Open Thread: What Do You Love/Hate About Your Home Office?
Posted August 17, 2009 in Lifestyle, Open Thread
Last week we got a huge response when we posed this question to our twitter followers, so this week I want to ask the same thing to everyone who reads the blog:
What do you love or hate about your home office?
As freelancers, it’s typical to spend many many hours working out of a single room in the house, often out of a single chair or couch. How much you enjoy working and being in that room will influence how productive you are — and, more importantly, it will also influence how happy you are working at home.
Does your office have a nice window with a great view, or is it boxed in at the back of a building? Is it empty and zen-like, or so cluttered that it’s hard to walk through? Do you like the color? Is your chair comfortable?
Share your story in the comments — tell us what you love and what you hate about your office, and by all means offer any tips you have for making the work-at-home experience better.
Related posts:
- 6 Alternative Work Spaces to the Home Office – FreelancerMagazine.com
- Open Thread: Where Are You Located?
- Open Thread: Do You Work On Vacation?
- Open Thread: What Motivates You?
- Open Thread: How Do You Stay Sharp?
About the author: Mason Hipp is a designer, entrepreneur, and writer. He is co-author of the Book The Unlimited Freelancer, and has just recently launched a collection of premium graphic resources for web designers called MediaLoot. Follow him on twitter @MasonHipp
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127 Comments
Brent Weber
August 17th, 2009 at 10:08 amI love my huge desk, hate how I don’t have the room decorated or even finished yet. Need to focus on de-cluttering also.
Natalia Maldonado
August 17th, 2009 at 10:18 amI spent the whole weekend de-cluttering my office and shredding papers that were piling up. Now I love how well-organized it is and I love the way I’ve decorated it. I’ve also got a huge window that lets in a lot of sunlight.
Rob MacKay inf
August 17th, 2009 at 10:31 amI love the fact I don’t have to travel far too get to work… I hate the mess I create as everyone does above, also the fact that my view, when I look through the window, show next doors wall and not a huge vista out over fields etc… :)
Marcelo Soares
August 17th, 2009 at 10:36 amI love its location (central, between a bookstore and a restaurant, half a block away from a bus fast lane and two blocks away from a supermarket) and the fact that I can have a shower whenever I want to. What I don’t like is that I still don’t have a separate room for my office – I’m looking for another apartment to solve it, but I’d lose most of the convenience of the location. Which, for me, is an important factor in quality of life. Alas, I simply don’t need to have a car!
Marie Poulin
August 17th, 2009 at 11:02 amMy home office is small, carpeted, and doesn’t get much light. My chair is big and cumbersome. I find it hard to get into work mode when I am at home, which is why I now rent a space.
However, its always nice to be able stay home when the weather is stormy…
Eric B.
August 17th, 2009 at 11:08 amI like that it’s small and simple. However, it’s a bit too small; I can’t even fit a keyboard and a mouse on my desk! I also only have an uncomfortable folding chair. I will be replacing it soon, though.
Eric H. Doss
August 17th, 2009 at 11:13 amOn a basic level, I love that I have a home office, that I’ve been able to transition to a home-based employee. My view from my work desk is of two live oak trees that shade my front yard, so that’s not the worst view in the world. Love my IVAR system and being surrounded by books and you can’t beat the commute.
But, as with everyone, it seems, I hate the clutter that I’m constantly battling. I also would love to spend big bucks on a huge desk and built-in cabinets, but I don’t see that happening soon…
Lexi Rodrigo
August 17th, 2009 at 11:28 amI hate that my home office is in the basement.
I hate that I don’t have a comfortable office chair.
I hate that the wall is dark wood panelling.
I love that behind me is the kids’ play area.
I love that my son can nap right beside me.
I love that I can hear all my kids’ noises while I work.
I love that I work from a home office – which makes it better than the most luxurious office anywhere.
Mary Beth
August 17th, 2009 at 11:42 amI love the commute and the absence of office politics. I’ve been self employed for four years. I can’t think of a single thing I don’t like about my studio and working from home. I am so lucky to be a freelance illustrator/paper engineer.
Sheena
August 17th, 2009 at 12:51 pmI freelance part time, so I only use my home office on evenings and weekends. I love that its small and kind of cozy. I hate that I have no view (all I can see is a cement wall from the building beside mine).
Also I hate my desk and the fact that I still don’t have a flat screen monitor I can hook to my laptop.
Ali Hale
August 17th, 2009 at 2:03 pmLike others, I love the fact that it’s at home!
I have a somewhat love/hate relationship with the fact that it’s also rather near the refridgerator…
Apart from that, there’s little that I hate. My pet peeves are the occasionally loud neighbours in the flat above, the fact that I only have one monitor (in my old day job I had two … can’t QUITE justify the cost of a second one at the moment, given that most of my work is writing rather than web coding now).
