of contemporary furniture, make sure they blend together. Not always easy, but try and visualise how these furniture pieces will work together before you buy!

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Furniture Manufacturers

If you are in London and are in the market for contemporary office furniture manufacturers, then you are in for a pleasant surprise. There is a great variety of competition to choose from. Whatever styles materials or manufacturing standards that you have in mind will probably be represented without too much searching on your part. Here is a handy guide to get you moving in the right direction: The CH Workspace Company in London offers full lines of contemporary furnishings including: seating, desking, meeting, storage, reception, screening, canteen and call center items. In fact they have over 30 furniture ranges available from stock. They also offer free space planning and design services. Delivery and installation is also free and guaranteed within 5 days of purchasing. Margolis Office Interiors LTD in London is a contemporary office furniture manufacturer and distributor that is unsurpassed in selection. Margolis offers a wide range of modern and traditional designs in office furniture from simple desks, tables and chairs to complete designed offices. Reception furniture, office seating, executive desks, workstations, office desks, boardroom tables, training room tables, computer desks and tables made from chrome, glass and aluminum are but a portion of their offerings to you. In business since 1911, they promise a customer service-oriented experience at all stages of business with you.The Century Solutions Furniture Company in London offers service for all your corporate office furnishing needs. No order is too big for this contemporary furnishing giant. They offer sheik and hip designs coupled with dignified class. Their selection is unparalleled and their customer service is rated exceptional. As you can see, you are in for a pleasantly easy shopping experience while in the market for contemporary office furnishings in London. The only difficulty you may encounter is the fact that you will be impresse by all of the options available. Shop well.

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Finding the Right Office Desk For Your Home-Based Business

Choosing home office furniture can be a difficult task, especially if you are limited by the amount of space it can possibly occupy. There is computer equipment, an office desk, office chair(s), and filing cabinets(s) to consider as some of the basic office furniture necessities for a home business.If you run a business from your home, you have probably established a room or area that will serve as your home office. This is a great idea because it provides you a designated place in which to work keeping it away from all the little distractions at home that prevent you from staying on task. Your desk should be the central part of this office space since it is where you will probably complete a majority of your work. It should therefore be a quiet place away unwanted noises like the TV or road traffic.The first consideration when choosing an office desk is space. This is really important and unless you don’t mind making several trips to the furniture shop to exchange/return furniture, you will be better off heeding this simple piece of advice. Before actually shopping for the desk, measure the space it will occupy and write down the dimensions. Bring them with you when shopping so you will stay within the guidelines and not purchase a desk that is too large for the allotted space.Plan exactly how you will use the desk. Will your computer occupy all or part of your desktop? If so, consider purchasing a computer desk that includes storage for the tower, a printer shelf, and a tray to contain the keyboard and mouse. That way, the only component to take up room on the actual surface will be the monitor. This will leave you room for books, papers, and other work supplies when you are working. If you are using a laptop, it will save you lots of desktop space because of the all encompassing features of these computers.Another consideration for desks often overlooked are the electrical cord organization features. Some desks don’t have any cord management features built in which leaves wires dangling all over which can be a sore sight. Realize that computer equipment, phone equipment, and printers will create a mess of wires on your floor and desktop unless managed. Cord management features are certainly a great plus when shopping for an office desk.Your office chair is just as important as the desk itself. You want to make sure you will be comfortable when working, since it is likely you will spend a good amount of time sitting.Other factors to consider are where the desk will be placed in relation to an electrical outlet, and whether or not the designated space is in close proximity to both a phone and Internet connection? If you do not want to purchase an additional piece of furniture but need a bookshelf, consider purchasing a desk with a hutch on top. This will give you extra shelf and cabinet space for storing books, software, and other office supplies.Stewart Baker writes for http://www.ModernOfficeFurniture.comModern Office is a trusted furniture supplier for over 30 years. They carry reception chairs and guest chairs in addition to the essential office desk for businesses. Shop Modern Office for the best selection and prices on office furniture today.Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Stewart_Baker

