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Does Your Home Office Need an Upgrade? 5 Things Cabinets Can Do

A well-organized office helps you focus and stay productive. So if you’re still working at your kitchen counter or a simple desk in your home office, it’s time to consider an upgrade. Here are 5 things cabinets can do.

1. Add Storage to Your Desk

Do you have stacks of papers, files, and office supplies all over your desk? Undoubtedly, investing in a custom office desk that includes cabinets can help. Truly, your desk should function as more than a place to set your laptop. First, think of all the things you need to use at your desk. Now, imagine having a desk that includes built-in storage for all of it. Nice, right?

Here at Edgewood Cabinetry, we build custom desks to your specifications, so the sky is the limit on the features you’d like to include.  Need a paper tray to organize your notes, incoming, and outgoing mail? No problem. Want to corral all your small office supplies? Built-in drawers with drawer organizers are perfect. Or maybe you can’t stand clutter. Then, keep your necessary supplies out of sight behind hidden panels. The possibilities are endless.

2. Create Designated Work Areas

You don’t have to fit everything on your desk. Utilizing custom cabinets allows you to create designated work areas within your office. For example, instead of keeping your printer on your desk, create a separate printing station. Add cabinets to hold extra supplies, like reams of paper. Or build custom bookcases to organize your books and display your favorite items.

Creating designated spaces within your office helps it feel bigger and brings necessary flow to the environment. With this in mind, anything you don’t constantly use can be tucked away in its own separate area but continue to be easily accessible when you need it.

3. Improve Style

Let’s face it, while your home office is about working, it’s a lot more pleasant if you enjoy the space. Fortunately, custom office cabinets allow you to bring in your own personal style. So think about the style you like best and replicate that within your office.

Whether you enjoy a sleek, modern design, a more traditional approach, with stately furnishings and plenty of wood grain on display, or anything in between, we have custom cabinet options to suit your taste. Plus, we can match any color stain or paint and add custom moldings and appliques to enhance the style of your room.

4. Hide Your Cables

Technology has brought a lot to our lives, but one of the things we really didn’t ask for? All those cords and cables. Phones, printers, computers, monitors–chances are, your office contains a lot of power cords and cables. So if you’re sick of tripping over them, hitting them with your foot when you’re sitting at your desk, or just seeing them all the time, let custom cabinets ease your troubles.

Thankfully, with hidden cable storage, your cables can be tucked out of sight no matter where in your office you choose to house your electronics. But don’t worry, they’re still easily accessible if you ever need to move your electronics or replace your cables.

5. Increase Your Space

Feeling cramped? Multiply your useful space with custom cabinets. No matter how small your home office is, custom cabinets can help you increase your space. Significantly, with custom cabinets, you’re not limited to the dimensions available from big box stores. As a result, you’ll be able to use of more (or all) of your wall space. If you have limited floor space but plenty of empty walls, custom cabinets are a perfect solution to increase your functional storage.

For instance, add custom-built book cases with book case ladders, fit more into your cabinets with custom organizers, or include built-in chair storage to help free up your space. Alternatively, try rolling storage carts for less frequently used items. When not in use, they can be tucked into a corner or closet. We can even add a custom entertainment center to your office, which is perfect if you spend a lot of time on video calls and conferences.

Are you ready to upgrade your home office? Contact us to get started.

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Small Home Office Cabinets

Adding Custom Cabinets To A Small Home Office

Having a small home office doesn’t mean you can’t have storage space or elegant office cabinets to make your space look more professional.

The right cabinets have the power to completely transform your small space and even make it look larger. Plus, you’ll love having space to store things besides just on your desk.

Even if you don’t have much space, cabinets are still an option. Remember, these are custom cabinets, so they’re made to fit your space, not the other way around.

Why Use Custom Office Cabinets

When you think about custom cabinets, you first thought might be that those are just for kitchens, but custom works anywhere you need cabinets. While pre-fabricated cabinets are nice enough, they don’t always fit your space. This leaves you compromising or giving up on cabinets completely if your small home office is too small.