Also, the computer I use is really shared between me and the Boyfriend, so I feel a bit bad about working the typical freelancing hours that don’t cut off at 5pm… he’s been relegated to my old, somewhat broken, laptop…
Lynda
August 17th, 2009 at 5:25 pmMy home office? Love it. A huge wood desk with a hutch and many nooks and crannies to fill – it’s perfect for me. At the same time, I admit to desk envy whenever I see the Ikea catalog show me that less can be more and that plastic can be chic too.
Some tips that I can pass along for building the best home office:
-Choose something you really love – It took me over a month to choose my desk. I had an idea in mind and while others may have been okay, this is the one that’s perfect for me and for my needs. (Bonus: it was cheaper too.)
-Think about the future – My desk is far larger than I thought I would need. Yet, nearly ever spot is filled up after three years of constant use.
-Have someone else assemble it – My home office desk came out of a box, which is fine. Having someone else come to assemble it was the best money I ever spent. Seriously.
-Accessorize – While I know Zen is the trendy way to go and I shoot for as little clutter as possible too, having a few mementos on my desk helps me through the tough days – pictures, Buddha statues, pottery, etc.
-Put things in reach – When I set up my desk, I sat where I wanted to sit and thought about what I reached for every day. Then I put the most important items right at my side.
-Get a good chair – I had a so-so chair for a long time and then I broke down and bought a Herman Miller. Best money spent – next to the desk assembly, of course.
Happy writing to all and to all a good desk, if not now, then in the future.
Lynda
Vicki Dehne
August 17th, 2009 at 5:26 pmI love working in my pajamas!
Victor Duwon Jackson
August 17th, 2009 at 5:53 pmI am a full-time programmer, and part-time designer. I love the fact that I can work at home if I have to. I hate the fact that I only have a 3-bedroom home, with two small children. So my Office does double duty as a playroom. Ahh the chaos!
Raechel
August 17th, 2009 at 6:57 pmI just recently started working from home and so far I love it! My desk looks out over my front yard and I keep it clutter free (at least for now, while my writing career is so new). Even if I had no view, or no office period, it would still beat my old windowless, loud cubicle!
@deepdishcreates
August 17th, 2009 at 7:33 pmI set up shop in my loft-ish one bdr house. I use a high desk so I can stand if I want, and have a high office chair/stool. The view of sailboats and Lake Champlaign, surrounded by windows, easy access to everything in the house. That view, however, can be quite distracting on nice days. After years in cubes, I really appreciate the openness. Much to be said for Feng Shui.
liz
August 17th, 2009 at 7:49 pmI <3
* its in my home!
* my coffee pot w/ self timer
* listening to any music i want as loud as i want
* singing while i work
* dancing while i work
* i have some killer gear!
i hate
* no door
…yea. thats it. …and i dont even really mind not having a door. :)
curtismchale
August 17th, 2009 at 7:58 pmI love that I have a big desk with enough room for a few monitors and drawing on. I hate that it faces the afternoon sun so it’s super hot in the summer. I hate that I have so many kayaks, snowboards, tents that my office is also the gear room.
Alex Lim
August 17th, 2009 at 8:34 pmSilence is one factor that determines my mood when working. When I’m halfway done I usually set the room with some music, some sort of celebration. That’s what I like with my place. Since I don’t have any window in the room, setting remarkable wallpaper in my desktop also does the trick. On the other hand, I hate disorganize table and surrounding, the brown wallpaper that makes the room dark, and the picture I see when I turn right (it’s someone’s baby picture).ss
Nicole Foster
August 17th, 2009 at 10:21 pmI don’t completely dislike my work area, but my living room isn’t the best place.
The desk is really old, has spots, and is filled with crap. One day, I’m going to take everything off it, and reorganize the whole thing.
Jim
August 18th, 2009 at 12:31 amThis is a great post. I love getting to sleep in an hour later and not having to commute. I get to spend more time with my kids but then again sometimes the commute get’s me out of this looney bin. ha.
I hate.. my chair. It wiggles and wobbles and squeeks no matter how much wd40 i douse it with. The spring does’nt work and the cushion is not a cushion anymore. Someone please tell my wife to let me buy a chair. :)
Fun topic, I could go on but I’ll spare you all.
Andrew Keir
August 18th, 2009 at 12:32 amI hate the constant family interuptions.
Carla
August 18th, 2009 at 1:16 amRight now I don’t have the best setup. My laptop is on an old drafting table and my chair is cheap, old and not very comfortable. I have an antique table where I do most of my handwriting (wish I was using it for something else) and all of my files are in another room. Its pretty cluttered right now because I’m preparing to move but the hardest part is that it’s not a very comfortable space to work right now. I’m working on improving that when I move with new/used office furniture.
