Building a Better Home Office

Whether you work from home or just need some space to call you own on occasion, a home office can do wonders for your productivity. If you’ve just started considering your home office space, where do you begin?

Upgrades or décor?

You may have visions of new wallpaper, a desk, and a fancy rolling chair, but what will you really be doing in your home office? Are you making the switch from an office job to a work-from-home business? If so, you should focus on the necessities first. Make sure you have a functioning computer or laptop, proper lighting, and the right scanner or printer to fit your needs. Depending on what your home office is for, it may be wise to put functionality before aesthetics.

Where to sit?

Before you begin moving furniture around, consider where you will be the most productive. Where does your home get the most traffic? If your front door opens into the kitchen, your kitchen table most likely isn’t a good bet for your setup. Are you hopelessly distracted by the television? Best avoid the living room, then.

Make sure to set yourself up somewhere you’ll be comfortable, focused, and relaxed. Sitting beside a window could help you stay calm and enjoy a bit of nature while you work.

How to organize?

Are you someone who needs a bit of orderly chaos to thrive, or do you need everything in one place? Perhaps you need everything stashed away in a file cabinet to feel organized, or it’s possible you think better with neatly piled stacks of paper on your desk. Find out which organization method works best for you before purchasing all your equipment, or it’ll all end up in the bin anyway!

Your home office doesn’t have to be a replica of your seat at work. Make it your own, but make sure it’s functional and works as hard as you do.