Approximately 27 million people work out of their home, according to a recent International Data Corporation study. That means more of us are creating or redesigning home office spaces. While there are many computer desk kits available, few offer the "perfect" solution to meet your needs. When this is the case, the alternative is to design your own computer desk. Designing the perfect custom desk starts with a solid plan. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Gather your computer equipment on a large table surface. Move the keyboard, mouse pad area, and screen around until the layout feels most comfortable. Take neck strain into consideration. Ask yourself, should the monitor be elevated slightly? Make adjustments until you feel you have achieved the perfect layout. Measure the amount of desk space needed to achieve this "perfect fit."
2. Plan for computer tower placement. Most computer monitor cables are no more than 36-inches in length, so measure a 36-inch diameter circle using your "perfect" monitor placement as the center of the target. This measurement will indicate the maximum distance the computer tower can be placed away from the monitor (without monitor extension cables). Place your tower within that zone. Don't plan to store the tower above or below the desk. These arrangements always prove to be awkward in the end. Measure the depth of the computer tower and add eigth inches to this figure to allow for rear access room.
3. Envision placement of a printer. Printers, and fax machines, should also not be placed above or below the desktop level. Locate your printer within 36 inches of the computer tower, so the data cable will be long enough. Measure the dimensions of the printer, allowing at least four inches for access room at the back.
4. Think about the need for open "work space" on a desktop. Typing on a keyboard is not the only thing you do at your desk. Allow for at least one open workspace 36 inches wide and 24 inches deep.
5. Draft a set of "test models" to proper scale. Measure the home office space and draw a floor plan of "fixed" items like entry doors, closet doors, and windows. Total all your measurements for your perfect desk components. Draw this perfect desk to scale on a piece of paper and cut it out to form a scale "test model." Create at least two test models, one for the computer equipment part of the desk and one for any free workspace. Move these test model pieces around the room plan until you find a layout that seems to work best. One long desk may be the answer, or choose an L-shaped desk or a U-shaped arrangement.
6. Add adequate storage areas to the plan. Envisioning spaces above and below the desktop, sketch in storage shelves within easy reach of the computer area. Think about the location of any file cabinets, an external hard drive, reference books, and storage for printer paper, disks, and other items.
7. Use this plan as a basis for building a custom desk and shelves, or as a guide when shopping for manufactured furniture. You can mix and match or modify desk units available in assemble-it-yourself kits to achieve your perfect office.
Tags: computer tower, above below, your perfect, above below desktop, access room, below desktop, computer equipment
