No Office Like a Home Office

With 9.5 million Americans working from home, demand for innovative domestic workspaces has never been higher

by Douglas MacMillan

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For the second consecutive year, an American Institute of Architects survey of industry professionals revealed the home office is the most popular special-function room in the house. This should come as no surprise to any of the 9.5 million Americans who, faced with rising commuting costs, more flexible work environments, and more affordable telecommuting technologies, now work from home. Since this population dropped off from 11.4 million in 2000, their numbers have steadily grown by about 2.3% a year.

"There are more self-employed people working out of home as a result of the way the economy has changed," says Kermit Baker, chief economist for the Washington (D.C.)-based AIA. Indeed, part- and full-time businesses based in the home are forecasted to total about 15.2 million in 2006 and grow at a rate of 2.8% annually, according to infotech research firm IDC.

But the average corporate employee is finding more incentive to come home from the cubicles as well. "Higher gasoline prices are forcing people to telecommute, and the ease of telecommuting has changed dramatically," Baker says. Some 49% of respondents to the AIA Home Design Trends Survey picked the home office as showing the most increase in demand among consumers, up 18% from 2005.

Idea Sanctuary

With this increase in demand have come more sophisticated home office designs. Among the most important criteria are efficient use of space, adaptable implementation of technology, and the welcoming of creature comforts.

For an exceptional workspace, many people turn to expert Neal Zimmerman, who has been designing home offices for around 30 years. Zimmerman wrote two books on the subject, Home Office Design (Wiley, 1996) and At Work at Home (Taunton, 2001). Zimmerman's typical project runs between $10,000 and $50,000, a composite of about 15% design, 70% construction, and 15% products.

Unlike the kitchen, which has become a trophy room of the house, Zimmerman says people look for a more personal space that meets their own needs efficiently. "My clients are not into impressing other people. They ask me to create an environment where they can develop and communicate their best ideas," he says.

Work-Life Combo

A doctor/lawyer couple in the Boston area wanted an office where they could both work together and invite the kids in to help with their homework. He created a large office with room for two computer workstations, which were joined together by a rolling circular table that could either nest into the main desk or be pulled out into the center of the room. The clients, he says, were thrilled with the result; they could work together without bothering each other and accommodate the whole family when the occasion called for it.

Many have noticed that the home office no longer needs to be a quiet room isolated from the rest of the house. Ronnette Riley Architects, based in New York City, frequently helps its clients create integrated home offices that allow people to combine different parts of their lives. "Our clients want to have a connection to the living space while they work," says Ronnette Riley.

One recent project of Riley's looks like an ordinary kitchen, but doubles as a home office. For a client who insisted that she did her best work in the kitchen, the architect designed kitchen cabinets that open to reveal file cabinets and a cantilevered, circular, stone countertop that goes from slice-and-dice to sit-and-type in an instant.

Personal Touches

A smart home office design integrates state-of-the-art technology like wireless systems and video conferencing, but is conscious of the fact that the office will outlive the gadgets.

"One must plan for change," says Todd Yeomans of Sarasota (Fla.)-based Smith Architects PA. "This means providing plenty of power for future components, ease of access to concealed components or wiring, and avoiding any design elements that will make it difficult to upgrade or adapt in the future."

No matter how high-tech or high-design a home office gets, it should always be filled with comforts that remind you that of all places, you are at home. Kathleen Bradley, a designer in Rensenburg, N.Y., recommends filling out your space with personal touches like plants, comfy chairs, mirrors, and the music and lighting that suit you. For an even more personal atmosphere, she says, try a fireplace or an aquarium filled with exotic fish.

But beware the hazards of an office that is too comfortable and too in tune with your domestic lifestyle. Numerous studies have shown that people who work from home are more prone to overworking and filling their vacation time with work hours, their lives strained by the unclear distinction between home and work. The experts advise setting a firm weekly schedule and keeping the door to the office closed when it’s time to relax or spend time with your family.

MacMillan is a reporter at BusinessWeek.com in New York.