Custom cabinets come with numerous benefits. The most obvious is you can get the exact size you need. Need a cabinet about the half the width of a standard pre-fab cabinet? No problem. Need custom drawer depths for different office supplies and files? Custom office cabinets give you this too.

Small Home Office Storage Space

The more thing a large office has over a small home office is ample storage space. These larger offices have much more room for large, sprawling cabinets and bookcases. But, you don’t have to just settle for a tiny filing cabinet or a storage container under your desk with your files and supplies.

Instead, use custom office cabinets to add more storage space. For instance, you may have room above your desk or along the right side of the wall. Even thinner cabinets help you create a more organized, professional look that’ll boost your productivity.

Using Vertical Space

When your dealing with a smaller space, vertical space is your best friend. Since you don’t always have a lot of horizontal space, add custom cabinets vertically. A set of cabinets above your desk takes the place of cabinets along the walls on either side of your desk. You can also add shelves along another wall or a floor-to-ceiling cabinet.

The idea is to make the most of the room above your desk versus just beside it or behind it. You can even use the sides of a cabinet to hang commonly used items, a whiteboard for taking quick notes, a calendar or anything else you need.

All In One Cabinet Design

For an extremely small home office, an all in one cabinet design might work best. You’ll definitely want to opt for custom cabinets here. For these, your desk, cabinets and shelves are all one piece. Often, the entire office space closes up like a pantry. This works well if you’re using a corner of your living room or even a closet for your office.

By being able to close a door on your cabinet to close your office, you keep your office and home separated. Lushome provides a variety of great all in one ideas to show you just how much you can fit into such a small space.

Combine Cabinets And Desk

When designing a small home office, you have to think about ways to maximize the space. The easiest way to do this is to combine your cabinets and desk. Instead of trying to have a separate desk with cabinets behind or in front of it, put the two together. Then, you’ll have cabinets on either side of your desk and directly above your desk.

The actual desk part is simply a small empty space between two cabinets for your legs. If you plan to use a foot rest or under the desk cycler, make sure your custom cabinets are designed to fit what you need without bumping your knees.

Adding custom cabinets to your small home office is the perfect way to get the most from your space. Contact us today to start planning your office cabinets.

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Home Office Fitout - 8 Things You Need To Do

Home Office Fit-Out – 7 Things You Need To Do

You’ve finally got your home office space, but now what? It’s time for a home office fit-out. You get to turn your empty space into a dream office.

A fit-out is about more than just putting in a desk and a chair. It’s about creating the entire interior to best fit your needs.

Even though it might seem daunting at first, you’ll be nothing but happy when you sit down for the first time to work. With the right office, you’ll even be more productive.

Home Office Fitout - 8 Things You Need To Do1. Think About Lighting

Lighting is one of the most important parts of any home office. It’s actually a great way to increase productivity. A good rule is it’s always better to be too bright than too dim. The last thing you want is to strain your eyes. Ideally, incorporate several different light sources. Overhead lights work well for lighting your entire office. However, adding a few well-placed lamps work well when you don’t need as much light. Also, if your office allows for it, add a window for natural light. Just make sure to angle your desk so the sun doesn’t hurt your eyes or reflect off your screen.

2. Choose Your Colors

When you first start thinking about colors, you might immediately think about painted walls. A home office fit-out should ultimately make you happy, so think about what you like and want.

You could opt for brighter colors, such as yellow or green. MarthaStewart.com recommends some of the top home office colors. However, deeper colors work well if you’re planning on having lighter furniture. Think carefully about any theme you want to achieve, such as more casual, professional or matching the rest of your home. Ideally, try to make your home office look different from the rest of your home to better separate it as a work space.

3. Carpet Or Hardwood

Both carpet and hardwood make great choices for your home office fit-out flooring. Carpet keeps your office quieter, especially if you’re rolling around in a chair. However, it’s much harder to keep clean. Hardwood as a more professional and classic look. It can also help set off your desk and cabinets.