Lis Sowerbutts
August 18th, 2009 at 1:42 amI love the fact I can turn up for work in PJs and slippers! I love the fact that there is no commute and if it gets too hot its only 10minutes to the beach! I love the fact I don’t have to deal with work colleagues anymore.
It would be good if I actually had a desk – the couch is getting a permanent bum shaped mark in it and my legs have permanent laptop marks on them LOL
Iain
August 18th, 2009 at 3:06 amThe Home Office is a dangerous concept.
I have seen it fail several times from both the company and personal sides.
Part of the problem is persuading the significant other, that even though you are at home, you are “in the office” and should be ignored except for a steady flow of coffee, and things to eat like sandwiches and biscuits.
Your very physical presence indicates that you are available for small domestic tasks. I have found that wives are usually psychic, and second only to dogs and small children when it comes to choosing exactly the worst moment to interrupt your flow of thought or deep concentration.
From the other side, that you are there, sitting at home like a bump on a log is a irritation. You are interrupting the smooth flow of normal domestic duties. Not all wives want you to find out that as soon as you have left the house, they go back to bed for a couple of hours, take a lover, wax their legs or do whatever private things it is that they do when you are not around.
I much prefer the idea of the Digital Nomad, or as it has been described, Digital Tramp if you are using old or borrowed equipment. The need for an office has been drastically reduced because of improvements in digital communication.
When I am interrupted too often, I pick up my laptop and 3G card and leave “the office”.
Many a time I have sat in a coffee shop with free wireless, or in a lay-by overlooking the Indian Ocean workinmg on my laptop and communicating by 3G. Now there’s a view from your office window.
Iain.
Barbara
August 18th, 2009 at 3:55 amI love everything about my home office. The furniture and decoration, my piano, my wonderful computer. And the lovely view from my window. Green grass, apple trees, cows. The cowbells were a bit distracting at first, but now I actually find them very relaxing. The only thing I don’t like is that I sometimes find it hard to stop working in the evening.
Igor Kheifets
August 18th, 2009 at 4:23 amSince I am yet to get a proper home office (working from my living room) I can’t say I like much about it, but I do love the fact that it is home and I don’t have to get dressed to “go to work”
Igor
Mary Wright
August 18th, 2009 at 5:33 amI love the fact that my office is in my home – I was never keen on travelling to work! Also it’s the best solution to fit in with family commitments. For thirteen years I worked in the cellar which was quite dark, nice and cool in summer but too cold in winter.
3 years ago we had the loft converted so now I have the luxury of natural light (!) and great views, not to mention a bit of drama whenever there’s a good storm blowing. I’ve kept the decor very light and try hard not to let the clutter overwhelm the space, but it’s an ongoing battle. My desk, book cases, all the business stuff is at one end of the room and at the other end there’s a big squashy sofa which I think of as my thinking/relaxing area.
Craig
August 18th, 2009 at 8:42 amI don’t have the best arrangement in the world, but it will do for now.
My “office” is also the small guest bedroom, storage room, as well as my closet. We have a tiny townhouse, so there aren’t many options.
I spent lunch hour yesterday uncluttering the floor so I wouldn’t trip over the piles of papers and clothing that had accumulated. Sad but true.
We’re not upgrading houses any time soon. My wife could use a new car (hers is more than 10 years old and we bought it used) and I’m still learning to live with the 10 percent pay cut my company brought to bear when the economy soured.
Such is life and home offices. We carry on.
Lynn Cummings
August 18th, 2009 at 9:57 amI love everything about my office. Everything. Even though it’s a small room, I put a lot of thought into utilizing space to the max, as well as to decor and colors that are inspiring and fresh. Furniture that is mostly glass-topped, very little decor on the walls, using mirrors, light colors and white flooring make the space look much larger than it is. By carefully making good use of the space, there was even room to add a large papasan chair to relax in at break time. Really, the only downside to this room is that it is next to the kitchen, which tempts me to snack more often than I should!
Jeff Archibald
August 18th, 2009 at 11:17 amI love the minimalism of my workstation, and how much light there is in the room.
However, I also dislike how much light there is in the room when it comes time to edit photos – lots of reflections on the glossy new MBP screens.
I also love/hate being with my cats all day.
Steve Bellante
August 18th, 2009 at 11:58 amI love my nice big corner desk, which i have right next to a nice open windowpane for lots of sunlight! I also love my new chair (very relaxing)! What I don’t like though is my current lack of storage and bare walls. I need to get a whiteboard and pictures to make the room feel more alive. I also need to get more bookshelves. The one I have isn’t cutting it!
Lisa
August 18th, 2009 at 3:39 pmI love my home office/ photography studio! There is nothing better than working from home and having an area specifically designated for what you do. The only thing I don’t like about it is that I forget to take breaks or to stop in the evening. I need to schedule my time better.
