Milwaukee/NARI Members Offer Tips That Work For Home Offices

A home office creates a workspace for an individual worker, rather than the worker fitting into a prepared, corporate workspace. Since home layouts and styles vary, a home office can’t be a one-size-fits-all project. However, there are some common approaches that apply to everyone setting up shop at home.

Just in time for National Work at Home Week October 4 – 10, members of the Milwaukee chapter of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (Milwaukee/NARI) offer tips on setting up home offices. Milwaukee/NARI has been the area’s leading home improvement and remodeling industry resource for more than 48 years.

Ted Kittelson, who co-owns Closet Concepts in Wauwatosa with his brother, David, says the need for home offices is holding fast. Kittelson points out, “Home workers have to be as organized and professional as anyone in their field and they need that quiet space. They also need multi-function space so they can get personal work done, such as paying bills, for their own home.”

Kittelson observes that the popularity of laptops has changed the look of home offices. “In the past, it was a desktop computer situation,” he notes. “Now it’s more laptops, still with upper cabinets and lower file drawers. The only change is the computer types used.”

He advises homeowners planning a home office to understand their needs by shopping around. “Go and look at someone else’s furniture and desk. Educate yourself on cabinetry, and its pros and cons. For instance, you may find that premade depths may not work for you and you may need an individual design,” Kittelson says.

Planning for Productivity

Since the main goal of a home office is to be productive in the space, planning is paramount. Practical home office planning includes making sure there are enough electrical outlets and telephone jacks; providing power surge protectors for equipment; and confirming that cords connecting a computer and its components are long enough. Planning also includes lighting.

Ed Prasser, president of Best Electric Service Inc. in West Allis, points out that proper lighting results in higher productivity and more comfort for the worker. He notes, “A lot of times in home offices, the lighting used is the fixture in the center of the ceiling, which creates glare and does not make it a comfortable place to work.”

Terry Romeis, owner of Triple T Electric in Cedarburg, recommends track lighting for home office use because it’s multi-directional and adds versatility. Recessed lighting works well if the layout of the room is fixed in place, he adds.

Prasser suggests homeowners install a good level of indirect lighting and also use task lighting, which could be placed above the work surface using recessed lights, or under cabinets in the workstation. Beware of glare, Prasser advises. A window behind the worker could cause glare on a computer screen. To avoid glare and tiring eye strain, position the computer on the same wall as the window, he recommends.

Romeis mentions that halogen lighting creates additional heat, and it may make small offices too warm in the summer. Also, the heat could affect certain office machine chemicals if placed on a counter under a light, he notes. However, he points out that the warmth might be welcome in the office during the winter.

In addition to main office features, small items also can improve productivity. Kittelson says homeowners should look into accessories, from hanging file drawers to a pullout printer shelf, that allow a workspace to function better.

A Livable Space

Marianne Kohlmann, owner of Blue Hot Design in Glendale, suggests decluttering the home office as a daily policy. A custom-designed desk can hide the office printer, fax, and extraneous items, she explains, while upper cabinets with doors can conceal binders. For “cord control,” she advises bundling cords into one snake to be hidden inside a concealing hose.

Kohlmann also recommends securing a comfortable chair and as much counter space as possible, two features that homeowners often underestimate.

She also mentions that it’s often not efficient for both spouses in a home to share an office. When separate space is available, Kohlmann advocates installing individual offices. To find space, she assesses unused rooms in the house.

For instance, a large living room can offer a quiet area, perhaps at the far end, to hold an attractive desk and hidden shelves. Kohlmann finds that unused dining rooms offer potential as offices, because they are well-lit, and may contain buffet or china cabinets for storage.

The Milwaukee/NARI Home Improvement Council was chartered in July 1961, as a Chapter of the National Home Improvement Council. In May of 1982, the National Home Improvement Council merged with the National Remodelers Association to form NARI – the National Association of the Remodeling Industry. With over 900 members, the Milwaukee Chapter is the largest in the nation.

The Council’s goals of encouraging ethical conduct, sound business practices, and professionalism in the remodeling industry have led to the growth of the remodeling industry nationwide and made NARI a recognized authority in that industry.

For more information or to receive a free copy of an annual membership roster listing all members alphabetically and by category, and the booklet, “Milwaukee/NARI’s Remodeling Guide,” call (414) 771-4071.