Hardly ever do we come across someone starting a home-based business at the spur of the moment. A decision like this is commonly made after ample thought and deliberation and you are probably no exception.
Have you ever worked in an office that is just.. awful? No air conditioning, squeaky chairs, broken desks etc. is unfortunately very common.
So, once you’ve made your decision to start a home-based business or work from home, you owe it to yourself to set up a decent home office with good working conditions. Once this is set in stone, you’re more likely to stay inspired and motivated to work. I personally think that having a good office is necessary so that you are not interrupted, your work stays safe, and you remain focused.
Location
When you look for a property, one of the first things you think about is the location, right? So why should that be any different for your home office? Spacious houses are normally ideal for home-based businesses as there may be plenty of rooms or spaces to operate from. However, a small house or flat can complicate things, especially if your business requires customers coming in to see you, or working alongside colleagues.
If you have a spare room at the front portion of your house, with plenty of natural light, this will be your ideal location. Though this is the ideal, this shouldn’t rule out the possibility of making the perfect office space within a smaller home or a flat. You can set up your office in an attic, a basement, the corner of your living room if you will, as long as it’s a comfortable working space with room for customers if needed.
Fresh air and ventilation is key!
Fresh air and ventilation are commonly ignored and overlooked when creating a home-based office, especially in smaller houses and flats. However, it is important for you to supply a flow of fresh air into your workspace. Scientifically proven, fresh air gives you more energy and mental focus. Having higher oxygen levels in the blood means it circulates more to your brain; thus, feeling energized and improving your cognitive abilities. It also helps advance the production of serotonin and I think our entire generation needs that to be honest. Ventilation gives you a clearer, calmer and sharper mind which is perfect for working from home. No fresh air or ventilation will just cause you to feel nauseous and depressed and we don’t want that, do we?
The colour of your walls actually matters.
A lot of thought has to go into choosing the correct colour of your walls for your office, to create a good work environment. It’s been proven by psychologists that colours can influence your mood and the amount of time you want to spend in your workplace. Dark colours can typically make you tense and irritable. Whereas light pastel shades such as blue, yellow and green are considered warm, soothing and reassuring. These pastel colours can inspire and encourage you to spend more working hours in your home office.
Furniture, Equipment and Accessories
It’s fundamental for your home office to be furnished with basic furniture and necessary equipment, for a successful running of your home-based business. You will need to require a computer desk, comfortable chair, telephone, filing cabinet, computer, printer, table lamp, and a bookcase. Obviously, depending on your business you may not need all of these items. Spending a little extra on a good, comfortable chair is a great investment as you will spend several hours of the day sitting in it. If your home business requires customers coming to see you, make sure you have extra chairs and a table for them as well. You don’t need to spend your life savings on this equipment and furniture as you can find these items fairly cheap or second hand. Remember to make room for any specific items you will need for your business as well.
Accessorising is completely down to your own accord. It’s not needed to run a successful home-based business, but having decorations, plants etc. in your office may help you and your possible customers feel more welcome and comfortable.
Lighting
Like I previously mentioned, natural lighting is the best way to brighten your office during the day time. If that’s not possible, you will obviously have to make alternative arrangements for your lighting. To be honest, more often than not, your office tends to be the last thing you think about in the confines of your home, so the chances are that the lighting will be inadequate. Even if you don’t have access to natural lighting, make sure your home office is properly illuminated to avoid health problems such as headaches, fatigue, and eye strain.
The more thought, consideration and hours that go into creating your perfect home-based office can determine the success of your business. Creating a space that you can comfortably work in for 8 hours of the day can keep you on top of things without distraction. Make sure to consider these tips if you want to start a home-based business with your own office.
Courtney is an Editorial Executive with a degree in Music Composition and Technology for Film and Games. She spends her spare time composing her own soundtracks.
