Tips for Designing a Home Office
Setting up a home office that will enhance productivity while
offering comfort isn't as simple as it sounds. Many home workers
juggle and struggle to determine the best setup for their needs.
Think Comfort Studies show that efficiency decreases when we are
uncomfortable. Lesson to be learned: don't sacrifice comfort for
beauty when selecting your furnishings.
Use Mobile Furniture Reduce grunt work. Few of us enjoy an hour
spent shoving and pulling a heavy filing cabinet from one side
of the room to the other. Office furniture with wheels or
similar mobility aids will make life much simpler. It's easy to
set up, easy to rearrange, easy to move for cleaning or to
retrieve lost items.
Remember to take accurate wall measurements before you go
shopping for office furniture. Take wallboards, heating ducts
and other such items into account.
Some manufacturers are making office furniture with adjustable
surfaces so you can work either sitting or standing. Before
buying, be sure your home office has adequate space for this
feature.
Think Convenience How much fun will it be when you have to crawl
under a desk on your belly to attach your new printer to the
back of the computer? Computer makers don't make things easy for
us, but with a little pre-planning, you can place your computer
so you can actually get at those hookups when you need to.
Check Your Wiring Make sure your home's wiring is adequate to
accommodate office machinery and various computer hookups.
Ensure you that you can use three-pronged plugs to ground your
equipment. Check for electrical hazards -- being especially
cautious of hazards to children and pets.
Be Mindful of Wall Outlets and Phone Jacks Stringing a long cord
across the living room and into your home office isn't a look
that Martha Stewart would endorse. If your office area doesn't
have outlets, you won't regret the cash it takes to have them
installed.
Communicate Efficiently So, your best client phones with a big
order but he can't get through because your kid is on the
Internet!
If you're sharing a home with other people, you need a separate
phone line and Internet hookup for your office. If you spend
much time on the Internet yourself, a direct connection like
cable or DSL is very, very helpful.
Make it Safe! When you work from home, you don't have a
Workplace Health & Safety Committee looking out for your best
interests. Learn about workplace ergonomics and take it
seriously. Having to shut down your Internet business because of
carpal tunnel syndrome isn't a good business plan.
Remember your eyes. If you're on the computer for long hours,
get a glare-resistant screen for the monitor, or ask your
optometrist about glare resistant eye-glasses.
You'll need to position your monitor so sunlight doesn't shine
on it directly. If this can't be arranged easily, be creative
about finding a way to block the sun. An artist's easel holding
a large poster or chart is one approach.
Light It! The best lighting is lighting that allows you to see
what you are doing without strain to your eyes. Many find that
incandescent lighting is easier on the eyes than fluorescent
lighting or cool lighting.
Deduct It! You'll want to check with your taxation department,
but in many countries, some aspects of a home office are tax
deductible. In Canada, for example, you can deduct a portion of
home expenses (rent, utilities, etc.) for your home office. BUT
your office must be separate from the rest of the house and used
only for business purposes. Find out what's deductible before
you file your taxes.
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