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Feng Shui For The Office

Whether you are an employee or a business owner with his or her own office, you can use feng shui to make your office space more productive and harmonious.Your first step is to stand at the doorway of your office or workspace and map out the areas according to the feng shui bagua. You can download a diagram of the bagua from our web site.Your main focus will be your wealth and fame areas, although you should also pay attention to the other six areas and decorate them accordingly.Here are some tips to keep the energy flowing in your office:1. According to office feng shui guidelines, your desk should be placed at a diagonal to the doorway or directly facing it, rather than with your back to it.2. If there’s more than one desk, place two on a diagonal facing towards the door and any others on a diagonal facing into the center of the room. They should not be placed in rows in a traditional classroom layout or back to back.3. If the doorways of offices that face each other across a hallway are not exactly aligned, place a mirror on the front of each door.4. If you face a partial wall or partition when entering an office, place a mirror on the partition.5. Soften jutting walls with plants. If you don’t have a ‘green thumb’, artificial plants are just as effective as live ones.6. Break up dull walls with mirrors or paintings.The feng shui elements that are easiest to blend into an office decor are pictures and photographs. Look for pictures that represent the various aspects and display them in the appropriate areas of the room. Very obvious feng shui symbols may invite unwelcome questions from visitors or co-workers.Feng Shui For A Home OfficeUse office feng shui if you’re working from home to maintain a professional approach to your business.1. Use a separate entrance to your office if at all possible.2. Otherwise, choose a room near the front or back door of the house or apartment.3. Separate your office from living areas to keep your business and personal lives separate.4. If your office space is part of another room, divide it from the rest of the room with a screen or large plants.5. Take a short walk before entering your office to work each day and another one at the end of your working day. This separates the business and personal aspects of your life.6. Place your desk on the corner diagonally opposite to the doorway.7. Don’t place your desk under a window, but let the light reflect on it from the side. Some people prefer to have their desks facing east.8. Leave space between your furniture (bookshelves etc.) and the walls. Feng shui experts suggest leaving a 7-9 inch gap.9. An important aspect of office feng shui is to keep your workspace tidy to allow a free flow of energy throughout the room.10. Differentiate between clutter and storage. Stored items don’t have to be catalogued and labeled but they should be stacked neatly in a cupboard or in binders so as not to impede energy flow.Obviously there’s a lot more to feng shui than what we’ve discussed in this article but you now have the basics for applying feng shui to your office space.When you’ve made whatever changes you choose to incorporate, take a slow walk through your office and notice your spontaneous reaction. You should experience a sense of ease and flow, as opposed to feelings of claustrophobia, stress or overwhelm caused by too much clutter.Marguerite Bonneville is a Master Practitioner of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) whose passion is publishing information online. Her web site, Hidden Keys To Wealth, offers a range of resources for people committed to achieving financial freedom. Visit http://www.hidden-wealth-keys.com for NLP and wealth mindset tools, tips on choosing a wealth creation vehicle, and a step-by-step guide to starting a small business.Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marguerite_Bonneville

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Executive Furniture – Feel Like a CEO

