Home Office

What to consider when creating a home office

Scope and purpose of the home office

The degree of thought and money you put into a home office varies greatly depending upon the amount of time you are in the office, what you use it for and how professional you need it to be. For some, the physical requirements for a home office can be simply a few shelves and a working space serviced by a couple of power outlets and a telephone socket. However for others there may be a requirement for a meeting space which needs to be kept quite separate from the rest of the house. Before you even begin to think of budget and furniture think carefully about what function you need your home office to serve.

Your budget

Clearly the scope of the project drives the cost. When planning any home improvement project it is really important to be realistic about the costs. Set yourself a budget you can easily afford and then reduce by 25% - this should be what you aim to work within. Home improvement projects often overrun or you find additional pieces of work you had not foreseen. It is better to budget low and allow yourself some breathing space.

Planning Requirements

Generally the more specialised and separate your home office, the greater the likelihood you need to consider planning permission. Solo home office working is not likely to be an issue but anything that either makes a lot of noise or smell or attracts a lot of visitors is going to need planning consideration.

Choice of Design

Setting up a home office isn't as complicated as you might think. The most important thing to remember is to create a space where you can actually work. The best way to do this is to create a home office design that matches your work style. Ask yourself some basic questions; do you like to be in the middle of the activity, or do you prefer peace and quiet when you work? Identify all of the activities that will take place in the space. Answering both of these questions will help determine where you should place your office and the type of layout and furniture you need.

When designing your home office try to make sure that your home work space will look nice whether your clients come to see you or not. This is after all where you think and generate ideas. This does not mean you need to invest in costly furniture just make sure your office furniture is neat, stylish and functional. Consider chairs with wheels on them so it is easy to move around and that match your desk and other pieces. You need a table if you plan on having customers or clients in your office. Keep the look simple and uncluttered. Make sure that cords are long enough, ensure you have enough electrical outlets and telephone jacks, set up home office computer wiring, install sufficient shelving and consider modular home office furniture pieces. Get ideas for home office designs from on-line retailers such as; www.ikea.com, www.home-office-design.co.uk

If you are particularly short on space be creative about how you use the available space you have:

• Store papers in a trunk or deep-drawered desk with hanging files rather than having them stored in conventional filing cabinets
• Hide desk or office equipment behind a folder screen or plant stand
• Increase work surfaces by using a cart (trolley) whose bottom shelf can hold files or reference magazines