Optimizing the home office comes as one of the more vital aspects of this remote work phenomenon. By definition, this would, quite literally provide an optimum setting for efficient workflow and production. Archinect has surveyed its vast community on this topic, looking to gain insights on how the industry at-large has approached the move to remote work. We asked design professionals what they've done to optimize their home offices. 

There were 4 main takeaways found in our investigation:

1. Purchasing/incorporating additional monitors
2. Acquiring a proper chair
3. Clearing out a big table for drawings
4. Managing shared space with a spouse, partner, or roommate

Let's look at each of these in more detail and see what our colleagues have to share regarding these findings.

Additional Monitors

Screen real-estate is an essential part of effective architectural production each day. Whether one is working on Revit, with properties and tables on one screen and an active model on the other, or working between an intricate photoshop file and a rough Rhino model, the efficiency of the task is highly dependent on available screens. Many professionals work from laptops at home, with some having a desktop set-up. In both cases, many said they either acquired a dock for their laptop which connected to dual screens, or went out to purchase an additional screen to accompany one they already owned. Here some remarks from the community:

• "I set up multiple monitors, tables for laying out snacks."
• "I purchased a desktop and double monitors to work from home for the time being. It’s something I’ve been meaning to do but just haven’t gotten around to until now."
• "I purchased a second monitor. I did this with my own money and don’t expect to be reimbursed. Interestingly, I looked at purchasing this same monitor three weeks ago and in the interim the price has gone up 30% - I imagine a lot of people are buying them right now!"
• "Have always used laptops as primary workstation, but added a monitor for home use."
• "I already had it set up before this with a desk, lamp, second monitor."

The Proper Chair

My first week working from home I spent each day in a folding chair. Let me tell you, it was horrible. I now have a proper chair, and it makes a world of difference. Aside from comfort, a proper chair is medically and physically important for one's body. I friend of mine had to have neck surgery after so many years of being hunched over his computer (he's in film editing). In a previous piece we talked about taking pride in our workspace and the importance of proper ergonomics. It can't be stressed enough in any work setting, thus urging us to take the appropriate steps when crafting our home office. Many shared this thinking:

• "I have three monitors and decided to bring home the office chair."

• "I am lucky enough that my wife works from home, so we have a room dedicated to that. We went out and bought an extra office chair."

• "I made sure to have a comfortable desk and chair."

• My wife has a Humanscale chair and I have a Herman Miller Aeron.

• "The chair in my home office is nowhere near as ergonomically sound as the chair at work! I'm feeling the kinks in my body!"
  

Table For Drawings

In this virtual landscape many are still working with physical drawings. Pretty much every architecture office has plenty of table space to lay out the big 42x30 drawing sets, but once one finds themselves at home in their bedroom or dining room, that space may not be available. Nevertheless, those reviewing drawings at home have found some ways to create the surface space they need:

• "I was already set up with a large desk & two monitors so I only had to pull the coffee table over to lay drawings on."

• "I've had to use the dining table to review drawings"

• I ordered an external monitor, mouse, and keyboard. Set up an existing desk with some space to spread out. Heavily dependent on physical drawings and notes, and am lucky to have a drafting table (not used for actual drafting, but just littered with papers!).

Managing Shared Space With a Spouse, Partner, or Roommate

Working from home can be great, but it can also present many roadblocks, one of which is how to divvy up the finite space one may share with another person. That could be your kids, spouse, roommate, or even your pets. Having a designated space that's yours to work has been an important part of home office optimization for professionals across the board, especially those sharing space with other people:

• "I brought home a good chair from work. It makes a big difference. I also cleared out much of the clutter that usually winds up around my home desk. For my spouse, who is also working from home, we set up a totally separate workspace in another part of the house and brought home a desk from the office, so we aren't bumping into one another or interrupting each other's virtual meetings."
• "The hardest part is my schedule, especially with having my kids home from school and my spouse at home working, too. We set up a second "office" in our sunroom, but we have the advantage of a mid-sized suburban home. Those in apartments or smaller houses - and those with younger children (mine are teens) - will have greater challenges, with everyone working and in virtual meetings at once in tight quarters."

The Importance of Intentionality

It seems that those who are intentional about their work space at home, have created environments that allow them to be most effective. The ability to create an ideal situation will be different for each person, harder for some and easier for others. But, architects always find a way to work through the puzzles laid before them.