Built-in desks, cabinets, and shelves carve out a space in your home that is all business
If you are commuting only from your bedroom to your living room in the morning, you are not alone. Nearly 10% of the American workforce works from home full-time, and many more are in hybrid situations, working part-time both in the office and at home.
Whether you are working a full-time job or a freelance side hustle, you need to prioritize space to work for you. Just as we learned to optimize our offices to avoid burnout and fatigue while creating a balance of deep work and social time, we can set up our home workspaces to support our livelihood, personal interests, and families over time.
Your home office or workspace will come together based on a number of factors: how much space you need, what area you have to work with, how much time you spend working, and your family’s needs.
However, there is one feature that will make any space work hard for you. From desks to bookshelves to drawers, cupboards, and cabinets, built-ins are the key to a cohesive workspace that plays well with others.
Desks are a fundamental building block.
Knowledge workers need a surface for their computer, monitor, laptop, mouse—maybe even a printer and paper! Even the most minimalist worker will have a notebook that needs a home. Many employees rely on multiple monitors, even multiple computers. Built-in desks streamline a space and keep the center of the room free for other uses such as lounging, sleeping, playing, or eating.
Even in a dedicated home office, a customized built-in desk can function as a countertop or a horizontal workspace since they can be the length of the wall and as deep as you prefer. Built-in desks can be part of a larger unit with shelving, drawers, and cabinets, or they can be as simple as a flip-up slab in the kitchen, completely stowed away when not in use.
Shelving ties a room together.
Built-in shelves are a must for a cohesive space that is also versatile and personalized. They don’t have to be filled with books—they don’t have to be filled at all! But having floor-to-ceiling or counter-to-ceiling shelving that compliments the era and decor of the home offers the room a much-needed anchor while creating horizontal space for books, manuals, magazines, and catalogs as well as decorative showpieces that need a place to call home.
If you have older built-in shelves in your home office space, consider whether it’s time to refinish or reconfigure them so they reflect your current aesthetic and needs. You might install shorter shelves but more of them, or taller shelves for dramatic display items such as sculptures or vases, or simply to create some airiness.
Cabinets provide the ultimate storage and stowaway.
For the cleanest look with the most functionality, your home office space will benefit from enclosed cabinets. A built-in wall of cabinetry brings a polished, finished look to any workspace and can be integrated into a unit that also houses a desk, bookshelves, or even an entertainment center. Built-in cabinets are especially useful for a space that is playing double-duty as they can hide work items without displacing them altogether.
If your current built-in cabinets have an 80’s vibe, consider refreshing or replacing them with a contemporary design or a traditional wood that matches your home’s era. Not only will an updated look energize your workspace, but it will also provide a sophisticated backdrop to online meetings. Say goodbye to virtual reality palm trees forever.
Whether you are logging on from a kitchen nook a few hours a week or using a room of your own from 9 to 5, quality built-in cabinets, shelves, and desks can make you feel at home at work every day.
With Crystal Remodeling, the distinction is clear. Our skilled professionals take the stress out of making your house a home. (And office too!) Call 503-631-7662 or click today to get started.