4. Choose Your Layout

Study Cabinets The Creative Addition To Your Home OfficeYour home office layout might not seem important just yet, but if you’re having custom office cabinets installed, you’ll need to know the best place to put them for your own convenience. Another thing is figuring out outlet placement and if you need to add any outlets. For example, if you want your desk in the far right corner, but the nearest outlet on the opposite wall, you’re not going to want to have a drop cord run across the room.

Design your layout before moving in any furniture. If you need to make changes, especially to lighting, how the door opens and outlets, it’s much easier to do now than later.

5. Think About Your Desk

Your desk is the focal point of your home office. The sky’s the limit on the possibilities of where you want it and how you want it to look. Your desk should help you stay organized and focused. It can be free-standing in the center of the room or placed against a wall. It could even be built into your cabinets.

While you can buy desks, consider a custom-built desk to get the exact size and features you want. For instance, if you’re low on space, your chair may fold up completely into the desk.

6. Add-In Custom Cabinets

This is a must-have for a great home office fit-out. Custom cabinets not only look great, but add personality and extra storage to your office. Instead of picking stock cabinets, opt for custom cabinets that make your home office easier to use. For instance, the right cabinets can reduce cord clutter, display awards, offer hidden storage, feature note boards and much more.

Take the time to carefully design the home office cabinets you want. It’s okay to get creative. After all, this is your office.

7. Maximize The Space

Having a huge home office is nice, but what if you’re low on space? We’ve provided a guide on how to get the most from your office space. In this case, your home office fit-out might trend more vertically. For instance, you might have a few ceiling lights, but no lamps. You’d have cabinets that go from floor-to-ceiling versus more spread out. Odds are, your desk and cabinets are likely going to be made together to make the most of your space.

Your dream home office fit-out can begin today. All it takes is a little planning to get started. When you’re ready, contact us to help design the perfect desk/cabinet combos and custom cabinets for your new office.

Image: Kirkandmimi

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Study Cabinets The Creative Addition To Your Home Office

Study Cabinets: The Creative Addition To Your Home Office

Does it feel like your home office is missing something? Study cabinets could be the creative addition you’ve been searching for.

Sure, you have a desk and a chair, but wouldn’t it be nice to be able to store everything away neatly? You could even display collectibles, awards and more to help inspire you while you work.

The great thing is you can be as creative as you want. Stick with standard cabinets or go with something more unique. The choice is completely yours.

Create A More Productive Office

Study Cabinets The Creative Addition To Your Home OfficeNot sure why you’re not as productive as you’d like, even after six cups of coffee? It could simply be that your home office doesn’t make you happy. In fact, one study proved that happy people are 12% more productive. Naturally, you have to at least kind of like your job too.

However, adding study cabinets to better organize the office, add more personality and even make the space feel more warm and comfortable helps you feel happier while you’re working. This means you could finally get the productivity boost you’ve been looking for, at least if you can eliminate all the random distractions at home.

Mix Things Up

When you think about study cabinets, you may just think of simple cabinets. However, you can get extremely creative. We’ve listed seven ways to get more from your home office just with different types of cabinets and storage options. Just a few different options to consider include:

  • Open shelving
  • Glass doors to showcase items and collections
  • Pegboard areas to attach important notes
  • Various sizes of drawers to match your needs
  • Hidden storage areas
  • Fold out furniture and counters
  • Built-in desk area

Basically, if you dream it, it can probably be done.

Add Luxurious Flourishes

Home Office Fitout - 8 Things You Need To DoYour study cabinets don’t have to be plain. Instead, put your personality on full display. Using trim molding around upper cabinets adds a nice luxurious flourish to standard cabinets. Opting for different types of wood, such as cherry or mahogany, can really set off your office. Of course, you could always add decorative trims to the bottoms of upper cabinets too, especially if your cabinets are different heights.

