Secrets to Designing the Home Office of Your Dreams Part 1

One of the most important activities you will engage in when going into business for yourself is setting up your home office. Your home office will be the place you conduct business, and while it can be in the corner of your kitchen, you will really want to find a spot where you are away from family activities and can have some privacy and silence while you work.

Size is not as important and functionality when setting up your nerve center. Your basic home office furniture will include a desk, chair, waste bin, Internet connection (if you business is online) and the usual office supplies.

Is the area well lit?

Proper lighting is essential. You do not want to spend hours in a dimly lit work area, which can result in eyestrain, headaches, and blurred vision. Prolonged periods in inadequate light could lead to serious problems further on.

Electrical Outlets Should Be Considered

You want to take into consideration electrical outlets available for the equipment that you will be using day-to-day. At the very least, today’s modern home office has a light, computer, telephone, answering machine, monitor, scanner, printer and speakers (optional but still nice to have). You may also add a radio/CD/MP3 player that will need to be powered. Make sure you have enough electrical outlets to power your home office adequately so that you do not have play plug switch on equipment.

Is the area well ventilated and dust free?

All of that computer equipment needs to “breath” to remain cool and functioning properly. If you have ever, “fried” a computer you know how important it is to keep the fan clean and dust free.

Telephone Access Is another Consideration

In addition to having a telephone handy for business purposes, you will also require telephone access for your modem. You may also consider a separate telephone line for your business. It is much easier to track your telephone business expenses for tax purposes if you have a separate phone line.

It is also important that your clients can reach you. If your clients have to compete with your teenagers’ telephone habits, chances are they will call someone else. Make certain that this separate line is set up to receive phone calls while you are online. Most major telephone companies now offer that service. You may pay a few extra dollars a month for it, but it will pay for itself over the long haul.

What Type Of Internet Access Do You Have?

Now a days the modern home office must not only have a telephone it is imperative it also has access to a high speed Internet connection. Depending on your service provider this may already be covered by telephone if you have DSL Internet.

If you already have a broadband connection, you will also need to have connections close by. While you can go wireless, there are some drawbacks to taking that route for business use. First, most wireless connections are running about half as fast as true cable hookup to your computer. So, if you are doing the bulk of your business on the Internet, consider cabling it to your computer. Security is another big issue with wireless connections. Make sure, if you are connected wirelessly, that you have the proper encryption and that your modem/router is password protected.

A third option is that if you are near a WiFi hotspot, you can use the wireless connection via a wireless card and hook up to your main router or broadband connection point. Again, make sure you take the proper security measures because you do not want others in the neighborhood surfing with you.