Create an ideabook for your next remodeling project!
Browse more than 1,500,000 photos from top designers and save your favorites
Home Offices: How to Set Up a Great Workspace for Two
See how to design a comfortable home office for both independent work and creative collaborations
Houzz Contributor. Pangaea Interior Design is an award winning design firm specializing in residential projects including new construction, remodeling and kitchen & bath design. Pangaea's style is characterized by clean lines and uncluttered interiors that are warm, comfortable, inviting and reflect the personal taste and interests of her clients. Call to schedule your initial consultation and you'll be well on the way to the home of your dreams. 503-.816.4394
Houzz Contributor. Pangaea Interior Design is an award winning design firm... More »
It can be wonderful to share an office! Isolation is one thing that is very hard for people who work at home alone. The chance to enjoy some collaboration, to have some help with your work, or just to laugh together once in awhile can make the work-at-home experience much more pleasant. But along with the upside come some possible pitfalls.
You are not good candidates for a shared office if:
If nothing listed above is a problem, a shared office may be right for you. Below are several different office arrangements with observations on how they help the people working in them to peacefully co-exist.
More: 15 Ways to Be More Inspired By Your Studio
You are not good candidates for a shared office if:
- One likes music while working and the other wants absolute silence
- You both have to talk on the phone a lot and at the same time
- One thinks 65º is comfortable and the other shivers when it drops below 70º
- You have different ideas of what constitutes a clean office
If nothing listed above is a problem, a shared office may be right for you. Below are several different office arrangements with observations on how they help the people working in them to peacefully co-exist.
More: 15 Ways to Be More Inspired By Your Studio
| Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
|
| Interaction style — Independent: Facing away from each other is a good arrangement when your need for interaction is minimal. It also works best for anyone who finds themselves easily distracted by the movements of another person. Rolling chairs allow you to conveniently scoot across to the other desk if you need to work on anything together. Storage: The drawers and cubbies to the side of the desks are easily accessible by either person without disrupting the other. Phone use: If both of you need to use the phone once in awhile, the farther apart you are the better. If both of you need to use the phone a lot, you aren't good candidates for a shared office. You won't be able to hear yourself think if you're both talking at the same time. |
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
Interaction style — Independent: A long L-shaped desk can work as well as desks that face away from each other for people who need some separation of space. The desks need to be long enough that you don't back into the other person when moving back away from the desk to get up.
|
by Robert Granoff
»
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
|
| Interaction style — Collaborative: Facing each other across a large desk would be a good arrangement for two people who spend most of their time interacting with each other. It can also be a nice arrangement if the two people just particularly enjoy each other's company and are not easily distracted. This would also work better for two people who are not on the telephone much. It would be very uncomfortable for two people on phone conversations at the same time. Storage: In this office the bulk of the storage space is behind one of the desks. A window is behind the desk on the left. If both people need to access the storage often, it could become annoying to the person nearest the storage to have the other person in their space too often. If you both need access to the same storage, try to locate it where both can reach it without disturbing the other person. Lighting: Are you both comfortable with the same amount of light? These desks both have ample natural light from the windows and an equal amount of light coming from ceiling fixtures. Desk lamps would affect the light for both people. |
| Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
|
| Storage: Do you each need your own storage? This office would accommodate people who work collaboratively but have their own separate items to store and access. Providing at least some individual storage is good so that you each have your own pens, stapler, paper — whatever you need very often. |
| Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
|
| Comfort: What does each person require to be comfortable? Sharing an office doesn't mean that you need to have identical work areas. Each person's desires should be taken into consideration. Not too long ago, I helped clients who had very different needs for comfort but really wanted to share their home office. One felt most comfortable sitting at a desk to do her work and she wanted strong task lighting. Her partner hated sitting at a desk and instead wanted a big comfortable chair to curl up in with her laptop or books — and she wanted soft lighting. This office might have been designed for a similar couple. There is a desk and chair with a good desk lamp for one person, while there is also a comfortable chair with a side table lit softly from a wall sconce for the other person. |
| Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
|
| Space requirements: What workspace does each person need? It isn't always identical. Even when two people both use desks and do the same type of work, one may have a style where they like to spread everything out on their desk, while the other likes to keep things more compact. If the person who needs larger desktop area doesn't get it, they may end up spreading out onto the other person's area or onto joint areas, making the other person feel like their space is being invaded. To avoid friction, evaluate workspace needs independently and provide accordingly. |
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
Interaction style — Semi-independent: Do you each work on your own, but often need to look at something together like blueprints or drawings? It's easier to look at things together when you sit next to each other. In this office, both occupants have a nice view out the window and can work on their own and look up to contemplate without staring straight at each other.