Play around with different door and drawer knobs and handles. You’d be amazed at just how much of a difference this simple hardware makes.

Eliminate Cord Clutter

No matter how wireless you decide to go, you’re still going to have cords everywhere. It’s just the hazard of a home office. Or,  you could eliminate all the cord clutter with creative study cabinets that hide it all for you. Built-in sections allow you to run cords through the cabinets without worrying about them hanging on anything. Plus, you can have a smaller area to open that gives you access to all the plug-ins so you don’t have to worry about ever accidentally unplugging anything.

Opt For Two-In-One Designs

While you have quite a few options when it comes to different study cabinet designs, a great way to save space is with two-in-one designs. For instance, a smaller office might not have space for cabinets and a desk. So, have the desk built in to the cabinets. Need extra desk space sometimes? Have a faux drawer that pulls out into extra desk space. When you combine functions into a single cabinet design, you save space and still have a great office.

Easily Go From Office To Guest Room

Don’t have space for a home office and a guest room? You’re not alone. However, you don’t have to choose. After all, why should you when you can create a fold out bed in your office? By designing what looks like a simple pantry or wardrobe, you can fold out a nice bed for your guests to use when they come to town. Simply add a larger computer monitor or a TV on your desk for your guests to use while they’re there.

Otherwise, the bed looks like a cabinet that matches the rest of your home office. Now, you don’t have to choose and everyone is happy.

Looking to design creative study cabinets for your home office? Let Edgewood Cabinetry help you design and create the perfect home office for you.

Image: Fran Hogan

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Get The Most Out Of Your Home Office

7 Things You Can Do To Get The Most Of Your Home Office

Your home office gives you the freedom to skip the morning commute and even work in your pajamas if you want.

However, it’s important to make the most of the space you have to create an office that fits your work needs. Whether it’s a large space or something as tiny as a closet, the right cabinets and furniture give you a work oasis that makes your job seem more enjoyable.

If you’re just creating your first home office or remodeling your old one, don’t just settle for a chair and desk. Get more from your home office than you ever thought possible.

1. Start With Cabinets

While a desk and chair might seem like the combination to organize the rest of your office around, your cabinets should be the top priority. Why? Every office needs storage. Whether it’s shelves to store a few books or floor-to-ceiling cabinets to store equipment, storage is a must.

The good news is you can create any type of home office cabinets you want. Just a few common options include:

  • Floor-to-ceiling on one or more walls
  • Cabinets along the lower half to double as extra workspace
  • Cabinets along the upper half to maximize vertical space
  • Extension of your desk
  • Free-standing cabinets and bookcases

Another benefit of starting with your cabinets is you’re also able to create the entire atmosphere for the room. Want a deep, old-school look? You’ll want a darker wood or a darker stain. Want to brighten a darker office? Use a lighter wood or use a brighter paint, such as white to better reflect light and brighten the room.

2. Combine Your Desk And Cabinets

When you’re short on space, you might have to make your cabinets do double-duty. You don’t need a separate free-standing desk. Instead, build a desk into your cabinets. By creating a cubby to work in, you leave more space to move around. Plus, you still get ample storage space. Remodelholic has a great example of a custom desk built into the cabinets.

3. Create Fold Out Spaces

Low on space or sometimes need extra desk room? What about a cabinet door that folds out into a table or a table that expands when needed? Furniture and storage that fold out into larger pieces allow you to have more room to set things and work when you need it, but conveniently fold up out of the way when you need more space to move around.

4. Think Vertically

In tight spaces, you don’t always have room for floor-to-ceiling cabinets. In fact, you don’t have much room at all for cabinets at the floor level. However, don’t forget about vertical space. Adding shelves or cabinets above your desk gives you extra storage, but doesn’t get in the way otherwise. Want a more open look and feel? Stick with thin cabinets or open cabinets to give the illusion of extra space.

