Home Office Solutions

Very timely publication with tips for creating the ideal home office space and tips for working from home. There is a section for small spaces but even these are for more space than I have and would have liked more information about having to share work space with roommates or your partner.

Home Office Solutions by Chris Peterson is an essential book for anyone working from home these days. It is divided into three chapters. Chapter 1 focuses on choosing a location for a home office, and includes a variety of important issues to consider, such as how much space you need, traffic flow, if visitor space is necessary, the noise level of the area, where the technology dead zones and hot spots are, and even the visual impact the office will have on your home. This section also discusses the various options for home offices, from closets to attics, basements to outbuildings. Basically, the book has ideas for you if you have a room you can dedicate to your home office or if you have to use a corner of a bedroom, repurpose a closet, or even use space under the stairs.

Chapter 2, which is the largest of the three chapters, focuses on setting up the home office. Peterson goes over how to plan your room and your desk layout, furniture options, technology, lighting, colors and patterns, and even discusses how to personalize your home office.

Chapter 3 covers better ways to work from home. Peterson discusses video meetings, which have become a staple these days, focusing on issues such as lighting, sound, picture quality, and background clutter. He also has a section on tax advantages of working at home and even includes a list of useful apps and programs.
The book also includes other useful bits of information, such as reviewing the case against using the same computer for home and work, options for soundproofing, how to build a DIY floating desk, features to look for in a quality office chair, and many other gems.

Finally, the book is filled with lovely full-color photos that would make anyone want to have a home office – even the offices under the stairs or in a closet look amazing!

I think this book is most useful for someone setting up a home office. Since I already have such a setup, I found Chapter 3 to be the most useful. But really, this book covers everything you need to know about creating a home office and working from home on a daily basis.

Thanks to NetGalley for a free copy of this book.