Storage: The shared storage works well off to one side where both can easily reach everything.
Storage: The shared storage works well off to one side where both can easily reach everything.
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
Interaction style — Semi-independent: Do you sometimes work separately and sometimes want to sit together talking things over?
This office has both covered with an extra long desk area separated by drawers for independent work, plus cozy swivel chairs for those fun brainstorming sessions.
Lighting: Each person has her own task lighting so she can adjust lighting to her own preference.
To sum things up:
1. First, decide if you are good candidates for shared office space by determining individual needs for quiet, neatness, comfort, and phone use.
2. Arrange desks facing toward or away from each other or side-by-side, based on interaction styles.
3. Place shared storage so that both can access it without disturbing each other.
4. Provide individual storage and items so each person has what they need when they need it without having to borrow back and forth.
5. If lighting preferences are different, give each person their own adjustable task lighting and arrange desks so each can control their own light.
6. Accommodate differences in comfort requirements such as different chair styles.
7. Allow distance apart for phone use. Constant phone use by both people is an indicator that shared office space isn't a good option.
Do you share a workspace? Please share your photo below!
More: How to Set Up a Multipurpose Office Space
15 Ways to Be More Inspired By Your Studio
This office has both covered with an extra long desk area separated by drawers for independent work, plus cozy swivel chairs for those fun brainstorming sessions.
Lighting: Each person has her own task lighting so she can adjust lighting to her own preference.
To sum things up:
1. First, decide if you are good candidates for shared office space by determining individual needs for quiet, neatness, comfort, and phone use.
2. Arrange desks facing toward or away from each other or side-by-side, based on interaction styles.
3. Place shared storage so that both can access it without disturbing each other.
4. Provide individual storage and items so each person has what they need when they need it without having to borrow back and forth.
5. If lighting preferences are different, give each person their own adjustable task lighting and arrange desks so each can control their own light.
6. Accommodate differences in comfort requirements such as different chair styles.
7. Allow distance apart for phone use. Constant phone use by both people is an indicator that shared office space isn't a good option.
Do you share a workspace? Please share your photo below!
More: How to Set Up a Multipurpose Office Space
15 Ways to Be More Inspired By Your Studio
Comments
Nanette Baker of Interiors by Nanette Hi Pangaea, here's my two-person home office! Nanette Baker of Interiors by Nanette. 
19 months ago · Like
· 
6
6
beeje We used a previous Houzz "home office for 2" spread for ideas for our renovation this summer. My husband is a full-time telecommuter and our home office is only about 9x12, circa 1970 raised ranch. We're both very happy with the results of our efforts and I am thrilled he'll be working in less dungeon-like conditions from now on. Our dogs, Maggie Brown and Brego Black, also enjoy hanging out with Dad while he works. 
19 months ago · Like
Tileshop Love the wingback chair at the desk! I've done that before and the client loved it but others thought I was crazy. Thanks for the validation.
19 months ago · Like
deebr My husband and I both work from home. Here is our office for two. We spend hours in here every day. We recently reorganized and have managed to tame all the wires and paperwork (for now). 
14 months ago · Like
· 1
1
Ideabook updated on Oct. 20, 2011.
What are you working on?
News From Our Partners
Latest Ideabooks
People found the photos in this ideabook after searching for:
View over a million photos:
basements · bedrooms · dining rooms · entries · family rooms · garage and sheds · halls · home offices · landscapes · laundry rooms · powder rooms · wine cellars and more.
