Basement Offices to Separate Work From Home
Setting the Boundary
For many years, it was most common to work outside of the home, but now, as times change with the impact of COVID-19, workers around the world are finding themselves working from home. This may be the new normal for many workers, but just because you have made the switch, it doesn’t mean your home has.
It’s important to still keep your personal home life separate from your work schedule. Having a designated space to work helps to enforce a separate work from home boundary. Unfortunately, not all of us have spare rooms in the house to dedicate to work-related purposes. However, many homes have basement spaces that, with just a little work from professionals, could serve as the perfect home office.
The First Steps
Preparing your home for your new basement office may require a bit more than your typical room renovation. In order to create your new basement office, you have to ensure that the space is structurally sound. This includes sealing any cracks, waterproofing the space, or potentially moving HVAC, plumbing, or other infrastructure to accommodate.
It’s important to make sure that the area you choose for your office is suitable. Which is why you need to take into consideration all traditional office aspects. This space will accommodate business furniture and equipment such as computers, communications lines, including the internet and an independent phone line, and so on.
Key Elements to Turn Your Home Into An Office
When designing your new basement home office, you want to make sure it fits all of your job needs just like a typical office. However, since it is in your home, you are able to make certain customizations to tailor your space into the home office of your dreams.
Here are some of the most common essential features included in basement offices:
Soundproofing:
While the home is where the heart is, it is also full of distractions. Soundproofing your basement office seals you from any outside noise or temptations that may spring up throughout the day. This provides you with a more secluded, professional environment that allows you to focus on your work while the rest of your family, pets, and or roommates can go about their day without interrupting your schedule.
Comfortable Seating:
Being in the comfort of your own home may be one of the biggest perks of the switch from in office to work from home. When designing your basement office, you don’t want to lose this advantage. From advanced desk chairs, designed to provide proper support for long hours in a seated position, to armchairs or sofas, seating can provide a place to take a break or conduct business more comfortably.
Ample Desk Space:
Having a designated desk space that is comfortable and accommodating is crucial when planning your new basement office. There are a wide variety of desks available including the standard writing desk, standing desks, foldable desks, and l-shaped desks. Since you will spend most of your workday here, this is a decision you don’t want to rush. Take the time to research your options so that your desk best suits your needs!
Adequate Storage:
Staying organized and having a good filing system helps you to stay on track and keep peace of mind knowing where all your important documentation is stored. By including a variety of open and closed shelving, cubbies, and file drawers,your basement office is equipped to easily store any and all documents you may need. Additionally, if you work with sensitive information, you can include locked storage to keep important information secure.
Good Lighting:
Good lighting is a critical part of having a productive workspace. Harsh artificial lighting can drain your energy when you need it most during the workday. So it’s important to have a well lit space to help ward off seasonal depression, provide a boost of Vitamin D, and counteract the negative effects of artificial lighting on the body. Adding larger basement windows around the new home office will vastly improve the feel of the space as well.
Additional Amenities
We’ve covered some of the basics you should consider when creating your home office, but the possibilities are endless. Since it is your home, the design of your basement office is completely up to you. Having some additional amenities help to keep your workspace separate from family areas so that you can stay focused and on track.
Here are some additional amenities you might consider for your custom basement office:
- Attached Kitchenette
- Private Bathroom
- Lounge Area
- Tea/Coffee Bar
- Surround Sound Speakers
Are You Ready to Build?
If you have recently made the work from home switch and are looking to build the perfect basement office, contact Basements & Bars! Our team of experts will work with you every step of the process to create the perfect basement office tailored to your needs and desires.
For more information or to set up your free consultation, visit our website or call (314)-550-9160.