7 Things to Remember When Designing Your New Home Office
Today’s Connection Post is brought to you by Tina Martin. Tina stays busy as a life coach and works hard to help herself and her clients achieve a healthy work-life balance. She started ideaspired.com as a side project to reach as many people as possible, and encourage them to put their dreams first. She is also working on her first book, Ideaspired: Put Your Ideas, Your Inspiration, and Yourself First to Make Your Dreams Come True.”
When you run a home-based business, few things are more important than having a comfortable and inviting office where you can get your work done at a high level. Yes, you have the flexibility to work when you want and you avoid some of the overhead costs involved with renting a conventional office, among other benefits. But you also have to discipline yourself to keep adequate work hours and separate your work life from your home life. The way you build your home office will have a lot to do with how well you can manage these tasks.
From choosing the location to making the workspace work for you and your clients, here are seven things to remember as you design your home office.
Location of Your Home Office Is Crucial
Ideally, your office will be located in a room all to itself. If you expect to have customers visit your office, a separate entrance is optimal. Many home-based business owners will blend the office with a guest room. If this is the best you can do, consider getting a hideaway bed, so the room can fully represent an office during business hours.
If you can’t fit an adequate workspace in your home. If so, you might consider purchasing a new home so that you can fully facilitate your business.
Obviously, the more money you save when buying a new home, the more you will have for running your company. Finding a foreclosed home could be your best option, as long as you take some important steps along the way; for instance, you want to make sure you have a trustworthy real estate agent, obtain financing in advance, and get the home inspected.
Colors Change the Whole Vibe
The color you paint the walls can transform the whole atmosphere of your home office. If you want to keep it simple and leave extra room for bold decor, go with a shade of white or gray. If you want the walls to add energy to the space, go with a vibrant orange, red, or green. If you want something that will encourage both calm and productivity, try a blue.
You Shouldn’t Skimp on Equipment
You can build an adequate home office on a budget, but your equipment is one area you don’t want to do cheap. So, make sure you have everything you need and make sure it’s quality. This includes the best computer, plus a desk, chair, WIFI/Internet printer, and any other necessary products. If you need it to run your business, invest appropriately.
Things Will Get Messy
When you set up your office, set it up to stay clean and tidy. Keep the clutter to a minimum so that you can easily clean surfaces and around your equipment; this includes not trying to fit too much furniture and decor in the space you have. Also, use attractive storage solutions to store items you don’t always need, and use cable management to keep all cords out of the way.
The Floor Matters
The type of floor you have in your home office will make a significant difference in your day-to-day operations. Fortunately, however, you can usually make what you already have work. If you have hardwood or laminate flooring, you’re all set because these floors are typically attractive, durable, and comfortable. If you have concrete or tile floors, you’re good to go in attractiveness but you might need to add some standing mats and/or area rugs for comfort. Unless you have hard floors that are in poor condition, you should only need to replace your floor if it’s high-pile carpet, as it’s not ideal for an office setting.
Your Visitors Care
As long as you do good work, most clients won’t care whether your company headquarters is at your house or in a more conventional setting. However, you still need to make sure clients have a good experience when they come by. It needs to be clear that they’re in a place of business — not invading someone’s personal space.
If possible, make sure there is ample furniture for visitors to meet with you, as well as a waiting area if you expect more than one client to drop by at once. Some furniture pieces to consider are armchairs or reception chairs, side and coffee tables, and a comfortable sofa. Also, some snacks, magazines, and other forms of entertainment can help the office feel more professional. Moreover, be sure to clearly display any degrees, certifications, and awards you’ve received, as it can help reassure your clients of your qualifications.
It’s Your Workspace
With that said, it’s important to remember that the office is your office. While you want it to be professional and inviting to others, you also need to consider that you will be spending more time there than anyone else — that and the simple fact that it is your home. As such, feel free to add your personal touches as you design, furnish, and decorate the place.
If you want to do your best work while working from home, you need an office that fits the bill. Consider these tips as you plan and build your home office and research other ideas that can help you along the way. By creating a workspace that meets your specific needs, you will help to put yourself and your business in a position to succeed.
