Create A Home Office Design

Here are some other home office design suggestions:

Arrange your work area in an L or U shape - this way you'll have all your important items within easy reach.

Consider a computer armoire - if you don't want your home office design to look like an office or if the space doubles as a guest bedroom, a computer armoire would be perfect. It will hide computer equipment, save on space, and make a beautiful furniture addition….perhaps even a focal point You'll also have extra space for a wall bed or a daybed.

Install the right lighting - you'll want a desk lamp so that you have adequate task lighting, and a second lamp or built-in lighting fixtures for general lighting. Use a dimmer switch for built-in lighting. You'll find great lighting and lamp ideas at Bellacor. Purchase a comfortable chair - if you plan on spending lots of hours at your desk, make sure that you get a comfortable chair with adequate back support. Consider one that swivels if you'll be turning to retrieve papers or to answer the phone.

Install sufficient shelving - you'll need shelving for reference books and to display collectibles and personal items. Built-in shelving would be an excellent space-saving choice, but there are plenty of quality assemble-it-yourself options.

Consider modular storage pieces - they come in a variety of shapes and sizes, from stackable cubes to shelves and have optional lids, doors and drawers.

Once you've identified the major home office design components, you'll want to go back and add the furnishings and accessories to make it homey. Hang art that you love as well as family photographs. Display collectibles in dramatic fashion.

If you could use art for your walls, I recommend that you visit All Posters and check out their huge selection of prints.

For interesting collectibles, try Sovietski Collection, which offers some of the most unusual antique artifacts from the old Soviet Union and Europe. Another winner is Novica, which is affiliated with National Geographics, and has earthy, handmade products from all over the world. .

Additional home office decorating touches to my office are shown in the picture to the right.

I hung a blackboard as a fast and easy way to track important appointments and as a general "to do" list.

For guest seating, I chose Director Chairs. These are great because I can change out the fabric in a snap for an updated look.

If your home office design ideas include a furniture makeover, Furniture Find offers thousands of brand name furniture at discounted prices. Also, you'll find lots of online images that give great decorating ideas.

A major benefit of Furniture Find is that they carry many more items than any brick and mortar shop. And through their free Personal Shopper service they will search high and low for any item that you can't find on their web site.

So even if you spot something you like at your local furniture store, put Furniture find to work to see if the price can be beaten. You have nothing to lose!