How to Set Up a Home Office
It sounds easier than it is, but at the same time, setting up a home office is pretty simple. You just need to have some foresight into devising the office environment you want. Of course if you’re going to be in that office all day–if you work from home–you’ll want to push for maximum comfort. But even that doesn’t have to break the bank.
1. Choose a desk. It’s easy to go cheap with pre-fab furniture. But if you’re going to be working at home all day (even if not) you can still find a nice desk. You can also find a cheap but, quality furniture at office furniture stores.
The small mom-and-pop shops often have floor sample discounts and other deals that put Wal-Mart or Target fiberboard desks to the dust. Not to knock the big box stores, though. Some of their materials are very sturdy and you can even find a good desk there.
2. Embrace technology. Again, it depends what your needs are out of a home office. But if you’re going to run a business from it, I highly advice putting money into an all-in-one machine for printing and faxing if you don’t have separate machines.
I have an HP machine that cost about $250 dollars, but the printing, faxing and scanning functions work impeccably. A good computer is key. Depending on what you do, though, you may not need the speediest, top-of-the-line machine.
3. Get lit. Good lighting is integral to productivity. Whether you’re in the office all day or not, some good room lighting and optional task lighting adds a lot to the comfort of the office.
4. Sit well. Your most valuable investment may not cost the most, but a good chair is a must. Don’t pull in the kitchen chair–even if you only surf the Web at night. Be prepared to spend $100 to $200 for a decent office chair that supports good ergonomic health. Watch out, though. Chairs can be super expensive and you may be able to find a seat that supports you well for less. Shop around.
5. Plan for peeps. Is it a family office? If so, you’ll want to have places for each office user to put scrap paper and supplies. File cabinets or small bins can keep a multi-person place clean and organized. If the office is just for one, you’ll want to institute methods to organize yourself, especially if you work at home and run a business out of this room.