Over the past decade many people have gone from commuting to an office every day, to now working from their own home office. Advancements in technology have made it possible for people to have success in business without having to leave their home. As these advancements continue to grow, having an office inside the home has become a real necessity for many people. There are a few things you will want to consider before you begin creating your office space in your home. It's important that your new office allows you to be efficient in your non-traditional working environment. Here are 5 questions to consider as you plan your space.
1. Where do I want my home office located?
The location of your office will play a big role in your productivity. First, determine how much room you need for your office. Then choose a room in your home that you want to designate as your new office space. The ideal location would be in an area of your home that has a level of privacy to it. You don't want to set your home office up right next to a busy kitchen or family room. If your line of work will consist of clients coming into your home, a room in the front area of your home may work best. Consider selecting a room that has a window in it as well. This will help make your office feel open and bright, instead of closed off and confined.
2. What colour should I paint my office?
When it comes to a color for your office, it should be one that fits your own personality. After all, you will be spending a lot of time in this space. You'll want to pick a color that also creates a mood that will make you enjoy being in there. For example, a bright color like yellow will make the room feel cheerful, which will allow you to enjoy being in that room working. A dark color, like black or grey, will make the room feel drab. You may have a hard time staying motivated to complete a project in a dark room. Different colors will affect your mood in different ways, so it's a good idea to know what kind of mood you are wanting to create with your overall office design.
3. What kind of office equipment do I need?
First and foremost, you will want to get a good desk and chair. Make sure your chair offers good back support and is comfortable to sit in for long periods of time. Next, you will want to have a good computer with a sufficient amount of memory. It's not a bad idea to have an office phone too. Having a designated office phone has more of a professional touch when customers or clients call. You will have days when you need to print documents, so investing in a 3-in-1 copy, scanner, printer will help your work day to flow better. High speed internet with a stable connection is a must have as well. You don't want to be in the middle of closing a deal, only to have an unstable internet connection crash on you.
4. How can I make my office feel cozy?
There are a few things you can do with your office design that will make your office feel cozy. Try adding some plants or flowers. They can be real or fake. This will give your eyes some touches of nature to look at while you are working. Another thing you can to do make your office feel cozy is putting a small couch in there. You can add a couple of colorful throw pillows and a soft throw blanket to the couch as well. When your eyes need a break from the computer, you can transition over to your comfy couch and go over paperwork or billing while relaxing. Add some pictures of family, your favorite places, or your pets in your office space. Even though your office is in your home, it is still nice to have pictures of those we love close by on our desk.
5. How do I hide all the ugly equipment wires?
There is nothing more frustrating than wires hanging all over your desk, on the floor, and in your way. One way to make your office space look more streamlined is to hide your computer wires and cables. You can use a cable concealer to hide your wires and create a look that is more eye appealing. The cable concealer allows you to tuck you wires inside it and it then lays flat on the floor, preferably against a wall. A zippered cable sleeve is another great option. If you need more length, you can combine two or more sleeves together. Just slip your equipment wires in there, zip it up, and voila!
