| With a growing number of people opting to work | | | | within the room: |
| from home, Small Offices Home Offices (SOHOs) | | | | C - Computer Station |
| have become common. In fact, new couples do | | | | A - Administration (paper work) |
| ensure that they have a SOHO in place while setting | | | | M - Meeting area |
| up their home. | | | | P - Project Space (For example, workshop space for |
| SOHO basically involves converting a part of your | | | | artists, architects etc) |
| home to work area. The personal touch given to it | | | | The focus should be on efficiency and practicality |
| makes you feel at home even while the | | | | rather than picture-book neatness. Second hand |
| décor and accessories maintain a level of | | | | roll-top desks, armories that can hide unsightly |
| professionalism. We thought this is the right time to | | | | equipment, antique desks for workstations, cheery |
| speak with interior designer S Vatsala, who works | | | | prints for chairs, wood for flooring and area rugs |
| with Form & Space, an interior designing firm for | | | | make for good home-office furniture. A good chair is |
| some tips. She says working out of home has its | | | | a very sensible investment. It would be ideal to blend |
| joys of flexibility but it can turn chaotic if the | | | | the office decor with home. You could use furniture |
| home-office doesn't allow one to be productive. Here | | | | that is warm and individualistic rather than steel or |
| are her guidelines on what you should consider while | | | | aluminum office supplies. |
| setting up a SOHO. | | | | Storage |
| Nature of Work | | | | You need storage furniture and it can be planned |
| What's your nature of work? Lawyers, real estate | | | | within the niches of walls. Built-in cupboards can be |
| agents, artists, writers, architects or fashion | | | | converted into filing storages. Properly located |
| designers could have different professional | | | | storage will keep the much-needed supplies within |
| requirements. The nature of work defines the space | | | | reach and also increase efficiency. |
| requirements, the equipment, support staff and | | | | Office Equipment |
| storage space. Like a lawyer may require a lot of | | | | Computer, photocopier, printer, fax machine, |
| simple storage space but a fashion designer may | | | | telephone, net connectivity and teleconference facility |
| need to add more creativity to her SOHO for her | | | | are ideally required for a SOHO. |
| visiting clients. | | | | Lighting |
| Location | | | | Home lighting is more ambient lighting. In SOHO, |
| Where you decide to locate the SOHO has to be a | | | | general lighting is a must while ambient lighting would |
| well-thought decision. It is crucial for easy movement | | | | make it more homely and warm. So depending on |
| and privacy at work. It could be a spare bedroom or | | | | the nature of work, go for what suits you the best. |
| even a glassed veranda. Access to the office should | | | | Natural light from windows is also welcome. |
| be separate and private enough to invite suppliers or | | | | Personal touch |
| clients without having to give a tour of the | | | | Personal belongings like photographs, books, artwork, |
| household. Make sure it is in a place where distraction | | | | paintings done by children and also colorful posters |
| due to sound from TV is minimal. Segregation of | | | | lend a lot of vibrancy to the room. A lounger or a |
| office timings from home is important while planning | | | | comfortable sofa for a quick power nap or even a |
| for an efficient home-office. | | | | space to ideate would help. |
| Space Planning | | | | So make your SOHO and let us know how it turned |
| Furniture | | | | out. If you have further questions, do let us know. |
| Consider the acronym CAMP while demarcating space | | | | We will try and get them answered for you. |