A home office must fit your needs, be designed with efficiency in mind and reflect your personality.
There are a few things you'll need to bear in mind long before you begin drawing up blueprints, knocking through walls or statting that expensive loft/cellar conversion project - such as what work exactly do you intend to do in it?
Privacy
If you intend to work from home, you must establish clear boundaries as to whether or not you can be disturbed during working hours
Position your home office away from distracting noises like the TV. Soundproofing is a good idea, but rather expensive
A loft or cellar conversion is ideal for a home office
From a security point of view, fit locks on the windows and door of your home office and make sure your workstation is out of sight to passers-by; don't give opportunist thieves a chance
Layout
You'll need to accommodate a computer and printer at the least. A phone, fax, answering machine and copier might also be necessary, depending on your needs
Choose a computer table that lets you position your computer at a correct ergonomic angle
A simple desktop combined with some legs and storage makes it easy to build a functional workstation
Alternatively, a techno-wise computer armoire is a great way to house your computer and keep clutter out of sight
Features you will probably need are:
1. A pullout keyboard shelf
2. Room for a computer and printer
3. Storage for books and software
4. Drawer and storage/shelf space.
Look for compactly designed furniture if space is at a premium in your home. If your home office is more like the corner of a living or bedroom, keep an eye out for new wedge-like creations that tuck right into a corner.
Behind the scenes, check out electrical cord covers that will contain wayward wires and surge suppressers that protect your system from crashing due to overload.
Ergonomics
When you type, hold your fingers, wrists and lower arms in a straight line from your keyboard.
Choose an office task chair that lets you tilt forward to reach objects in front of you and backward to stretch your arms when you're tired.
Sit up straight in your chair. Keep your feet flat on the floor and your knees slightly lower than your thighs. Place your computer screen at eye-level or just below. For optimal comfort, set it about 45 cm (18 in) from your face.
The proper desk will let you find the perfect working position. It should be deep enough to support your arms when you work at the computer.
The right lighting can reduce eyestrain, neckstrain and headaches. Sunlight is the best light, but make sure it doesn't create glare on your computer screen.
Keep equipment that you use a lot, like your telephone and computer keyboard, within a distance of about 75 cm (30 in) when you're sitting at your desk. Put other storage and equipment farther away.
This will encourage you to change working positions during the day.
Lighting
Proper overhead task lighting or lamps must be factored into the office formula to help reduce eye strain
Bear in mind the advantages of having different levels of lighting
You need general lighting, ideally from a glare-free ceiling light
If there is a window, use a blind to control the level of natural light
For desk lamps, use a fluorescent bulb, as it produces less heat than an incandescent one
Don't be afraid to experiment with bulb wattage to find the one most comfortable for your eyes
Use a good quality adjustable desk lamp when reading books, papers, etc.
Your eyes won't tire as quickly if you light up the wall behind your computer.
Storage Space
Vertical files are a must, especially if you deal in lots of paper. Running your fingers over a file is much easier than sifting through piles of bills and documents
You can save space by placing a desktop over a pair of file drawers. Files are available in lots of looks, from rich wood to sleek stainless steel, so you can create your own style
Store what you can in clear containers so you can easily find the things you need
Sort through everything on your desk and in your drawers, and throw out whatever you don’t use to make room for the things you need
Keep similar items in one place
Colour code your office stationery and tools so you can find them easily
Invest in cable management products to keep cords neat and organised
Mount wall storage units above your desk so the floor is clear
Hang your computer hardware from your workstation with a special holder. It will free up much-needed desk surface and floor space
Use racks to keep your magazines, newspapers and files within easy reach
Closed storage keeps papers and files you’re not using out of sight and free from the need to dust
Telephones
If you are working from home, ideally, you need three separate phone lines: one for family calls, one for business calls and one for business faxes
If you are just using your home office for fun projects and learning, you don't need three lines
Fax machines are rapidly becoming outdated - thanks to the growth in the use of email – but if you want to look professional, you may need one and for anything that needs to be 'signed off' the hard copy print out is still in vogue as both parties are most likely to have access to - and feel secure with - the technology
A combination phone/fax machine is also an option, this requires the operator to manually switch over the phone to fax mode when it's needed
The other solution is receiving faxes through your PC. This system allows you to view a fax in the same way as you would email
Check out what deals are around on having a second phone line installed. If you can get a bargain, it may be worth your while
When setting up your workspace, incorporate phone, electrical, coaxial and perhaps even fibre-optic cables to both your desk area and to other walls (in case you add any equipment in the future)
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