Executive Furniture; You don’t have to be the CEO of a big corporation to feel like one. You can design the executive office that you dream of at a reasonable cost. MAiSPACE, the leader in systems furniture is now offering high quality executive office furniture at the best value available. We encourage you to compare us with our competitors, and we know you’ll choose us because we integrate functionality, comfort, and style at affordable prices. “Our goal,” co founder and Vice President of the company, Mark Bassil explains, “is to not only give the end user a great looking, highly functional product group at a price he can afford, but to maintain their standard of excellence and aesthetics all within the budget. Small to mid-size companies now have the advantage of buying and looking like the big guys.” Established in 1993, MAiSPACE has approximately 250 employees worldwide, and a North American installed base of more than $150 million. MAiSPACE combines global sourcing and supply chain management with a streamlined just-in-time manufacturing and distribution system to reduce costs across the board and ensure fast delivery. MAiSPACE, recognized for years as the leading low cost, high quality alternative to high priced office furniture systems, has recently made significant strides in creating the ultimate mid-market furniture package. Now, in addition to their value driven MAiSPACE system and its value-driven cousin, MORSPACE, MAiSPACE offers its signature MAiSPACE office systems as exampled in high end custom products, such as elegant executive furniture well-suited to the most distinguished private offices. The executive furniture collection includes finely crafted executive office furniture pieces with impeccable attention to detail. At MAiSPACE, you can choose the best executive furniture to match your precise requirements. For an elegant and more sophisticated look, you might consider MAiSPACE’s beautifully designed, free standing wood furniture line, MAiOFFICE for your private office. This product group features modular, unhanded pieces that fully integrate with the MAiSPACE system. Every piece is designed to the customer’s exact specifications and utilizes numerous wood, marble and glass options to achieve sophistication and luxury all at the same time. “What’s remarkable,” says MD Kim, VP Manufacturing, “is that we can deliver exceptional, one-of-a-kind pieces, in the most beautiful finishes, and still maintain an affordable price point.” Custom wood executive furniture, such as executive desks, bookcases, conference room tables, filing and storage cabinets, comes standard in five designer finishes of Cherry, Mahogany, Anigre, Maple, Walnut and Dark Walnut. The natural rift-cut, book matched veneers, coupled with elegant design, create a truly superior product. “To increase the aesthetic appeal, we have the capability to add marble and glass to complement any environment or desired look,” says Kim. All custom case goods offer top quality construction as well. Features include: cold rolled steel bases, 5 sided drawer construction, interchangeable locking system and ball bearing full extension slides. You can complement your luxury executive office desk and executive office furniture with MAiCHAIR, MAiSPACE’s revolutionary ergonomic executive office chair. MAiCHAIR, the most affordable, fully functional seating line on the market today, is MAiSPACE’s symbol of excellence in ergonomic office furniture seating. MAiCHAIR is fashionable, comfortable and affordable. MAiSPACE’s ergonomic chair, MAiCHAIR comes in a variety of colors, styles, and fabrics that will match your stylish executive office desk and executive furniture. Executive office furniture projects your corporate image and reflects your corporate culture. To enhance both the look and feel of your executive office, MAiSPACE offers beautifully designed, finely crafted, luxurious and affordable executive office furniture. This new executive furniture line features pieces that fully integrate with the MAiSPACE system to deliver the complete office at a budget-friendly price point. In holding true to their business philosophy of delivering the best product at the best price, MAiSPACE, the leader in systems and contract furniture, is now introducing a beautifully designed executive furniture line. MAISPACE executive furniture pieces appeals to a variety of customers, as Kim explains, “whether a small or mid-size company making major furniture purchase or a large corporation looking for a new global furniture standard, MAiSPACE products and service are second to none.” MAISPACE, the fastest growing office furniture manufacturer, provides customers with beautiful and functional executive offices and suites without sacrificing affordability or performance. MAiSPACE offers great looking sophisticated executive office furniture products of the highest quality and function at affordable prices. Also, with a team of nationwide dealers, offices and distributions facilities on both East and West coasts, and free CAD services to purchasing customers, MAiSPACE is completely confident and proud in being able to deliver any size project on time and on budget.

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Desks in the Home

Desks can be placed in just about every room in the home. They are used for work and study, as well as entertainment. Whether you are a student, gamer or a full-time work at home businessperson, desks are important to the home. Custom-built desks are generally fastened to a wall, while pre-made units are positioned near a wall. An office desk in the home that stands alone allows others to sit in front perhaps to take notes or chat.Here is a list of the many types of desks in the home. Computer Desk Hall Desk Bedroom Desk Workshop Desk Kitchen Desk Make-up Desk Study Desk Office DeskDesks are generally 28″-30″ high allowing any standard chair to be used. The knee space is a standard 24″ high. This allows 4″-6″ for a pencil drawer or keyboard tray to be placed above the knees. Smaller desks can be sized down to 24″-26″ for children. The depth of a desk is 20″-24″ in most situations, if it is facing a wall anything deeper will be wasted. In the case of stand-alone office desks it can be 30″-36″ deep.Most desks today have a place for a desktop computer; this requires a cabinet to one side with no shelf to allow the tower to be enclosed inside. The monitor is placed on top directly in front of the user while the printer often times has a designated spot. A hole located on the desktop or in the back allows components to be connected.Desks with cabinets on each side of the knee space have drawers and doors built in, while some desks have upper cabinets mounted above providing additional storage. There are several forms of desks like pedestal desks and rolltop desks as well as different styles like U-shaped or L-shaped.With so many different designs of desks it pays to do some research and find out which suites you best. If you are buying a pre-built desk, your options can be limited. Your local cabinetmaker can custom-design a desk for you and build it exactly the way you want.Visit us at Hardwood Technology to learn more about Cabinets and WoodworkingArticle Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chris_Looney