Rock Langston
August 18th, 2009 at 3:45 pmWith windows on three sides overlooking a lake and canyon walls, and 450 square feet of space, what’s not to like? Hardwood floors and a fireplace, to boot. Got a Leap chair this year, which was a good investment. Have a good, old utility table for projects and my piles of WIP (work in progress). My most important accessory is our two Old English Sheepdogs, Lola and Lindy. They make everything look better!
What I don’t have enough of are walls. I use an easel for my whiteboard. Got a quirky metal one at an outlet store, which helps.
I’ve maintained a home studio for over 30 years. In that time I’ve moved a lot, so have had quite the variety of work environments. This is the best! And yes, I do appreciate it every day.
Justin Long
August 18th, 2009 at 3:52 pmI absolutely hate my desk it is to shallow to allow me to really use my desk to have my notes on the desk along with my computer and keyboard, mouse, and drawing tablet. On top of that it doesn’t have a back support area so I am not able to hide the mess of wires that I have from all of the things that I need to plug into my laptop. I am in the process of building myself a new desk which will have cable run boxes incorporated into the design along with enough power to power most of my house and built in USB/Firewire Hubs. I am also going to rework my filing system so that it is all with easy reach of my desk.
But I love my office chair and my Mac the 2 best investments in my office
Matt Keegan
August 18th, 2009 at 4:13 pmAlthough I live in a beautiful suburban area, looking out the window doesn’t do much for me — I don’t like the glare. Thus, I’m happy to pull the venetian blinds to limit the lighting, especially when the angle of the sun shines in.
I do like having my own office, but I think in about another year I’ll be finishing the garage and releasing my office to one of my children. That office will be carpeted, have nice windows and have good air circulation.
Lorraine
August 18th, 2009 at 4:47 pmEverything Iain said, except the Digital Nomad concept. I can’t concentrate in cafes–or even libraries.
Must be in my womb/home office.
Here’s are key components of my love/hate relationship with the home office:
Love: I control the environment and have all the solitude and quiet I need to write copy–hard to concentrate in corporate environment with cubicles, meetings, constant interruptions.
Hate: When I can’t control the environment in, e.g.: Leaf blowers, lawn mowers, snow blowers and the tough transition of sharing your workspace with kids and family during school vacations.
Home space can get territorial: “This is MY office. I need to work!” “This is our home. We want to hang with friends and play music!”
Trina L. Grant
August 18th, 2009 at 4:49 pmI love my home office because I finally have one, and I have a lot of ‘stuff’. I finally have a file cabinet for the first time, which is helpful. I have all sorts of little caddies and containers on my desk because I have a thing for nifty little containers. If my husband would ever move the cable hookup and get the television off the top shelf of my printer stand I would consider staying forever, lol. My fondest wish is to have the room where my step-son will be crashing on the rare weekend he comes home for college as my official office. I have it all planned out where I will put everything…but I’ve been waiting on the cable for about a year now, so the odds of getting my husband to move office furniture across the house is a longshot. I’m not giving up though. Then, my office won’t be very pretty with my mismatched furniture and walls abused by children, but it will be my space and it will be functional. Oh, and a laptop. I’m dying for a laptop.
Patti DeNucci
August 18th, 2009 at 4:52 pmI fell in love with my home office all over again this year. I took the leap in early 2009 to lease a small office in my neighborhood after working out of my home for 20 years. I just felt compelled to be back in a more “professional” environment. It was a refreshing novelty — for about three months. Then I remembered how much I actually enjoyed being at home. I like that I can work for a bit, then get up, move around, do something else to give my eyes & brain a break from being on the computer on the phone. I can go sit out on my deck, walk the dog, fold a load of laundry, tidy up a room, etc. I decided to let my lease run out last month without regrets. Home sweet home.
Gladys Strickland
August 18th, 2009 at 11:18 pmI don’t have an office as such – I work from a desk in the living room, a desk in the bedroom, the sofa, the bed, and a table on the patio. While I love being able to move around as needed, I hate that I don’t have my notes and files organized better to reflect my shifting around, and am slowly working on a better system. I also hate that my view is not of the ocean, and have plans to change that in the future!
Jamie Buchanan
August 19th, 2009 at 4:59 amI hate my chair and it hates me. We’ve had several scuffles and I’m yet to win one.
I love that I can work with my music so loud I can’t hear my neighbors ringing my doorbell to complain.
Miguel
August 19th, 2009 at 5:42 amhehe i work on my kitchen, wich i really hate to … but have a big window to the garden
but i live in a basement :S but its my basement :)
Meryl Evans
August 19th, 2009 at 9:37 amLove that it’s the neatest and most organized room in the house — no kid stuff allowed unless they’re playing in here. Small enough that I can use the fan or heater to control the comfort without having to touch the thermostat (silly to use thermostat when I’m the only one here).
