Designing a Home Office

Creating a Home Office
Don’t be fooled into thinking that a home office is only valuable to an employee whose boss has mercifully released him from the necessity of commuting, or for the self-employed businessman with no need to locate his business downtown.

While a home office is of obvious benefit to those two individuals, it is also a wonderful room to handle bill paying chores, keep track of home finances, utilize the internet as a side business to generate extra income – or just because you want a private space away from the kids.

Where to Locate Your Home OfficeWhen seeking out a space for a home office, we must certainly consider the usual suspects. The spare bedroom is already finished to a certain degree, and with minor alterations might make a perfect home office. If it is located on the second floor, it should provide a quiet setting away from the hustle and bustle of normal family affairs.

Or perhaps you’ve had designs on finishing the attic or the basement. Either one of these spaces might make an ideal home office – sufficiently separated from the rest of the house to clearly delineate the different purpose of the room.

Choose a Large Enough Space Naturally, whatever space you choose needs to be large enough to accommodate at least the basic trappings of an office: a desk to write upon, a file cabinet, sufficient furniture to accommodate business equipment like a computer and modem, a printer, and perhaps a fax machine.
When evaluating the suitability of a particular room, remember that your business might require the running of a separate telephone and fax line, as well as a jack for cable television and high speed internet service.

The Advantages of WirelessLuckily, great advances have been made in wireless technology, which eliminate the needs for long stretches of ugly cable crisscrossing the room.

Wireless internet connections might allow you to leave the high-speed cable modem in its existing spot; installation of a wireless router allows you to have your business computer share the same high-speed service without running cable throughout the house.

Wireless printers are also available, which allow every family member to access the printer remotely. Though these are a bit more expensive than conventional printers, the ease in which they can be shared eliminates the need, in many cases, for a second printer devoted exclusively to business or homework use.

Test It FirstTake the time to choose the right spot. You can test out different area before you make your decision – simply place a small table in the room or area you are considering, and spend a few hours there reading or talking on the cell phone. Get a feel for the spot; is it quiet and comfortable, or hectic and noisy?

Often, the place you thought would be ideal my surprise you with hidden drawbacks – the light might be too bright in the afternoon, or the noise from the street might be too distracting. Better to test first and make the right choice, than to rush into a decision and regret it later.

A Valuable Addition In general, properly planned and executed, the creation of a home office should provide a comfortable place for you to work, and be a valuable addition to your home.