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Cubicle Accessories

Cubicle accessories are items that make cubicles look perfect. Cubicles are designed for a specific use. Therefore, the accessories in cubicles vary depending on the individual?s purposes and needs, tastes and preferences.Cubicle accessories serve as a functional and decorative item. They can be used as planners and storage materials. The accessories can have multiple functions and multiple layers. Some accessories are used frequently and some others are kept as such. There are accessories to be kept on surfaces and accessories for hanging. Accessories can be attached to partition panels, walls, and doors. Phone mounts, shelves, and boards are included in the accessories that are easily attached to partition panel systems.Some of the commonly used cubicle accessories at homes and offices are coat hooks, sorters, organizers, clip hangers, wall racks, card holders, pencil and pen stands, cell phone holders, desk planners, message boards, whiteboards, and marker boards. Coat hooks are a great addition to keep coats, hats, and other garments neat and tidy. Cubicle organizers make use of wall space for well defined planning and organization. Wall racks are great additions in cubicles to hold all the necessary items. Marker boards are available in folding and unfolding styles for convenient usage.Office cubicle accessories are a good choice to modify or alter offices. Some of them are hanging triple file baskets, hot file hangings systems, adjustable aluminum hangers, and poly holders. These accessories serve as a means to hold photos, files, and certificates on panel walls.Cubicle accessories are generally made of perforated metals, plastics, and fabric materials. It can be presented as gifts for weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, and other special occasions. You can find a number of stores that deal in cubicle accessories. With online ordering facility, individuals can buy new and used accessories of their choices.Cubicles provides detailed information on Cubicles, Office Cubicles, Used Cubicles, Affordable Cubicles and more. Cubicles is affiliated with Virtual Office Management.Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Steve_Valentino

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Creative Workplaces From Maispace Office Furiture

Every day, our life is full of challenges. Hitting the traffic, going to work, dealing with customers, colleagues, employees and piles of papers, are some of the expected challenges we face. There are also unexpected ones that we encounter on a daily basis. We need to come up with solutions. A satisfying, nurturing, stimulating, and creative workplace can help individuals take control of not only the expected but also unexpected situations. Designing a workplace that help individuals feel in charge can reduce job stress, improve work-related skills, increase tolerance, understanding, productivity and enhance decision-making. People feel “locked up” while they are at work. So equipping people with the ability to make more positive use of their work time helps empower the employees as well as businesses. Today companies are looking to find attractive alternatives to offer their employees such as day care, dry cleaning, game rooms, massage therapy and laundry services to keep them happy. Of course, perks are seductive but creating a work place that caters to the specific and evolving needs of employees and businesses is the most important challenge. Today’s companies and businesses are aware of the need to accommodate and capitalize on the diverse work force. Finding quality employees is hard, but hiring and most importantly retaining them is the hardest. Deloitte & Touche, a major consulting firm recently surveyed approximately 500 high-technology chief executives. Fifty-five percent said it was important to come up with creative workplace perks to attract the best workers, but most importantly they said the workplace needs to be comfortable. Work does not have to be a place that we drag in. Work can be the happiest place. By creating welcoming work places, businesses can make work more fulfilling. Individual lives are filled with stress; employees are overwhelmed and hoping to get through the day. By creating a comfortable working environment both businesses and employees can benefit tremendously. Work is a journey, it is a vocation, and it’s different for each employee. At MAiSPACE, we know that we can improve the quality of work by paying more attention to employees’ diverse work habits. At MAiSPACE, we constantly think about you and your employees. We relentlessly work on new and innovative designs, manufacture the best office furniture systems to boost your employees’ performance and productivity. MAiSPACE’s creative workplaces help your business grow and flourish. At work, people need to feel free, aware, independent yet integrated; not isolated. Individuals need to be engaged so they can be more productive, healthy, and creative. This affects not only these individuals’ lives but also those of their families, children, communities, and society. MAISPACE’s revolutionary human centered approach to interior office design helps individuals feel comfortable at work. The idea is to be connected with the rest of the world while having a private space to “think” without interference. We know that there are diverse considerations for businesses that want to offer their employees comfort while working. We offer a variety of office furniture products that will accommodate everyone’s specific needs and appeal to different tastes. As a research driven company MAiSPACE constantly evaluates and updates product options to enhance systems furniture capabilities and keep abreast with evolving technological, ergonomic and architectural innovations. MAiSPACE’s modular office system furniture targets a younger, dynamic workforce. It provides flexibility and functionality to meet changing needs of dynamic businesses. MAISPACE’s modular office furniture pieces come in standard options for desks, hutches, file pedestals, bookcases, cabinets, and optional pieces for placement above and below work spaces for storage. Our team can visit business locations and work up a plan to meet individualized needs for professionals and executives as well as employees. MAiSPACE and MOrSPACE are MAISPACE’s two innovative office system furniture product lines, holding a “Best of NeoCon” award, one of the most prestigious in the contract furniture industry. MAiSPACE, the leader in systems furniture is also offering high quality executive office furniture with best value available. You imagine; let us create for you. You don’t have to be the CEO of a big corporation to feel like one. At MAiSPACE, we can design the executive office that you dream of at a low cost. If you want to go for an elegant and more sophisticated look, you might consider MAiSPACE’s beautifully designed, free standing wood furniture line, MAiOFFICE, for your private office. This product group features modular, unhanded pieces that fully integrate with the MAiSPACE system. Every piece is designed to the customer’s exact specifications and utilizes numerous wood, metal, marble and glass options to achieve sophistication and luxury at the same time. We also complement these with other materials such as fabric, mesh, and microfiber. You can let your imagination run wild and let us create the ultimate work place for you. Our office furniture products are eco-friendly, and our service is superb. MAiSPACE provides a service program that matches the pace of customers’ requirements. We commit to meeting project time frames, quick turnarounds and fast resolutions to revisions. And above all, these services are free with a signed purchase order or order placement. With its top-quality environmentally safe office furniture products, ongoing customer support, and affordable prices, MAiSPACE remains the leader for over 15 years in the contract furniture industry.