Jane Steen
August 19th, 2009 at 12:25 pmI can’t think of a single thing I don’t like about my home office. I love the fact that it’s one of the few rooms in this open-plan house where I can shut the door (and I put a lock on it to keep the kids out when I’m not in the house, after many of my possessions grew legs and mysteriously walked away.) I love the view over my backyard, even in winter. I love its slightly messy compactness, but too messy and I get nervous so I tidy my desk frequently. I love the fact that my kitchen is only yards away when I need lunch (and that I’ve learned to be disciplined about (not) snacking.) I love the fact that in winter, when I get cold because I don’t run the heating during the day for just me, I can always go fetch an extra throw and at lunchtime I can turn on the gas fire in the living room and eat lunch while warming up. In my previous job my office was FREEZING and I was not “allowed” sufficient heat sources to make it bearable.
I’m planning on making my lovely office even lovelier with brighter colors, more art, better organization and, my forthcoming birthday present, an armchair and footstool. I may never want to emerge.
Mahmud Ahsan
August 19th, 2009 at 2:12 pmi love my 5:1 speaker music system and listen music when i work.
i also love cool air blowing from my left side window. and in work i love to get kiss from my wife :)
thelastpulse
August 19th, 2009 at 7:36 pmThis thread is useless without pictures ;)
Kidding, but what I love about my workspace is that its dark (great for editing pictures and setting the mood) simple, and not cluttered. Before making the jump into freelancing, I had to transform my workspace. It was just a mess, and I couldn’t get productive. Now, with one long desk, 2 monitors, a tv and 1 futon, I’m pretty much excited to get to work everyday.
The only thing that needs improvement is my hardware at the moment, haha
Mark Pridham
August 20th, 2009 at 1:49 pmThe things I love about my office are:
1. My 30 second walk to (and from) work
2. The fact that it is isolated from the rest of the house (separate room)
3. The two large windows which give me a breeze in the warmer months, and a view of the trees and the lake
4. It is very organized and streamlined
5. My dog sleeps at my feet
6. It is in the country so I don’t have to deal with the noise and air pollution of the “city”
7. I can work on the deck if I want
8. My office is also my “library”
9. My chair rocks (as in, it’s a really great chair)
10. I am 7 minutes away from the post office, 20 minutes away from the grocery store, 4 minutes away from the country market, and 30 seconds away from my coffee pot.
The things I dislike (I don’t like the word “hate”) about my office are:
1. I am still doing most of my work on a 13″ MacBook (my perfect office includes a 17″ MacBook Pro and a 24″ iMac with a second monitor)
2. I sometimes find it hard to “leave” work
Michael
August 21st, 2009 at 10:18 amExcellent thread. I love reading what others do an don’t like about their setups. Gives me some good ideas for mine.
Best thing about my home office is the dual monitors and the birds right out side. They are my office mates. Only problem is they are constantly twittering! (Sorry, bad pun.) But I love being able to look out and see birds doing their thing instead of staring at walls, or filing cabinets, or sitting under florescent office lights.
Worst two things about my office are location and chair. I have yet to find a chair that doesn’t hurt my back, but I will keep looking. And at the moment my desk is in one of the worst possible spots – the bedroom. But the bedroom has the space and the window, so for now it will stay.
Henry
August 22nd, 2009 at 4:55 pmSixteen years of freelancing for me. Some days are easier than others, but the same applies for regular workers. Learned a bunch of lessons in the School Of Hard Knocks. Set up home office out of necessity, and today enjoy the freedom more than ever.
I hate the fact that my office is so cold in winter, and heating so expensive.
I love the fact that my office is so cool in summer.
I really battle with clutter and space. Have been involved in a clean-up operation for far too long. Seems to not be working!
I wish for more solitude and privacy when I work.
I like that I can work whenever the inspiration hits.
I wish I had a nice inspirational view, but alas, I only have a view of my grumpy old neighbor’s garden. That is, if you can call 10 meters of lawn a garden!
Happy freelancing, all!
Michael Kwan
August 29th, 2009 at 2:29 amI love and hate how my “home office” is really just a part of the living room. On the one hand, it’s good to have the television on during the day as “white noise” and a background distraction to break up the utter silence that I would otherwise experience during the day. On the other hand, the TV can be very distracting and being in the living room takes away from the ability to separate work from play.
j000
September 1st, 2009 at 1:43 pmI don’t love my office yet and I know what I hate about it. The children toys are all over my office no matter how many times the office is cleaned tidied. I have to share it with my wife who uses my other PC. Sometimes I want to use both PC but can’t. The children come to play and make too much annoying noise …etc.
