These days, more and more people are making the move to telecommuting and/or freelance working models. What does that mean? In essence, it means that more and more people are in need of comfortable, functional work-spaces in their homes. In some cases, that means converting an extra bedroom space to a home office. But what if you don’t have a spare bedroom, or if you need more space than a bedroom would afford? Your basement can be the perfect solution. This article will discuss the important considerations that should be made before making that transition.
First, is your basement finished? If not, and you plan to finish it to make way for a workspace, you should definitely consider determining whether your basement needs to be waterproofed or not. Particularly, although not necessarily only, if you have an older home that may be susceptible to water in the basement, it’s important to consult an expert such as Affordable Waterproofing LLC to determine whether your basement may need some protection against water. Do this before you start renovating or you could find yourself in a costly situation. Don’t let water ruin your beautiful new home office (not to mention your costly computer equipment!).
Once you have a waterproof environment it’s time to move on to the next phase. What kind of “bones” will your workspace need? You’ll almost certainly need electricity, phone and wireless internet, so make sure those things are possible in your space. (Wireless internet may be a challenge in some basements, so be sure you have the necessary hardware in place to be sure your signal reaches the basement, for example).
Be sure to design your space to be conducive to working without interruption. What that means will differ from person to person and even from job to job. Do you need to be behind closed doors for confidential conversations? Do you work better in a more open-air concept space? Do you need lots of natural light? It’s a good idea to ensure you have a bathroom installed in your basement, too, if there isn’t already one there. This will allow you to stay down there and get work done, without having to come upstairs to answer nature’s call. If your basement is unfinished, you may want to hire a designer to help you to turn that vast open space into a workable home office environment.
The most important thing to consider is what kind of environment makes you want to work. Do you like streamlined, clean design? Do you thrive in an environment full of bright colours? Create the space that makes you want to stay there and do your best work!
Creating a home office in your basement can be a bit of a project, but once you get through the work you can have fun creating a space that is all yours. No corporate guidelines, no company-issued, sterile furniture to deal with, no rules! When it comes to working from the comfort of your home, whatever works for you is what you should do. And the very best part is, you don’t have to put on a business suit!