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Creating an Ergonomic Home Office

The way you arrange your home office desk can actually protect you from stress injuries. In fact, increasing your comfort may also increase your performance. A good computer desk will provide somewhere where you can work in an organized and comfortable way, and with enough storage space for all your paperwork and accessories. The following guidelines can be incorporated into your home office for a healthy, comfortable workspace. And remember that if you feel an ache, take a break from your home office computer desk.Ergonomic computer desks are designed to help prevent eye strain. The ergonomic desk will have a monitor position that is approximately 24″ from the user. The monitor screen position will be at the top of, or slightly below eye level. A document holder or copyholder can be added to properly position the document upright. Other accessories related to eye strain can are glare filters to reduce glare, brightness and reflection. Task lighting also will help to illuminate documents and avoid shadows.To prevent carpal tunnel syndrome, use an adjustable keyboard tray with your home office desk that keeps the wrist straight in a neutral position. Keep the bottom of the elbow even with the keyboard height. Keep forearms approximately parallel to the floor. Use minimum force while striking keys. Utilize chair arms for support.Neck strain will be felt if the desk height is not correct. The correct position keeps your shoulders relaxed and in a neutral position as you type. Avoid cradling the phone between your shoulder and ear. Keep elbows close to your sides as you use the keyboard and mouse. Do not overextend your arm to reach the mouse. Keep the mouse as close to the keyboard as possible. Take a moment every so often to roll your shoulders up and back to alleviate tension.Back pain is another sign of poor seating. Adjust your desk chair so your thighs are parallel to the floor. Sit back in the seat so that your lower back is supported firmly by the chair or a lumbar support cushion. Place feet on a footrest to relieve “pull” on the lower back (recommended if your feet don’t touch the floor). Try a molded seat cushion, which distributes weight and adds support. Make sure to get up and stretch every hour.Products If you’re likely to spend a lot of time sitting in front of your computer, it’s important that your chair and desk are properly designed and adjusted for comfort. Ergonomic computer desks and chairs are designed to promote good posture and reduce the likelihood of aches and pains arising from working in the same position for long periods.Home laptop computer desks come in various styles, to fit in with your d?cor and the layout of your home office space. A wide variety of ergonomic computer desks and workstations to meet any need including ADA wheelchair desks are available online. Balt computer desks are a globally known brand for dependable and innovative computer support furniture since 1985. Perfect for home, office, or classroom, the Balt Furniture Ergonomic Home/Office compact student computer desks are durable, space-efficient, and ergonomic. Balt makes height adjustable desks, mobile laptop and mobile desktop computer desks, and group workstation computer desk. The platforms on the adjustable computer desks have several height settings for the proper ergonomic position. The split level design makes the Balt workstation collection supremely versatile. Mobile computer carts, which are portable and can easily be moved around, are another popular choice for the home office, and come in a choice of styles, including compact ones suitable for laptop computers.Compact computer desks provides the ideal workspace for your dorm room or office. The multiple shelves are the perfect location for your printer, monitor, and CPU and there is a slide-out keyboard tray as well. CD storage slots on both sides keep work or music at your fingertips. Corner computer desks can be the ideal solution if you want to save space.Orispace Compact Home Office desks are perfect for small spaces and home offices. Aesthetically pleasing and highly functional, the desks can be ready to set against a wall or in a corner. The desks include a handy pen and letter holder, built in shelves, and locking casters. A Corner workstation will take advantage of that dead space and tuck itself out of the way, leaving your space clean and beautiful. This desk is loaded with shelves and CD storage. Works best with a flat screen monitor.In summary, important ergonomic furniture for home office include a well made adjustable ergonomic chair and desk, good lighting that helps prevent eyestrain, ergonomically designed, adjustable document holders/stands, and an ergonomic keyboard tray.http://www.ComfortChannel.com continues to expand their product offerings that fit into the latest Home Office trends including a large selection of home office computer desks, ergonomic office chairs, document holders, monitor risers, and adjustable workstations. The site also serves as a resource for detailed information about ergonomic seating and other furnishings for the home office.In 2005, Brian Metzger was named Chief Financial Officer, as well as member of the Board of Directors of Zearth.com Corporation. Dr. Metzger assumed the responsibilities for all financial reporting, marketing, and back end operations for comfortchannel.com, an online retailer of home and health products. Based in Montana, Comfortchannel.com has been in business since 2000.Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brian_Metzger