Alischa
September 2nd, 2009 at 5:30 amI Love …
The fact that I can go from my bedroom to my office in my PJ’s …
That the coffee pot is only a mere 10 steps from my desk …
That I don’t have to worry about what I will wear to work …
That I can hear the birds in the trees out side my window …
I dislike (sorry I don’t like to use the word hate) …
That I don’t yet have air conditioning (hopefully something that will be sorted this summer) …
That I am still working off my old laptop, who screen has died and am still using hooked up to a monitor … I just can’t bear to part with it !!!!
That because I work from home, my friends think it is okay to pop in for coffee whenever …
That sometimes I can be easily distracted …
That I have to get dressed to go to the shop when I run out of coffee :(
AnnaK
October 3rd, 2009 at 7:08 pmHi, I’m Anna. My friend told me about this site so I’m just checking it out to see if I can meet new friends.
I’m a very outgoing girl, bubbly personality and I just like to enjoy life.
Hit me up if you want to cheat; I mean chat chat. You can also check out my personal website, you’ll get
to know a little more about me and my sick sense of humor. lol
********************************************************************
Get to know AnnaK
http://offto.net/annak
Eddie Minaya
October 13th, 2009 at 12:16 pmI like my office space but I wish that I had more desk space and more space overall. I work with a mac laptop that’s hocked up to 27″ screen and a PC with a 22″ screen. The bad thing is that my home office is half of the family room and a TV is there which sometimes can be distracting.
Besides that, I tried to keep it clean and organized. Having some sort of filing system is also important, especially when you are trying to find files from jobs you did 5+ years ago.
Trinity
October 16th, 2009 at 7:13 amI love my own small freedom (i.e. music, exercising when my back is in pain, candles and essential oils, books and all my stuff, I can go outside at any time to clear my mind) but I don’t like my chair, my “professional” big crt monitorzilla and the fact that room is on north-east side of a house, it means dark and cold room for whole year.
Ben Weller
November 18th, 2009 at 6:08 pmI love my home office. MacBook Pro with external keyboard and old-school logitech trackball… However, I hate finishing work at the end of the day, and still being in the same space where I do my work.
Hopefully the hope office is a temporary, and necessary element of the bootstrapping process…. I see myself either renting a space soon, or purchasing a membership at my local coworking space, http://www.officesquaredvt.com/
Anybody else feeling the stress of the home office setup?
imwiseman
November 20th, 2009 at 9:38 pmDemocracy passes into despotism.
Quotation of Plato
Flo ( Health Aids ) Fennel
November 21st, 2009 at 11:19 amAnyone need help with marketing (or just understanding!) Refrigerators or Dryers by any chance?
Been made resundant and seeing if I can make a life online from home :)
Flo
Isaac
December 11th, 2009 at 6:18 amI have a nice desk but in a small room. Nice sky blue wallpaper and a window.
By the beach!
Nice sound system and monitors
Want a better chair and would like to be closer to town.
BebopDesigner
December 16th, 2009 at 10:48 amI love my home office just because at least I have one.
I love the fact that I can close the door and isolate myself
I love my green sofa, my glass desk and my blue wall
I hate the bunch of crap stuffed in there that isn’t mine
I hate the ever reappearing dust
I hate dusting (gives me sinus allergy)
My green chair matches the sofa, but it’s very uncomfy… particularly after the first 2 hrs.
Drew Poland
December 16th, 2009 at 9:45 pmI hate that its my HOME office. I want to get out sometimes, get away. I’m looking into co-working solutions now, but for now I run to starbucks for a few hours every few days.
Weiseeinveway
December 17th, 2009 at 12:41 amHowdy everyone,
I am most likely the first to say this, but probably not the last: Happy HOlidays!
[b]Weiseeinveway[/b]
[url=http://www.brandythompson.com]Brandy Thompson[/url]
Michael
January 13th, 2010 at 2:16 pmhttp://tutorialblog.org/cool-workspaces/
Dan
February 2nd, 2010 at 4:51 pmI love that I have a nice flat screen monitor and sleek peripherals. I also love the muted colours. I don’t like that it is in the corner of a hallway (although a large a spacious hallway), and I don’t like the fact that I live in a basement apartment with tiny windows(not having a view makes me sad).
So I guess the tech and decoration are good, location is the only thing lacking.
Chris Schneider
February 9th, 2010 at 2:40 pmmy office is also a spare bedroom, so I can’t be completely focused, sure it’s nice to be able to go sit on the couch or bed when I’m in a design rut. I have a great glass, minimalistic setup, in my little corner, but the rest of the room doesn’t allow me to focus for a good 7-8 hours straight.
SorbetDigital
February 9th, 2010 at 4:16 pmI love the fact that although it’s a small room it’s MY little office at home and I have the luxury of closing the door and spending time on my business away from any distractions.
