Home Office Conversion
As more and more people work from home, home offices have become more and more
popular. Because it's a room conversion instead of an addition, the average
cost of this improvement is relatively low. In some cities, its resale value
will be greater than the cost. At the same time, a home office will appeal only
to a certain type of buyer. At resale time, it should be flexible enough to
convert easily to a bedroom or hobby/ sewing/ sitting room. So it's best not to
build in desks or equipment, but to use freestanding office furniture and
equipment. |
Cost vs Value
Click here to get
the average Job cost,
Resale value and Cost recouped in a metropolitan area. |
Design Tips:
| (layout) |
Privacy is importance in a home office,
because noise and distracting views can affect anyone's concentration. The best
candidate for an office conversion is a room without heavy foot traffic outside
the door or windows. |
| (flooring) |
Carpeting will make the room more adaptable
to many uses. By dampening the sound of equipment, it will also make the room
more comfortable. |
| (lighting) |
Don't count on lamps to light the entire
room; use built-in systems and fixtures as well, like track lighting. |
| (walls) |
Stay away from wallpaper, which can give the
room a busy feel. Instead, add color and personality to the room with a
painting or a print that you can take with you when you sell. |
| (furnishings) |
You'll want plenty of surface area for
computers and other office equipment, but desks, tables, and other freestanding
furniture are better than permanent counters. Built-in storage will reduce
clutter, but make sure that your built-ins can be adapted to other uses. For
example, bookcases will be just as functional and attractive if the room is
converted to a bedroom, den, or hobby center. |
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