A. Johnson
Working from home has become common, spurring the need for many homeowners and renters to set up an office in their residence. When designing a small home office it is important to first identify how the office will be used. Considerations when deciding on a location include the hours that will be spent in the office and whether it will be strictly for private use. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Make a list of the office equipment you plan to install, and consider how you can consolidate different pieces of equipment to conserve space. For example, if you need a printer, fax and scanner, it is possible to get one piece of equipment to do all three tasks.
2. Consider wireless computer equipment. With wireless hardware you can avoid mapping out the wires and connections from one piece of equipment to another.
3. Map out the approximate area needed to contain the office equipment and furniture you would like to install. This is to give you a general idea of the size of desk or cabinets that will be required to house the equipment.
4. Take an inventory of the type of office furniture you would like. Typical office furniture include a desk, computer desk, file cabinet and bookshelves.
5. Locate the area where you will place the home office. Choose a space that has good ventilation and lighting; adequate heating and cooling; sufficient electrical outlets; and privacy. If you need phone lines, consider the cost of running lines if none are available.
6. Look for a view. If you plan to spend many hours in the home office, look for an area that has a window with a view. If you only need a very small area, and don't plan to spend much time in the home office, a large closet or utility room might be adequate.
7. Assign your furniture double duty. If you are forced to install the home office in a guest room, and don't want to give up the guest room, consider installing a Murphy bed, hide-a-bed couch or futon. But be advised, if you intend to write off the space as an income tax deduction, there may be restrictions on how you can use the area. Check with your tax advisor.
8. Draw a floor plan of the room to scale, using grid paper. Arrange, on paper, the positioning of the office equipment and furniture. Consider the location of electrical outlets and available light.
Tags: home office, office equipment, electrical outlets, equipment furniture, furniture would
