Creating a Home Office

New technology has allowed an increasing number of people to work from home.  For many workers the home office has replaced a cube in a large office building and they are enjoying the benefits of a work day free of a long commute.  It is important to set up a home office that is both functional and beautiful so you enjoy the time you spend in your office and work efficiently.  Here are some tips on setting up a home office from Sitepoint.

Identify Your Workspace

We’d all love to have an empty room to convert into a home office, but sometimes there just isn’t the space. Or if you’re like me, you may have a home office “home base,” but work best when you change up the scenery (I work all over my house with my laptop).

The most important step of creating a home workspace is picking a spot and identifying it as your “office.” Regardless of where it is, you should not only start to think of that space as a work-only space, but get the support of your family and other household members up front.

Limit the “Living” Space

Once you have a workspace identified, you need to make it work-ready. Try to separate the area from your living space as much as possible with a shoji screen, strategic furniture placement or even a curtain. Create a separate feel, even if your workspace is part of another area of your home.

Focus on the Must-Have’s

What do you need to do your work at a bare minimum? For most of us, this means a modem and/or wireless router, a computer, a surge protector, a flat surface of some sort, a phone and maybe a printer. That’s the most basic physical needs for a web-based business.

Some other potential necessities include a fax machine, an uninterruptible power supply (UPS), a local server, a backup computer, filing cabinets and shelving. Your workspace should accommodate the must-have’s, whatever you identify them to be.

Organize Your Space

Organization is important for every home office, and the smaller the workspace the more important it is. Setup a system for storage and filing, get rid of all the unnecessary stuff and clean out your space regularly. If you have storage space available in your home, consider using it to store less frequently used files and supplies.

Set Ground Rules

If you are working with children at home, creating rules for both your workspace and work time is extremely important. Everyone in your household should be aware of where your workspace is located, what is on the do-not-touch list and what behaviors are expected when you’re working.

Be Flexible

Your business will grow, your family may grow, your living arrangements may change, and the configuration of your office and your needs may change as well. Take a look at your set up from time-to-time and re-evaluate so you can reorganize and redesign when necessary.

Here are some photos of beautiful home offices from Elle Decor: