Home Office Tips
Read these 25 Home Office Tips tips to make your life smarter, better, faster and wiser. Each tip is approved by our Editors and created by expert writers so great we call them Gurus. LifeTips is the place to go when you need to know about Office tips and hundreds of other topics.
Consider a Reading Area
If space permits, include a comfortable reading chair and ottoman in your home office. An over the shoulder lamp beside the chair would be a good idea, as well.
Durabel Carpets
When selecting office carpet, consider hard working and durable sisal. In addition to its durability, it looks great.
Storage on the Cheap
When organizing a home office on a budget, consider using discarded school lockers, which work great for coats and boots. A slightly battered metal cabinet with lots of drawers can hold bills, cheques, invoices, stamps, office tools, etc.
Caution: if you will be seeing clients in your office, err on the side of professional.
Budget Shelving
Shelves are a must in any office. Industrial shelving with metal struts and planks is a good idea if you are on a budget. You can buy a few for now and add more as you need them.
Will That Chair Be With Or Without Armrests ?
If you have to sit very close to your desk, consider buying an office chair without arms. If not, purchase a chair with adjustable arms that can be moved as needed.
Cleaning Your Office
Establish an efficient "cleaning path" and clean zones in a circular, clockwise direction making two loops -- one for heavy cleaning, another for spot cleaning.
Decorating Ideas for Desk Top
A decorative flowerpot can act as a perfect pen-and-pencil holder. Personalize your tissue box (which usually sits above or on your desk) with photocopies of family pictures. Glue fancy paper on plain wooden boxes and screw on small casters to the bottom for easy rolling about.
How Much Time Will You Spend in Your Office?
When planning a home office, consider how much time you will spend in it. If you'll be working full-time, you're obviously going to be spending a great deal more time in the office than someone who uses a home office to pay the monthly household bills. Consequently, the more time you spend in the office, the more attention you should give to comfort and function.
Planning Your Desktop Workspace
Does your work require you to spread out a lot of paperwork? Or is your work primarily making phone calls? Do you have a lot of samples or catalogs you frequently refer to? Or is your largest reference tool the Internet? Answering these questions will help you decide how much desktop and counter space you need. If your work involves a lot of paper and spreading out, invest in an expansive conference table. If all you need is a phone and a laptop, look into office armoires. Best bet: keep your personal work habits in mind as you design your workspace.
Second Hand Furniture
When your home office budget is tight, be sure to check out secondhand furniture shops and used-office-supply stores. Gently used furniture is often available at a fraction of the cost of purchasing brand new.
Inexpensive Bulletin Board
Used wine corks cut in half with a craft knife and hot glued to a store bought bulletin board can create a fun spot for pinning notes and photos. Even when partially covered, the bulletin board will still look good.
Outsource Work Overload
Because self-employed workers wear so many hats, they may start to feel that they are slaves to their jobs. How can this problem be avoided? One way is to delegate some of the workload. Hiring a part time assistant (or outsourcing the work to a virtual assistant) will help lighten the burden of administrative tasks.
Entrance to Home Office
When a direct access entrance is absolutely out of the question, strive for credibility and professional ambience in planning how you will receive visitors. Be sure that your main entry is tidy and presentable and don't forget to make sure the house and office are clean and orderly, too.
Bolt Heavy Furniture
Taking the time to bolt bookcases, armoires, and other heavy office furniture to the wall is especially important in a home office where children are sometimes present. Kids sometimes use lower shelves or drawers to climb up and see what's in a higher area. Unsecured furniture could easily present a dangerous toppling hazard. Strapping furniture is also a smart preventative measure in the event of an earthquake.
Sharing a Home Office Workspace
Plan shared offices so that each user has their own personal work space and respect one another's territory. Make shared areas such as printer or fax stations, supply cabinets and files easily accessible to all users.
Hiding Computer Wires
Make sure you hide computer wires for safety reasons. Hooks from the hardware store screwed to the underside of your desk can hold computer wires safely enclosed in plastic tubing, available at most electrical supply stores. This is very important especially if you have small children visiting your office.
Step Ladder in Office
If you have shelving in your home office, buy a library stepladder to reach the top shelves. If you purchase the right type, it can even act as extra seating.
Chairs for Home Office
When planning a home office invest in the best chair you can. This should be one of your first purchase. Don't be afraid of spending money for comfort —you will be sitting in this chair for many hours every day. Expect to pay between $300-$1200 for a good quality chair with lumbar support and several adjustable settings.
Heating a Home Office
If you are converting an attic or basement space into an office, give the area its own heating source (such as an electric baseboard heater). If the office is to be connected to the central heating, put it on a separate zone so the heat can be shut off at night or when you are out.
Creating a Home Office in a Shared Space
If you do not have a separate room for setting up a home office, create the illusion of distinct space by setting off the working area with a barrier made from screens, drapery/curtains, shelving units or cabinetry. Arrange the barrier so that it will shield the office as much as possible from the dominant traffic pattern in the rest of the house.
Prepare for Client Visits
Schedule appointments for client visits to a home office. This allows you to 'set the stage' for a professional encounter. Have the office and home entry neat and tidy and be sure the door is answered by a responsible, well dressed adult (preferably you).
Wants Vs. Needs
As you plan your home office, think about what equipment you need to run your particular business. For example, a freelance writer would probably need a computer with a modem or a good fax machine to keep in touch with editors. Caution: try not to confuse wants with actual needs.
Should I Add-on a Home Office?
If your home office is the kitchen table or bedroom nightstand, you might consider remodelling your home to include office space. According to Remodeling Magazine, an average home office remodeling project can result in about a 55% return on your investment. Home offices placed sixth in a list of the top ten projects with a return at resale.
Best Base on an Office Chair
Look for an office chair with a five-star or five-pronged base. A chair that has only a four-star base may tip over.
Office Chair - Seat Considerations
Make sure the seat on your office chair isn't too long. It should not hit you behind the knees when your behind is at the back of the chair. A too-short seat is not advisable either.