I love the fact that I can work on my own with only Radio 4 and my cats for company. I do not miss the office politics I’ve put up with for the last 10 years.
I hate the fact the only view I have is of the side of another house :-(
Magda
February 15th, 2010 at 11:53 amI love that I don’t pay any rent and that I can go there after kids are asleep (rarely though, most days I am so tired I fall asleep with them) or when it is a snow day.
I hate that it is at home – because as some others have mentioned – husbands and wives seem to think that because we are at home, we have all the time in the worlds and are available to do whatever they need us to do.
I hate that because I am self-employed it is implied that whenever there is a snow day, teacher work day, school break, or a sick child – (and that is freakishly often this winter) guess who stays at home and attends to the children? Yup me.
I hate that there is nobody to brainstorm with and keep focused on work. As Drew said, I am also looking into co-working: Drew, where are you located? I am in central North Carolina! :-) It does feel lonely as a work-from home.
Nick Burd
February 21st, 2010 at 1:58 amI don’t like that I don’t really have an office. I have a desk in my living room. :(
Online Outsourcing
March 10th, 2010 at 4:38 amNeatness in the working place will give the peace of mind and also the valuable source of energy without any hesitation in the working process…You give the most important thing will be held in mind keep sharing.
Kennyh
April 15th, 2010 at 6:06 amI love the view from my homeoffice, I look out over the backyard and the meadows behind my backyard. I have large windows/glass doors which I can open when the weather outside is bright and sunny. The room is very clean and light, it’s decorated minimalistic but stylish.
tomdahm
May 19th, 2010 at 7:45 pmto quote @liz,
I <3
* its in my home!
* my coffee pot w/ self timer
* listening to any music i want as loud as i want
* singing while i work
* dancing while i work
* i have some killer gear!
I dont like that its in my basement, has inadequate lighting, and theres no door.
Kristie Raburn
June 6th, 2010 at 2:41 pmI love the fact that I can open a widow and get frresh air but I hate the fact that roosters down the street never shut up.
I love being home when my son gets home from school but I hate the noise the fridge makes when it kicks on as it makes me hungry!
I love the peace and quite I need to think but I miss the friendships of my old office mates.
Federico
August 8th, 2010 at 9:32 amIain knows it all!
febri
August 22nd, 2010 at 2:55 pmI love my office.
But, if there is something I have to hate, is my current chair. Too small :(
Jessica
August 28th, 2010 at 1:24 pmI LOVE the way I’ve decorated/painted the office its super design-y
I LOVE that there’s a chair beside my desk for the dogs to sleep on while I work
I HATE the teeny tiny window that barely lets in any light
I dont really like that it’s in my home, i’m going to keep my eyes open for an affordable rental space, it’ll be more motivation to keep structured office hours.
celeste
September 13th, 2010 at 8:01 amI have daydreams of the perfect IKEA home office. Right now I live in a 2 bd room apartment with a 1 yr old and a 3 yr old so unfortunately my home office is a desk in the corner.
I love that I can see the kids playing on the porch
I hate the desk is right near the AC vent.
I hate that my chair is so squeaky
I love that I FINALLY have it all organized
We are currently house hunting so I am looking for a home that has a den/office with a view. Here’s hoping :)
Matt
October 12th, 2010 at 2:59 amI Love that i can work on my pajamas
i Love that i have a door
I love that i have a window on my right and has a nice view
I love that i have a headphones
I hate that i dont have a good chair
I hate that i’m not organized when it comes to clean my desk or deleting extra stuff (or junk) from my pc
Claire Coombs - Freelance Graphic Design
October 18th, 2010 at 11:04 amI LOVE working whenever I want to.
I HATE working whenever I want to.
Anyone that works from home will know what I mean!
Felix
November 26th, 2010 at 9:10 amI hate my little desctop and my old chair, but i love the plants on my window sill and the view out of the window.
And i love that my desctop is at home.
Greetings from Münster germany
Felix
DeweyDuck
December 3rd, 2010 at 6:29 pmThe best is having no boss but yourself. Success is up to you and if you can’t do it for yourself.. then one needs to get a job so someone else can tell you what to do.
I love being able to go to walmart at 11am when it isn’t so crowded. I love taking a walk on beautiful sunny days. I love eating home cooked meals for lunch.
I hate that my desk is so messy. lol.
Jack
January 5th, 2011 at 10:03 amThis is a very interesting point. I just purchased a new desk and chair and it’s now very easy to work harder. Before I was always getting distracted.
The only problem for me is that at the moment my Internet connection doesn’t work too well near the window so I’ve had to move my desk to the other side of the room :D
Jack
dp
January 10th, 2011 at 11:26 amI hate my office but the rent is so cheap. If I get a nicer office for more money, I won’t be able to freelance. A definite Catch-22.
