Whether you’re a few years away from retiring or a professional who works from home, it makes sense to incorporate a dedicated office or workspace into your log cabin home. It’s definitely a better option than trying to work from the kitchen table or sofa.

One of the challenges of setting up a rural home office is internet access, especially if your cabin is off the beaten path or off-grid. We’ll cover that ahead. Keep reading for rustic office space ideas and tips on how to design a comfortable log cabin office.

1: Find a quiet spot.

When you’re working from home, you need a private space without productivity-killing background noise and visual distractions.

If you’re able to set aside a whole room for an office, the sky’s the limit. If you don’t have the luxury of a spare room, don’t overlook underutilized areas of the home for your workspace—like a corner of the living room, or even the empty space under a set of stairs.

If your office will be located in a main living area, use a folding divider or partition to separate your workspace from the rest of the room. This can help minimize distractions and give you more privacy.

2: Choose good lighting.

Lighting has a huge effect on your mood and productivity. It’s not just the amount of light in the room, but also the quality and color (temperature) of the light. Warm lighting is good for relaxation, but it may not be the best choice for your office space. To maximize productivity, opt for cool light bulbs in the range of 4,000-6,000K (Kelvin).

Also keep in mind that aging eyes need three times more light for comfortable reading, according to the National Institutes of Health. And it’s especially important for older individuals to avoid glare and flicker, which can add to eye strain.

Choose lighting fixtures that evenly illuminate the space and provide plenty of light. Consider dimmer switches or programmable lighting, which give you more control throughout the day and into the evening hours.

3: Plan the layout.

If you’re in the planning phase of a new log home build, now is the time to think about the layout and design of your office.

Do you want the space to feel cozy and warm, or bright and cheery? Do you want your log cabin desk to face into the room or look out onto a great view?

Think about features you might want to include, like built-in bookshelves and cabinets. Or maybe you’d like a window bench seat where you can admire the view and clear your head during breaks.

Work with your builder, general contractor, or designer to create a motivational space that helps you work your best.

4: Think about accessibility.

An important factor to consider when deciding where to place your office is who will be using the space. Is it just for you, or will the whole family be using it? Will you be working alone, or do you need to accommodate visitors?

If clients or coworkers will be visiting for projects or meetings, consider a ground-floor office with easy exterior access.

5: Consider connectivity.

One of the biggest challenges for rural homeowners is getting reliable, fast internet service. While service has improved dramatically in recent years, around 17% of rural Americans still lack access to broadband service that provides at least 25/3 Mbps, according to the FCC.

The good news is there are alternatives, including satellite, DSL, mobile broadband, and fixed wireless. You can also use a mobile hotspot with a cell phone booster for simple tasks. Many internet service providers offer plans with unlimited data, no-contract options, and remote availability.

Think about not only your day-to-day internet needs, but also your household needs. You may have a blazing fast connection—until someone else in the house launches a video call or starts streaming a movie. More devices demand more bandwidth, so factor this in when deciding on the best internet option.

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eLoghomes is one of the country’s leading log home manufacturers and builders. Our log home packages help streamline the home-building process and come with everything your builder or contractor needs to start your build. We ship our log home kits anywhere in the US and offer optional construction services for your eLoghomes shell package.

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