5. Add Organization Under Your Desk

Often times, a desk looks just like the one in our blog post’s image. While that’s nice, it doesn’t let you get the most out of your home office.

For instance, what about all the cables hanging off your desk for a light, computer, charging cable and more? You could have a custom desk (or add on to an existing desk) with built-in cable storage. Simply having a shelf directly under the desk and one or two well-placed holes allow you to organize all your cables easily.

What about items you need often? Adding shelves or drawers under your desk are an ideal way to maximize the space you have. After all, you’re probably not using all the available space with just your legs.

6. Use Shelving Or Cabinets For A Desk

Don’t want a traditional desk or just don’t have room for one? Get more space for cabinets and moving around by simply using a shelf or cabinet as your desk. A shelf is pretty self-explanatory, but a cabinet might seem more complicated since you don’t have a place to sit ergonomically.

This is a quick fix by adding a slide-out keyboard tray to a cabinet along the floor. Slide out the tray and suddenly you have the perfect place to sit and work.

7. Get Creative With Drawers

Drawers aren’t just empty boxes. Use them to add space with slide-out platforms. Organize office supplies with a built-in organizer. Replace the baseboard with a secret drawer at the floor for added storage. Remember, organizers and creativity let you turn drawers and even cabinets into something amazing.

Ready to create the perfect home office you’ve always dreamed of? Contact Edgewood Cabinetry to learn more about our home office solutions.

Image: ErikaWittlieb

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Bespoke Office

The Secret To Designing Your Own Bespoke Office

No one loves sitting in a bland cubicle or a cookie cutter home office. They’re boring and mind-numbing, neither of which helps you with work.

Designing your own bespoke office if like creating an oasis that’s all your own. You get a custom design in the wood, colors and styles that suit you best.

After all, if just walking into your office makes you feel happier, you’ll be more eager to start your day. However, there are a few secrets to ensuring you get the office of your dreams.

Know Your Style Theme

Do you want something more modern or maybe more classic? What about a minimalist design? Odds are, you have some type of theme in mind. Before you work with someone to help build your bespoke office, know your theme. This helps them to better understand what type of furniture you have in mind, including which types of wood work best.

If you need some inspiration to figure out your theme, Architectural Digest has 50 inspiring home office designs and House Beautiful lists 20 great productive office designs.

Consider What Makes You Happy

Stop for a moment and think about what makes you truly happy. Perhaps you love an office with a bit of greenery, but space is limited. Consider designing shelving with open shelves on the outsides next to your window. Sit a few plants on the shelves without sacrificing desk space.

Do you love the look of old offices filled with darker woods and embellished carvings on shelves, chairs and desks? Design a bespoke office around what gets your creative juices flowing. The right office environment is scientifically proven to make you more productive. So, consider what types of elements make you happiest and design around those.

Keeping It Private

Some offices don’t have four walls to maintain privacy. However, this doesn’t mean you can’t have your own private office. The key is to design your own bespoke office with furniture that creates a more private environment. For instance, if you’re sharing an office with someone else, you might consider a floor-to-ceiling bookcase to split the office.

Another option would be to opt for a caddy-corner design with angular desks that fit into opposite corners. A large bookcase in the center of the room serves as a privacy screen and creates a unique looking office.

Before meeting with a builder, carefully consider how to make your office seem as private as possible so you’re not constantly being disturbed.

Leave Room To Move

While some people are lucky enough to have large rooms to use for their offices, others have little more than a closet. This doesn’t mean you have to be cramped.

Instead, talk to your designer about creative bespoke furniture options. You can customize the designs to not only fit smaller spaces, but still leave you room to move. Perhaps you could have a desk that looks like it belongs in a billionaire’s office, but it actually rolls to the side to reveal a short hidden bookcase.

Talk to your builder about the space available. You can still have the office of your dreams, but it might just be on a smaller scale.

Choosing Your Storage

To optimize productivity, you want storage that’s easy to get to, at least for the items you use most. After all, you wouldn’t want to have to walk across the room every time you needed to answer the phone. This is why you place it on your desk.