So it goes…
-dp
FreelancerOffice.com
January 20th, 2011 at 11:04 pmI love the peace and quiet. I hate phone calls ;-)
luis Mtz
February 9th, 2011 at 5:59 pmFor 2 years I was working from my Home Office, but then I decide to taste how It will be to work in a “normal” office as a freelancer and let me tell you that I love to have a place to live and another to work.
KM Studios
February 11th, 2011 at 11:47 amHate being in the basement
Hate the lack of sunlight
Hate how cold it is
love my furniture placement
love that a bathroom with sink is connected
love that my children can watch me paint
vladux
March 1st, 2011 at 10:24 amWell I think is a love and hate story, I call my home-office Meine Bunker! sometimes is a real bunker, sometimes is so clear and fresh.
reedfa
March 20th, 2011 at 1:54 pmI hate my current chair “uncomfortable”, can’t stay more than a hour.
L
April 18th, 2011 at 4:51 pmI had a large desk at one time, but somebody moved in and kicked me out on the floor. So now I’m sitting on the floor in a corner while the monitor sits on a coffee table.
I don’t want to hear any of you complaining about your offices. :P
persoonlijke lening
May 27th, 2011 at 7:52 pmHate my high desk!
bmw m5
July 20th, 2011 at 11:18 amThanks for spending the time to debate this, I feel strongly about it and love reading more on this topic. If doable, as you turn out to be an expert, would you mind updating your weblog with more details?
motorcycle trailer
July 22nd, 2011 at 11:25 amAw, this was a really nice post. In thought I want to write like this – taking time and actual effort to make an excellent article is very rare…
Bobby Kane
August 31st, 2011 at 11:28 pmI like my bar-like set up with a high seat and desk!
I hate when the temperature can’t stay just right. Hot, cold, hot, okay…
I love the 2 monitor set up, but hate that it makes more wires :/
jocuri online cu impuscaturi
September 1st, 2011 at 10:54 amAfter reading Open Thread: What Do You Love/Hate About Your Home Office? | FreelanceFolder I decided to leave a nice note for author. Keep up the good work, I hope to read soon similar blog posts. Also your blog loads up fast!
aaaaa
October 19th, 2011 at 5:35 pmI like that I am at home and never leave my bed. I like that I am not in a basement and my room has plenty of room and two windows even though I keep a blanket over on and halfway over the other. I like that I can control the temperature of my room.
I dislike that I have housemates. I wish I was completely alone and no one else except maybe one good friend who I rarely ever see. I want to be high up in a high-rise somewhere and a perfectly quiet humble apartment with lots of light and even more privacy.
a4643207
November 3rd, 2011 at 8:43 pmI’ve said that least 4643207 times. The problem this like that is they are just too compilcated for the average bird, if you know what I mean
melanie cababat
December 16th, 2011 at 1:23 amI love the office I am working in even if it is not that so spacious but it seems to be a happy place for me because it is the only place where I can be what I want, ” a part of everybody’s life through the internet…
Edward
January 4th, 2012 at 11:25 amI like everything except that it gets cluttered after a week that I de-clutter it. :)
Jake Tomb
January 23rd, 2012 at 7:17 amHello there! This post couldn’t be written any better! Reading through this post reminds me of my old room mate! He always kept talking about this. I will forward this post to him. Pretty sure he will have a good read. Thank you for sharing!
seo
January 31st, 2012 at 12:26 pmPlease let me know if you’re looking for a writer for your blog. You have some really great posts and I think I would be a good asset. If you ever want to take some of the load off, I’d really like to write some content for your blog in exchange for a link back to mine. Please shoot me an e-mail if interested. Thank you!
monster beats
February 16th, 2012 at 7:28 amIt was fun visiting here. Wishing you a great day! I wish everyone have had a great day.
office cleaning Braintree
February 17th, 2012 at 1:06 pmMy home office is in my open plan living/kitchen I love the light and the ability to make tea whenever I like.
persoonlijke lening
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Nahid
March 15th, 2012 at 4:41 amI love my workspace at home for the hardware and desk I have. The reason why I do not like it is because there are no good view outside my window and I get tired really soon with the home environment!..
Like Marie Poulin I should also rent out a space where I could get into work environment!
Romanna
March 26th, 2012 at 5:11 amGirl, China. Glad to share and hear!
Moiscesiara
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Friendship Quotes
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Jagan Krishnaraj
July 3rd, 2012 at 7:12 amI love working at my home than in my office. I usually lying on bed, with my laptop on lap that sounds very comfortable, than table at office.
The disadvantage working this type is i fell asleep if i am not doing interesting job.
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April 27th, 2013 at 10:09 pmMy office is my room and I make it sure that my desk is well lighted so put it near my window.So I just gazed outside whenever I’m thinking of ideas.Love it.
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