Home offices on their way out of interior design?

At one time, a home office was a necessary part of the house. It was the sole place you could access the internet, type up emails and documents, print things, or play electronic games. Thus, there was always a room designated for all the technological gizmos required to make those bulky old computers work. These days, however, you can access the internet in the kitchen, type an email on the back patio, and with the right printer you can print things from the living room. This is not to mention the variety of places you can find electronic games, these days.

From office to bonus room

Thus, ABC News said real estate agents have begun referring to home offices as "bonus rooms." They also advised homeowners against improving their home offices because, "home-office improvements provide the puniest return on the investment when a home is resold, according to Remodeling magazine’s 2013 ‘cost vs. value’ report."

Preserve existing cabinetry

So for those looking to do away with their dust-covered offices or repurpose them into more usable rooms, Elizabeth Marsh, an associate interior designer at Jenkins Baer Associates in Baltimore, said she recommends "trying to preserve any built-in features, such as shelving or cabinetry." One option might be to turn it into a billiards room. If the desk is built-in, retrofit it with laminate or stone and turn it into a mini bar complete with mini fridge and bar stools.

Your new dressing room

Another interesting idea might be to turn it into a closet, storage room, or even dressing room. Marsh said if you’d like to make it a dressing room, "the first step is to install a wall of shelving for shoes and clothes. Keep the décor minimalist . . . with a neutral paint color, a pair of sconces, and a tufted ottoman in the center of the room."

The homework hub

Need more ideas? How about turning it into a "homework hub"? With school-age kids in the home, it seems counters and tables and couches are constantly covered in worksheets, backpacks, and piles of textbooks. Prevent the traumatic loss of a child’s homework and clean up your living room by turning the office into the designated homework area. Give each child a workspace complete with table or desk, lamp, and chair. Add beanbags for comfortable reading spots and maybe even install a chalkboard or whiteboard for working out problems or brainstorming ideas.

Interior Decorating and Remodeling News Brought to You by EZSnapCovers.com

Source: http://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/home-office-gathering-dust-options-20875082

---

Also in EZ Snap Covers Blog