9 Steps to a Great Home Office

Ready to turn an empty space into a home office? We’ve gathered nine efficient steps on how to turn your little corner into a real home office. Here they are:

Step 1

Determine the exact location of where you would want the office be established. Although a separate room is ideal, any space that is conducive of an office environment will do. Just make sure it is spacious enough to accommodate incoming office furniture.

Step 2

Setting up a home office is all about deciding on office arrangement. Going for a U-shaped layout provides the convenience of using three surfaces to keep everything within reach.

Step 3

If space is limited, choose an L-shaped arrangement that provides a secondary surface. What this design does is it offers two full-sized working surfaces. Again, available space is maximized.

Step 4

For office desks with computers and a lot peripherals, better to go with a V-shaped arrangement. A small working area up front is provided while two surfaces are angled to the left and right.

Step 5

Better to get two business only phone lines preferably one for voice and one for fax and Internet use. This establishes a direct connection of peer to peer transactions and separates personal from business calls.

Step 6

Additionally, purchase office essentials like office desks and tables that will suit the arrangement you’ve chosen.

Step 7

For expected heavy call flow, buy a phone with features like built-in answering machines and a hold and transfer buttons.

Step 8

If your business primarily relies on computer work, include a printer, built in fax software if you’ll be sending and receiving files created on a PC. Fax machines are important tool specially if you’ll be sending and receiving photos or articles from newspapers or magazines by fax.

Step 9

Equip your office with standard office supplies. Actually stock lots of them. If you’re self-employed, budget the cost of these items in your monthly business expenses; otherwise, your employer may provide these supplies for you.