A large and growing home-based workforce has created big demand for residential workspaces, even in smaller homes.
Baltimore area professional organizers have seen a growing demand from people who work from home either full- or part-time to create or improve a home work space. Whether these are full time entrepreneurs seeking to break free from the cubicle culture or full-time office workers looking to finish projects at home, many have identified a need for dedicated work space in areas not originally designed for that use.
Among the most recent government statistics on the extent of home-based workers, a 2001 study of the Bureau of Labor Statistics that classified 19.8 million Americans as working from home as part of their primary job. These workers, who reported working at home at least once per week, were 15 percent of the workforce at the time.
Although Baltimore-specific numbers were not included, anecdotal evidence indicates the growing city is full of workers who do at least some work from home.
Cindy Bernstein, owner of Baltimore-based AIM 4 ORDER, has many such clients and tells those starting out to first designate a work area and clear it of clutter. Then make sure they have their own desk and computer. A smoothly functioning and well-organized filing cabinet also is critical.
“I’ve had many artistic clients who initially say they can’t do filing cabinets but many eventually see good working filing cabinets as an improvement,” Bernstein said.
A comprehensive daily calendar that combines all scheduled business, personal and family obligations is key to making sure the home-based worker doesn’t miss or double book appointments.
Another helpful piece of furniture is a bookshelf to hold manuals or binders with essential information, she said. Supplies are the last element of a home office and should be kept on the desk or in a drawer within reach of the office chair.
Bernstein also suggests a central notebook to collect all contact information.
“Otherwise, people drown in Post-it notes,” Bernstein said.
Amy Rehkemper, owner of Simplify Organizing LLC, takes the desk advice one step further and suggests a home office include desks in shape of an equal sign, L- or U-shape.
“With that kind of arrangement you maximize the usable desk-top space,” Rehkemper said.
Such configurations also offer plenty of storage space underneath for frequently referenced file folders and office supplies. A hutch to the top of the desk, she said, doubles the available space to work.
Tight home spaces require the home worker to fully utilize the walls, including the use of clear plastic wall pockets to manage outgoing paper and on-going projects. Similarly, so-called over-the-door shoe organizers affixed to the wall can hold office supplies or small work materials.
Floor-to-ceiling storage racks for books, magazines and binders offer a “cohesive and attractive look” for the home office, Rehkemper said.
She noted that not every home office can or must be separate from the living area. One corner of a room or even a closet can be converted to an office if vertical space is maximized.
Another key is using furniture that has double functions, such as a coffee table that glides up to become a desk surface, or a drawer unit on casters that can be moved around wherever needed.
Office spaced
Here are some online resources that can help in creating or organizing a home work space:
• www.hgtv.com has quick tips for home office organization.
• www.ase.org/content/article/detail/723 has many suggestions for saving energy in a home office environment.
• www.cnet.com/1990-9359_1-6228484-1.html offers tips on the most cost-effective technology to outfit a home office.
