How to Set Up Your First Home Office

How to Set Up Your First Home Office

Working from home is not a new concept, but recent events have created a mass shift in the American workforce and more people than ever before are working from home. While simply placing a laptop on the kitchen table is one way to work from home, having a designated home office offers a better environment for productivity and is easier to set up than you might think.

• The first step is to find the right location for your home office. Although it’s great if you have a spare room to use, not everyone has this luxury. A corner of a master bedroom or living room, a loft area, or even a section of a well-insulated garage can work just as well.

• Once you find the right space, create a list of the materials you’ll need to be productive. A formal desk is best, but if you don’t own one, then any table will work. Use bookshelves or storage cubes to keep paper, pens, and other useful items within easy reach.

• Pay attention to the lighting – both natural light and lighting fixtures. Cool light, such as sunlight, is best for productivity. Make sure you have a desk lamp or floor lamp if the room doesn’t have proper natural lighting.

• Once you have the essentials set up, it’s time to add some personal touches. Add a plant or decorate a wall with pictures you enjoy, to bring the space to life. Consider the storage elements as well, such as pen holders or file folders. A home office doesn’t need to be fancy to be an effective and enjoyable space. The most important consideration is to ensure you can work in peace; it should also offer a pleasant place to be productive that is separate from your living space so you can unplug at the end of the workday.

Creating a Home Office with Limited Space and Money: The Best Tips

Creating an office is important for individuals who do a lot of work at home, but it’s not always an easy feat to pull off. If you have limited space or are on a tight budget, you may find that carving out a workspace is a huge challenge, and that can quickly cause stress or anxiety. There are several factors to consider when creating a home office, from the location to its ability to hold all the tools and resources you need, so you’ll need to make a solid plan. Think about what the costs will be for the changes you need to make and start searching for the best deals before you make any decisions.

Think about all the ways you can make the office as efficient as possible. When you don’t have a lot of room to work with, you want to find dual uses for as many items and pieces of furniture as possible. You’ll also want to make sure your office has a door so you can work without distraction.

Keep reading for some great tips on how to create a home office on a budget.

Get Everything You Need

Whether you own a business or work remotely for a company, it’s important to think about what kinds of tech and equipment you’ll need at home. A dependable laptop, wireless printer, and comfortable chair are three main components, and you can look for savings at big box stores like Best Buy or on sites like Amazon to help you save money on all three. Look for slim, compact items for your office that will be easy to put away when not in use; this will help you save space.

Look for DIY Projects

If you already have an area in your home that will work as an office, you don’t have to go overboard with changes. Adding a coat of paint and some storage solutions will go a long way; you won’t need much in the way of furniture since the space isn’t that big. Doing what you can yourself will help you save money, so rather than hiring help, have a painting party and ask a few close friends over for pizza and a night of rolling color onto the walls.

Get Organized

When you don’t have much space, it’s crucial to stay organized to avoid becoming overwhelmed. Having lots of clutter around can lead to anxiety, so it’s best to make sure you have plenty of storage solutions. Look for ways to utilize the space to your advantage, such as hanging box shelves that will keep your supplies neat or organizing your files in an accordion folder. Use labels for everything so you can stay on top of your paperwork and keep everything separate. Retailers like Office Depot or Staples have lots of affordable options to help you out.

ake It Outside

If you just can’t give up space for an office in your home, it might be time to consider a detached office space. If you have a structure on your property that can easily convert into a home office, this is a perfect option for carving out workspace. If you don’t have a shed or garage space, look to prefab steel garage spaces that can be built quickly. Most of these buildings are highly durable and energy-efficient, plus, having detached office space is a great way to ensure productivity.

Keep It Modern

One of the best ways to save money when creating your home office is to keep things modern and uncluttered. This might mean refraining from adding a landline since it will be a monthly bill plus a large deposit, and you can simply use your cell phone when needed. You can also look to free online resources, such as Gmail or a website creator, to stay in touch with your business contacts.

Creating a home office when you don’t have much room or money to work with can be a real challenge, but it doesn’t have to be stressful or anxiety-inducing. With some preparation and a little help from your friends, you can make a space in your home that will help you stay on top of your business.

Written By:
Alice Robertson
http://tidyhome.info/
alice@tidyhome.info

Do you work from home? Buy your next home with your office in mind!

If you work from home, and it is time to move to your next home, there are some factors you should consider carefully before making your decision.

The flexibility afforded by a “zero-commute” combined with the skyrocketing price of gasoline has strengthened the case for full time teleworking and telecommuting. According to an Environmental Protection Agency (2004) study:

“Americans spend an average of 46 hours per year stuck in traffic. Gridlock produces more than $63 billion in congestion costs per year”

The artist community has been well acquainted with the use of work/living spaces for years, but improvements in technology have made the benefits of teleworking and occasional telecommuting more attractive to general consumers. According to the key findings form the International Telework Association & Council (ITAC) Telework America (2000) study:

“Home-based teleworkers also have larger homes, on average, than non-teleworkers; the difference amounting to about 500 square feet. The most popular place for an office in these larger homes is a spare bedroom, with the living room a distant second. The primary home telework activity is computer work (55% of total activities), followed by telephoning, reading, and—averaging 7% of the time—face to face meetings.”

As you purchase your next home, there are certain factors to consider if you need to set up a new home office:

Make sure that your high-tech needs can be met. Have a qualified electrician inspect the wiring of the house to see if the system can handle the extra power load that your home office requires. Older homes may need significant upgrades to handle the extra power, while newer homes are built with more energy-efficient systems to handle the additional power along with heating/air conditioning requirements. If you use cable, DSL or satellite internet access, check with your local service provider to see if access is available in your new neighborhood. Shop around for your telephone provider—in some cases, business service bundles may be more cost effective than regular residential service.

Designate where your office space will be. Determine the amount of space you will need to accommodate your work style and space. In many cases a spare bedroom or living room space can be used, if a formal den option is not available. If your work requires heavy telephone usage or just heads-down concentration, you may want to consider utilizing a room with a door. Doors can be closed to reduce interruptions from other family and household noises.

Plan your office blueprint to include all required furniture, bookcases, computers, fax, and printers. Make sure to allow for filing and storage space for files and extra office supplies. Lighting is critical for computer or assembly work, so make sure to allow for direct sunlight along with any specific task lighting that may be necessary. Select flooring options that will allow you to work comfortably—you may wish to go with hardwood or laminate flooring to allow for your chair to move smoothly across the floor. Install enough phone lines to cover your home, business and fax machines needs.

Is the office easily accessible? If you will expect regular package deliveries, make sure that your designated office is easily accessible to the front door of the home. This is also necessary if you will need to meet clients or visitors in your office and would like to ensure a professional appearance for your business.

Find out about local business requirements. Some cities have zoning restrictions and guidelines for work/living spaces along with tax implications. Make sure to check with your local government to determine if special restrictions exist.

Are you ready to find a home that could allow you to work from home? Or...do you need more room in the current home you own? Give me a call - lets get you started!