| Don't have a separate room you can designate as a | | | | for a monitor, make sure the depth of the closet will |
| home office? You can create a comfortable and | | | | accommodate the CPU; or consider upgrading to one |
| functional computer work station in remarkably little | | | | of the newer, compact flat screen monitors. Or use a |
| space. A corner of your living room or bedroom, even | | | | laptop -you'll have room to spare. You might also |
| a spare closet, can provide plenty of room.First | | | | consider building or buying a rolling cart for your printer |
| measure out the amount of space you can allocate | | | | that can be stored in the closet when not used, and |
| for your work station. Then, start to plan. You need a | | | | pulled out while you're working. Also consider a pull out |
| surface for your computer monitor or laptop, and room | | | | work surface or a folding table which can be tucked |
| underneath for your hard drive. If you have a printer | | | | into the closet when not in use. Additional storage |
| and/or a scanner, this also needs a work surface, | | | | space can be built along the sides of the closet.You'll |
| ideally with storage space underneath for printer paper | | | | need both electrical outlets and a phone jack (or cable |
| and other supplies. You may also want space for an | | | | outlet if you use Roadrunner) in or near your work |
| additional external backup hard drive. Measure all your | | | | space. If you can install them, great; otherwise you'll |
| equipment and furnishings and play with a floor plan.If | | | | need to run extension lines in from elsewhere. Make |
| you can find a ready-made work station that fits into | | | | every attempt to provide easy access to all outlets |
| your space, great. If not, make one. A 24- to 30-inch | | | | and jacks; having a surge suppressor with several |
| core door thrown over a couple of two-drawer filing | | | | plugs attached to the back of the closet right above |
| cabinets makes a handy desk, but takes up quite a bit | | | | the work surface should make life much easier for |
| of room, and it may or may not be comfortable for | | | | you. If you have to run extension cords over a high |
| you depending on your height when seated. An | | | | traffic area, run them through protective conduit that |
| alternative would be to check home improvement | | | | allows you to put them underneath carpet without |
| stores like Home Depot for components like counter | | | | causing accidents. Don't run unprotected cords |
| tops, shelving, and legs that can be assembled in a | | | | underneath carpeting; a worn cable can create a fire |
| number of configurations. (Check the kitchen section of | | | | hazard, and people can trip over the bump!If you've |
| the store!) Assembling a desk with an L- or U-shape | | | | managed to renovate a spare closet, all you need to |
| allows you to spread out your work. If you want an | | | | do is close the doors to hide your office space. If it's in |
| L-shape, make sure the extra arm is to the right of the | | | | a corner of the bedroom or living room, think about |
| monitor if you're right-handed, to the left if you're a | | | | setting up an ornamental folding screen to block off |
| leftie.You'll need shelving to store CDs, computer | | | | your view of the office; remove it when you're using |
| manuals and other reference books, computer | | | | the office, or leave it up for some privacy.Take a few |
| accessories and supplies, project files, and inboxes. | | | | moments during the planning phase to think about the |
| Magazine holders make great containers for computer | | | | look of the work space. Your choice of materials, |
| manuals and other documentation, and can be filed on | | | | colors, and design accessories go a long way to |
| a shelf along with reference books. Use bookcases as | | | | creating an attractive area that's an enjoyable, |
| boundaries for your office and as additional storage | | | | comfortable place to work.Aldene Fredenburg is a |
| space. The tops of the bookcases can also provide | | | | freelance writer living in southwestern New Hampshire |
| additional work space in a pinch, or display space for | | | | and frequently contributes to Tips and Topics. She has |
| personal items to give the area a homey touch.If you | | | | published numerous articles in local and regional |
| have a closet you can spare, remove the doors and | | | | publications on a wide range of topics, including |
| replace them with louvered doors that can be folded | | | | business, education, the arts, and local events. Her |
| out of the way while you're working. Install a work | | | | feature articles include an interview with independent |
| surface spanning the length of the closet, and then | | | | documentary filmmaker Ken Burns and a feature on |
| build shelves above it. You can also create storage | | | | prisoners at the New Hampshire State Prison in |
| space beneath the counter, but leave an area open to | | | | Concord. |
| slide in a comfortable office chair.If you have a CPU | | | | |