As the Covid-19 pandemic has hit, citizens in the business world are learning they must adjust to the new norm or be left in the dust. For many individuals this means working from home, whether they have a designated home office or simply the kitchen table from which to work. With that being said it has become evident that home offices need to be functional yet stylish, isolated yet accessible and professional yet relaxed. 

Natassja Designs prioritizes creating designs that “work” for the client.  Many talented designers can make a space look like a showroom, but a gorgeous design is wasted if the space doesn’t reach its’ full functional potential. Home offices should help the daily dwellers to achieve their daily goals. To create a space that works for the client instead of against them ND relies on 7 Key Details. 

7 Key Details That Make a Home Office a ND Design Success:

1. Dweller - The occupant’s personality along with what allows them to focus and be creative can make or break an office design.  
2. Needs  - To determine the needs and separate them from the wants ND asks, “What type of occupations will need to function in this space? Are there multiple parties involved on a full-time basis? Will this also be a space that houses fitness or a reading space?”
3. Visitors - This detail asks who will be in and out of the home office. This may be children needing to be homeschooled or family members that will visit with the main occupant from time to time to chat. Knowing the amount and frequency of the visitors will determine if separate zones or seating need to exist within the office layout.
4. Sound -  The amount of auditable volume in the home on a daily basis, can be a huge design factor. For instance, if the room does not have a door and the dweller needs to make multiple phone calls or video calls throughout the day this could be a problem. Determining the amount of insulation needed can be top priority for some clients. An effective tip is to use fabrics to reduce noises (ie. Curtains and rugs can soften the blow of noise).
5. Budget - Money does not always run the game, but it can be a factor. Beautiful design can be available to every budget level. It is also important to know the expected timeline and level of importance. If the budget is tight and the timeline is short then adjustments will need to be made on what is the highest expense priority. 
6. Style - After the optimal style goal is established, important details like favorite colors and patterns come into play. The office should be a place to focus with minimal distractions, but also be a space where creativity and happiness can exist. 
7. Lighting - 3 types of lighting should exist in all spaces: Task, Accent and Overhead Lighting. However, the types of activities that need to occur in the home office will determine the exact unique proportion of these lighting types.    

Designer Note:

”Home offices are always fun to design, but in this current social climate we look at designing home office and homeschooling centers as a way that we are helping to keep things moving. We are by no means frontline workers. We are so very grateful for what those individuals are sacrificing for our society, but we hope that by giving community members and their families a place to achieve their work/school goals that we are doing our part. If you have a space that just isn’t working for you, we would love to fix that. Thanks for reading and stay safe!”