Depending on your design theme, you’ll want to talk about custom-sized drawers to store files, supplies, manuals, tech accessories and more. With custom drawers, the items you need most fit perfectly versus getting lost in deep desk drawers. You might even include a hidden compartment to hide a flash drive with all your passwords.

The same goes for bookcases and shelving. While most traditional offices do have bookcases, you may want something different. You may prefer cabinets that have doors that match you chairs or floating shelves to showcase your accolades.

Are you ready to design your own bespoke office? Contact our team today to start discussing your design ideas.

Image: ErikaWittlieb

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Home Office Cabinets

Design Tips For Picking The Right Cabinetry For Your Home Office

Your home office is a unique area. While it’s still part of your home, you want it to feel more professional, especially if clients come to your office.

While many people put their focus on their desk and chairs, the right cabinetry is just as important. Home office cabinets aren’t just for storage.

They help create a more professional tone and can change the entire look of the room. When picking your cabinets, use these five tips.

Storage Or Display

The first thing to consider is whether your home office cabinets are more for storing items or displaying them. If storage is your main concern, you’ll likely want cabinets with more sections, drawers and doors. This helps to keep your office more organized. This also creates a professional, library-style feel.

If you want a more airy feel, display style cabinetry works better. This style usually only has doors along the bottom shelves. The rest of the shelves are open to showcase favorite books, photos and equipment.

Compliment Your Home

Your home office doesn’t have to seem foreign compared to the rest of your house. To avoid feeling like you’re stepping into a bland cubicle or nameless corporate office, try matching your cabinets to the rest of your home decor. This creates a more welcome, relaxing environment.

This is a great approach if you don’t have a separate room for your office. Your cabinets blend into the decor, but still make your office area look professional.

Doors Or Open

This design choice mainly depends on how much privacy you want. Doors automatically give more privacy, which works well for storing client data. Of course, doors also help make an office look far more organized, even if it’s chaos behind the cabinet doors.

While doors often look more professional, open cabinets make it easier to quickly see and grab whatever you need. However, it’s easy for this style to look more like plain bookcases. To spice things up and make your office feel more unique, consider cabinets with custom spaced shelves. Each shelf block can be different sizes, creating a stunning look whenever anyone walks into the room.

Stained Or Painted

To truly set the tone of your office, you have to decide between stained or painted cabinets. Part of this choice depends on whether you want your office to look more like the rest of your home.

Stained cabinets give a classic, professional look. However, going with a brighter, painted color makes your office seem larger. If you’re running a business, having your cabinets match the color of your brand is also a nice touch and makes clients feel more at ease when coming to your home office.

Stained cabinets are best if you’re already using stained furniture, such as a desk. If you’re not using wooden furniture, painted cabinets work well, especially if you match them to any colors in your office furniture.

Available Space

Your cabinets shouldn’t take over your home office. Instead, they should fit naturally into the design. This means carefully considering how they’ll fit into your space and around your existing furniture. For larger spaces, a floor-to-ceiling cabinet might work well and help fill the space. However, smaller home offices might work better with shorter cabinets that also function as extra desk space.

If you’re sharing the space with someone else, having two sets of smaller cabinets versus one large set may be the best approach. This also allows you to use the cabinets to separate the space into two distinct areas.

If you need inspiration on how to best lay out your office to see what types of cabinets work best for you, consider Shopify’s guide to a more productive space or Entrepreneur’s guide to the best home office.

Are you designing your dream home office? See how our custom office cabinets help you create the best workspace possible.

Image: Pixabay.com

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home office cabinets-edgewood custom cabinetry

Home Office Raleigh NC

This customer had a vision in mind for his home office and we delivered.

A place for everything and everything in its place as the key board tray, dual monitors, printers and pc towers are out of sight by simply closing a door or sliding in a tray.

Give Edgewood Custom Cabinetry a call for your next project.

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