Ask Slashdot: How Should I Furnish (And Secure) My Work-From-Home Office?

"If someone gave you a big chunk of change to build a small one- or two-room office, what would you do?" asks long-time Slashdot reader darkpixel2k, as he plans to build a small office out in his backyard. My plan is to trench CAT6 from our ISP fiber DMARC over to the ~12x20 building, wire the structure up for network and power, and furnish it with a small rack, UPS, switch, router, a desk, whiteboard walls, a wireless access point, and an air conditioner for the summer heat... While I have the "big picture" idea in my head, I don't really have a grasp of the fine details that would make it a comfortable work environment... Should I put down carpet and one of those plastic mats for chairs? A friend suggested I wire up speakers so I don't have to listen to my terrible laptop speakers, and a large flat-screen TV so I can display dashboards and statistics.

Lastly, physical security is somewhat of an issue. While everything is insured, downtime of a few days or weeks due to meth heads would be a huge impact to the company and also on my paycheck. I was talking with the local company that builds small office-like structures, sheds, and barns, and they said they can "double up" the 2x4s to strengthen the walls and make a stronger door, but I need to supply my own lock. Should I use some off-the-shelf lock from a big-box hardware store? Should I install a digital lock?
There's more details in the original submission -- but it's also a lot of fun to speculate about what you'd do with a big chunk of change to build your own work-from-home office. So leave your best answers for darkpixel2k in the comments. How should he furnish (and secure) his work-from-home office?

Comments

Windows, man, windows.

[Anonymous Coward]

Make sure you orient the building appropriately. Nothing like having to get up and close the drapes because the light from a window shines right on your screen between 11 and 11:45.

I'd also cover power. Outlets at too low or too high a height are a bother, and so is a paucity of them.

Easy - buyt a container.

[BarbaraHudson]

Just buy a container and convert it. Steel floor, walls, roof, doors. Paint it distinctive colors, (maybe a rainbow) and should someone try to swipe it, it will stick out like a sore thumb.

Re:Easy - buyt a container.

[BarbaraHudson]

It's done all the time, including in snowy climates. My sister has a friend who turned 3 containers into a crafts workshop, and it's going to be -21 without the wind chill in just a few hours. :-)

Painting it with bright colours that reflect more sunlight reduces the load on AC in the summer if that's a concern.

Besides, we're not talking about turning it into a home - just a work space. Still, if you want, you can even buy pre-converted shipping containers if you want to live in one. and they meet local building codes. And look at the multi-level buildings that have been built.

And then there's the data center in a shipping container, which might give some inspiration.

Think of shipping containers as giant LEGO blocks. You can build all sorts of things out of them.