Those who have worked from home would know that separating your workspace from your living space is essential and, at times, critical. Not only does it give you fewer distractions, but it also allows that right frame of mind when you are working in your designated space. Apart from other essentials, does it always need to have a door? We looked for the consensus, and below is what we found out.
It's preferable if your home office has a door for several reasons. The door can ward off other people when you are in a meeting or you need to concentrate on a task. It also gives you the needed privacy when talking to a client face-to-face or via online discussion. And most importantly, putting a door satisfies the requirement of Internal Revenue Services (IRS) that the home office should be a separate structure from home—a door is the most accessible and convenient way to separate this space.
While already imagining the look and feel of your new home office, you might as well envision which door to choose. Keep reading too for the location and space considerations when setting up your home office.
Best Doors For A Home Office
The door is the first thing that you will see—so it can make or break your office. It also serves to isolate your professional space from the rest of your house, especially if your home office opens into the house rather than having a separate entrance. And it helps to protect what you hold dear inside your home office.
There are several options. If you consider the available designs and hardware that goes with it, a barn door is a viable option. The panels range from solid wood to multi-panel glass on lightweight metal. It is compact, versatile, highly aesthetic, and provides you space with a nice vibe. Very easily, it can clear you 7-9 square feet of clearance space.
Take a look at these barn door recommendations below for your home office:
Aluminum Frame Glass Sliding Barn Door
This modern version of a barn door is made of glass and aluminum and comes delivered to your doorstep disassembled. There are three available panel sizes: 30"x 84", 36"x 84" and 38"x 84" with a thickness of 1 9/16 inches. The door does not have the overhang mechanism included but is compatible with TAD01.
Click here to see this product on Amazon.
Sliding K-Frame Barn Door
If you want to go with the rustic, barn type feel, this K-frame door is best for your home office. It comes in three color variants: white, natural and vintage. Made from solid MDF and wood, it fits openings between 28 to 34 inches and height of 80 1/2 inches. The actual panel dimension is 36 x 84 x 1.37 inches.
Click here to see this product on Amazon.
Glass French Barn Door
Combine the chicness of a French door and the versatility of a barn door right in your home office! This door comes in three separate panels that you will assemble with connectors and screws. It is made of high quality glass and frame. The panel comes with an overhang mechanism with a soft close feature.
Click here to see this product on Amazon.
Ceiling Mount Bracket Sliding Barn Door
To give you the ultimate rustic vibe, you can add this ceiling mount brackets to your selected panel. Just check for complete compatibility with your chosen design. It comes with a T-shaped floor guide so that your door remains in place and prevents it from swinging back and forth. The brackets come with 5 different designs that gives you additional style feature for your barn door. The mechanism is able to support a total weight of 220 lbs.
Click here to see this product on Amazon.
Where should your home office be located?
As you begin with the end in mind, your vision for your business can help shape the design and execution of your planned home office when you consider the following:
Your Time Commitment
The amount of time that you want to dedicate to your business may be critical in determining the space that you allocate. If you are keen to go full-time, then assigning a space will boost your business as the allocated space can help you bring the focus, seriousness, and determination to build it up.
Imagine those big businesses that initially started at the owner’s garage. However, if you only see yourself devoting part-time, then you might only need the minimum set up of a desk, with a dedicated phone, and enough storage area for your home office needs.
Type Of Business Or Work To Be Done
Different businesses would require different workspaces. Food production businesses like cakes or other pastries would need ample kitchen space.
In contrast, something such as insurance will need a more formal or confident-looking room vibe that gives off the impression of financial stability so that clients will be impressed with the way you handle your financial security.
Each product type that you would like to market and sell will dictate the location, design, and functionality of your home office.
Space Concerns
Some questions to also ask yourself when planning your office space are as follows:
- Does the space tie-up with my planned business?
- Does the space allow me to zone in when needed ultimately?
- Does it allow me to separate professional from personal?
- Is it free from noise, distractions, and interruptions?
- Does it inspire me to work rather than be distracted?
- Does it have sufficient light (natural VS artificial)?
- Does it allow me to place all the necessary furniture/equipment I need for my home office so that it can function accordingly?
- Will a separate entrance be necessary?
- Are the electrical sockets in the area enough for my business needs?
Once you’ve considered all the factors above, then it’s time to build your home office. You can opt to go DIY or call in your friendly contractor to help you get started. Either way, you would need a solid plan with all the office essentials considered before you commence this critical milestone.
How can I make a home office with no space?
It is possible to make a home office even if you have limited space in your current home. More than the physical office, the mindset that this will create to help you be more productive is crucial. So that the look and feel should help you transition into that the moment you sit on your “work” chair.
If you are challenged in terms of space, then you can install the bare minimum—a solid desk to house your work documents and equipment such as a personal computer and other electronic devices that you might need. Ample storage should also be allocated so that records may properly be stored and small items such as stapler, scissors, markers, and other office necessities can be neatly tucked away.
Click here to view this Good and Gracious solid home office desk on Amazon.
The space that you allocate should also provide you with the level of concentration needed while you work. So ideally, your view should be something that helps you to focus on your work and not see something that will take your mind off the task at hand. It can be a window with a relaxing view, a wall with an art installation, or maybe just a plant. You can tailor that to fit so that it affects you more positively.
Can a home office have a bed in it?
Again, the purpose of having a separate office in your home is so that you can have your own professional space. Placing a bed in your home office will give you a mixed feeling. It can lure you into slacking off, especially during periods where you need to concentrate the most. A bed allows you to rest while your home office is a space where you are supposed to be dedicated to working.
Also, if the purpose of the bed is to house guests in, you might want to project how that will affect your work time, not only during office hours but also afterward.
Another critical consideration is that putting a bed in your home office will make it ineligible for tax considerations. One of the Internal Revenue Service requirements for a home office is that it should only be used exclusively for business activities.
Ideally, it should be a separate structure used to meet patients, clients, or customers. Thus, placing a bed may seem to give the IRS the impression that it is not used solely for that purpose.
In Summary
You need to think about where you will place your home office. Setting up a separate office in your home to meet your business or work requirements is essential to maintain your productivity, establish your credibility, and save on overhead or commuting expenses.
A good home office should be free from noise, distractions, and interruptions. One way to do it is to have a reliable door to separate your professional space from your area. A well-delineated office that serves its purpose is a requirement for you to claim some tax credits.