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Create a Great Computer Work Station in a Small Space

Don’t have a separate room you can designate as a home office? You can create a comfortable and functional computer work station in remarkably little space. A corner of your living room or bedroom, even a spare closet, can provide plenty of room. First measure out the amount of space you can allocate for your work station. Then, start to plan. You need a surface for your computer monitor or laptop, and room underneath for your hard drive. If you have a printer and/or a scanner, this also needs a work surface, ideally with storage space underneath for printer paper and other supplies. You may also want space for an additional external backup hard drive. Measure all your equipment and furnishings and play with a floor plan. If you can find a ready-made work station that fits into your space, great. If not, make one. A 24- to 30-inch core door thrown over a couple of two-drawer filing cabinets makes a handy desk, but takes up quite a bit of room, and it may or may not be comfortable for you depending on your height when seated. An alternative would be to check home improvement stores like Home Depot for components like counter tops, shelving, and legs that can be assembled in a number of configurations. (Check the kitchen section of the store!) Assembling a desk with an L- or U-shape allows you to spread out your work. If you want an L-shape, make sure the extra arm is to the right of the monitor if you’re right-handed, to the left if you’re a leftie. You’ll need shelving to store CDs, computer manuals and other reference books, computer accessories and supplies, project files, and inboxes. Magazine holders make great containers for computer manuals and other documentation, and can be filed on a shelf along with reference books. Use bookcases as boundaries for your office and as additional storage space. The tops of the bookcases can also provide additional work space in a pinch, or display space for personal items to give the area a homey touch. If you have a closet you can spare, remove the doors and replace them with louvered doors that can be folded out of the way while you’re working. Install a work surface spanning the length of the closet, and then build shelves above it. You can also create storage space beneath the counter, but leave an area open to slide in a comfortable office chair. If you have a CPU for a monitor, make sure the depth of the closet will accommodate the CPU; or consider upgrading to one of the newer, compact flat screen monitors. Or use a laptop -you’ll have room to spare. You might also consider building or buying a rolling cart for your printer that can be stored in the closet when not used, and pulled out while you’re working. Also consider a pull out work surface or a folding table which can be tucked into the closet when not in use. Additional storage space can be built along the sides of the closet. You’ll need both electrical outlets and a phone jack (or cable outlet if you use Roadrunner) in or near your work space. If you can install them, great; otherwise you’ll need to run extension lines in from elsewhere. Make every attempt to provide easy access to all outlets and jacks; having a surge suppressor with several plugs attached to the back of the closet right above the work surface should make life much easier for you. If you have to run extension cords over a high traffic area, run them through protective conduit that allows you to put them underneath carpet without causing accidents. Don’t run unprotected cords underneath carpeting; a worn cable can create a fire hazard, and people can trip over the bump! If you’ve managed to renovate a spare closet, all you need to do is close the doors to hide your office space. If it’s in a corner of the bedroom or living room, think about setting up an ornamental folding screen to block off your view of the office; remove it when you’re using the office, or leave it up for some privacy. Take a few moments during the planning phase to think about the look of the work space. Your choice of materials, colors, and design accessories go a long way to creating an attractive area that’s an enjoyable, comfortable place to work.

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