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Setting Up Your Home Office For Success
Posted by AtHomeMoms – September 17, 2009

So you think that a desk, phone, and computer is all you need to setup your home office?  Well think twice because it won’t be long before your business materials begin getting mixed up with your personal materials, you can’t concentrate due to household distractions, and your drowning in a sea of clutter.  Or read on and learn how to really get your home office set-up for success.

Location, location, location

Take careful consideration when choosing the best space to setup your home office.  If possible select a part of the house that is either detached or the most remote from the more commonly used areas of you house. The goal is to set up shop in a spot you are the least accessible to the family. Out of sight, out of mind.  Also, you need a location that is quiet so you can mentally depart from home and enter your world of work. Your remote location will allow you to conduct business phone calls free of household noise. Finally, choose a location with a door that can be closed. If you have children, a door that can be locked from the inside is optimal.

Home Office Ambiance

Now that you have found your location, it’s time to convert the space to look like it is meant for business. The goal is to make you feel like you’ve left your home and entered into a business environment when you walk into your home office. At the very minimum, paint the walls a different color then the rest of the house. Great office colors can be found here: Home Office Painting. If the room has carpet, consider taking it out and putting in a hardwood floor or tile. Aside from keeping the air circulating in your home office space, a ceiling fan with an industrial style will also add a sublte professional element. Finally, avoid using bedroom lamps and ornate ceiling lights. Intead, use haligen desk lamps that you can dim and track lighting on the ceiling for targeted lighting.

Home Office Layout

At its most basic, a home office needs a desk, bookshelf, and a filing cabinet. Depending on your office location and space type, you may need additional furnishings to give you privacy. For example if you do not have a door to close off your space you should bring in cubicle walls. Cubicle walls will help keep you out of site and out of mind as well as block outside noise.

Once you have all of the appropriate furnishings measure the width and depth of each piece. Use a peice of graphing paper, where each square equals 2 feet, to sketch out various floorplans. Avoid blocking your work area into a tight space. You don’t want to feel confined. If you have a window, place your desk in a way that you can see out of it. Position your computer screen away from the window or bright lights to eliminate any glare.

Basic Home Office Gear and Supplies

Here is a basic checklist of the items you will need for your home office:

• Computer
• High Speed Internet Connection
• Telephone
• Dedicated Business Phone Line w/Voice Mail
• Hands Free Headset
• Fax Machine 0r Fax Software
• Printer
• Lable Printer
• Printer Paper
• Pens, Pencils, Paperclips, Stapler
• Highlighters
• Several 3 Ring Binders
• Paper Trays
• Notepads

Keep It Clean and Orderly

Finally your home office is ready for business. No matter how much time and thought you put into the design and layout, it will all go for naught if you let paper and trash piles build up. Having a disorganized office will slow you down. Take the time each day to tidy up and file paperwork. The best time to do some filing is at the end of the day. Not only will you have an organized desk when you walk in the next morning, but the act of putting work files away, helps you to mentally put your work away for the rest of the day. Dusting and trash removal should take place at least twice a week, preferably in the morning so your space is clean and clear for your day.