5 ms·

Many people with families, or even just DINKS, would opt for private offices. Unless you've got a giant home with private space, working at the same time and w

Many people with families, or even just DINKS, would opt for private offices. Unless you've got a giant home with private space, working at the same time and while your home life goes on around you is pretty bad.

CoastalCoder 3y ago
My home isn't huge, just a raised ranch. But I was able to build a soundproofed office in a corner of my basement and it's worked like a charm.
- ibejoeb 3y ago
  I was in an airport a few weeks ago and saw a new array of soundproof "phone" booths fitted with laptop stands and high-output lighting, and it occurred to me that I should have started a business building and selling those over the past 3 years. Anyway, I'm thinking more about city dwellers who generally live in apartments.
  - philwelch 3y ago
    > Anyway, I'm thinking more about city dwellers who generally live in apartments. That’s a lifestyle that makes significantly less sense for remote workers in the long run though.
    - ibejoeb 3y ago
      I'm with you. But a lot of people still want to live in the city and not go to the office. So, I'm suggesting that, for that cohort, dedicated private offices might be compelling. It means that you probably have a short commute; you can reclaim space in your home that might have been used for work; still live in city and have access to the social offerings there; and that you retain your privacy, and potentially have even more if the case that you're co-habitating.
      - velosol 3y ago
        Higher end 'luxury' apartment buildings are frequently offering FCFS hoteling spaces and also rentable-as-you-need locking private spaces in the building as well as the modern phone booths in various parts of the buildings. If you have the income and that fits your desires you can have the city life and WFthe building you live in.
        ibejoeb 3y ago
        That would be a great amenity.
    - closeparen 3y ago
      If you are content to have your household and neighbors as your entire social world.
      - philwelch 3y ago
        I know lots of people with very active social lives who don’t live in city apartments. If anything, I’ve found city folk to be less sociable.
- lampshades 3y ago
  How were you able to soundproof it? I have an office (upstairs) that I would love to soundproof so that I don't have to wear my headphones all day.
  - CoastalCoder 3y ago
    There's a lot of structure-specific details. Happy to DM if you want, I enjoy the topic.
  - ibejoeb 3y ago
    Apparently bath towels can perform even better than bespoke acoustic paneling. I haven't tried it, but there are tons of tutorials. Here someone testing it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2eKwb58vvFI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2eKwb58vvFI This is the original one I saw when I considering doing it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pABvTWSxOes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pABvTWSxOes One more DIY with fabric and rock wool: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPEouyiEt3Q https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPEouyiEt3Q
    - CoastalCoder 3y ago
      Effective soundproofing is tricky. I had to wade through a lot of conflicting advice when I did it. I suspect a big factor is that most people do only a handful of implementations, and might overgeneralize the lessons they draw. Also, for a given structure and environment, most people can only afford to try 1-2 soundproofing approaches (wall structure, ventilation, etc.) So it's hard to know if they picked a good point in the tradeoffs space.
MattPalmer1086 3y ago
I've only got a small home. We finally turned the smallest bedroom into an office for me and the wife. It's great, and much more comfortable than commuting to an open plan noisy office. I have more desk space and nicer equipment at home.
- ibejoeb 3y ago
  Do you both use the office at the same time? Is it used a working office or more like a meeting room for when you need privacy?
  - MattPalmer1086 3y ago
    Yes, we do use it at the same time. We also have times when we need privacy and one of us has to work elsewhere. Mostly it's just me in the office though as my wife doesn't need it as often.

CoastalCoder 3y ago

My home isn't huge, just a raised ranch. But I was able to build a soundproofed office in a corner of my basement and it's worked like a charm.

ibejoeb 3y ago
I was in an airport a few weeks ago and saw a new array of soundproof "phone" booths fitted with laptop stands and high-output lighting, and it occurred to me that I should have started a business building and selling those over the past 3 years. Anyway, I'm thinking more about city dwellers who generally live in apartments.
- philwelch 3y ago
  > Anyway, I'm thinking more about city dwellers who generally live in apartments. That’s a lifestyle that makes significantly less sense for remote workers in the long run though.
  - ibejoeb 3y ago
    I'm with you. But a lot of people still want to live in the city and not go to the office. So, I'm suggesting that, for that cohort, dedicated private offices might be compelling. It means that you probably have a short commute; you can reclaim space in your home that might have been used for work; still live in city and have access to the social offerings there; and that you retain your privacy, and potentially have even more if the case that you're co-habitating.
    - velosol 3y ago
      Higher end 'luxury' apartment buildings are frequently offering FCFS hoteling spaces and also rentable-as-you-need locking private spaces in the building as well as the modern phone booths in various parts of the buildings. If you have the income and that fits your desires you can have the city life and WFthe building you live in.
      - ibejoeb 3y ago
        That would be a great amenity.
  - closeparen 3y ago
    If you are content to have your household and neighbors as your entire social world.
    - philwelch 3y ago
      I know lots of people with very active social lives who don’t live in city apartments. If anything, I’ve found city folk to be less sociable.
lampshades 3y ago
How were you able to soundproof it? I have an office (upstairs) that I would love to soundproof so that I don't have to wear my headphones all day.
- CoastalCoder 3y ago
  There's a lot of structure-specific details. Happy to DM if you want, I enjoy the topic.
- ibejoeb 3y ago
  Apparently bath towels can perform even better than bespoke acoustic paneling. I haven't tried it, but there are tons of tutorials. Here someone testing it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2eKwb58vvFI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2eKwb58vvFI This is the original one I saw when I considering doing it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pABvTWSxOes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pABvTWSxOes One more DIY with fabric and rock wool: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPEouyiEt3Q https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPEouyiEt3Q
  - CoastalCoder 3y ago
    Effective soundproofing is tricky. I had to wade through a lot of conflicting advice when I did it. I suspect a big factor is that most people do only a handful of implementations, and might overgeneralize the lessons they draw. Also, for a given structure and environment, most people can only afford to try 1-2 soundproofing approaches (wall structure, ventilation, etc.) So it's hard to know if they picked a good point in the tradeoffs space.

MattPalmer1086 3y ago

I've only got a small home. We finally turned the smallest bedroom into an office for me and the wife. It's great, and much more comfortable than commuting to an open plan noisy office. I have more desk space and nicer equipment at home.

ibejoeb 3y ago
Do you both use the office at the same time? Is it used a working office or more like a meeting room for when you need privacy?
- MattPalmer1086 3y ago
  Yes, we do use it at the same time. We also have times when we need privacy and one of us has to work elsewhere. Mostly it's just me in the office though as my wife doesn't need it as often.