When home is where the office is

By Jeff Zbar
From the SCORE.org website

The modern home office is not the land of cubicle farms and staid corporate landscapes. Home-based workers – entrepreneurs and teleworkers alike – can turn a bedroom or other residential space into a functional, comfortable and inviting workspace.

But first, you have to put some thought into the space, your existing furniture and your plans – both immediate and future. Nothing’s worse than buying an expensive desk that can’t grow with your business. Here are some rules of thumb to follow when designing your space.

Think ahead. What will you need – today and in the future? A desk with writing and computer area, some filing cabinets and shelves are common features of a desk or workstation. But how will your needs change as your business changes?
Scope it out. Can you fit your equipment and furnishings into the space you’ve chosen in the home? Will new equipment fit there as well (with prices of scanners, copiers, and other hardware dropping, equipment once reserved for large companies today is finding a home in the home office)? Will you need to use a closet or another room for storage or another workstation? Might your home business eventually take on employees, meaning you’ll need additional space?
Establish boundaries. This is a place of business, not a hobby shop (also a key point for potential tax deductibility of the home office). Decide where in the home a home office would provide the greatest functionality away from the hustle of family life, and establish rules about respecting its space and function.
Stay focused. If the office shares space in another room, design the desk so it faces a wall and inhibits the distractions of household activity or the television. Place a Japanese Shoju screen between the workspace and the room to create a barrier (this also helps “close” the office when the workday’s done).
See the light. When choosing an office and designing or placing your desk, integrate plenty of light, either from windows or lamps. Place the computer station where glare from windows or lamps doesn’t inhibit the view of the screen.
Stay stimulated. Is there a window nearby? Integrate it into the design to provide outside views that stimulate the mind – and allow you to keep a watchful eye on your children while they’re at play.