Do you have a home office? Some people have a den/office set aside for the entire family to use. While others have “offices” set up throughout their home. My brother’s monopolization of his home office drove my sister-in-law to create her own “office” off the kitchen. Frankly, I love the concept of having a workspace so close to the heart of the home.
No matter how large your living space, the kitchen inevitably becomes the central gathering space for friends and family. In our last home our den was a make-shift storage area so I used the kitchen table as command central—a place where I tackled the household budget, planned schedules, and completed freelance work. I never liked the location as it was only a temporary workspace that had to be torn down before each meal. Now, like my sister-in-law, I have an area off the kitchen where I incorporated high-tech equipment into a compact space. (Okay, it’s a built-in nook with a few pieces of high-tech hardware, but it works for me.)
I happen to like the location of my “office,” especially since it makes it easier for me to keep an eye on my active 2-year-old. The concept may not work for families with multiple older children (my friend has an office off of her kitchen and finds her teenage sons use it more than she does). Whether you make your kitchen office elaborate (I’ve seen some decked out with mini flat screen TVs) or choose to keep it simple (my “office” has a computer, printer, speakers, file cabinets, a paper shredder, telephone, fax machine, and a mounds of paperwork)–it’s not that hard to turn a compact space into a high functioning kitchen office.
Related Articles:
Creating An Affordable Home Office-Part 1
Creating An Affordable Home Office-Part 2