Organize Your Home Office for Optimum Productivity - Tundraco's Daily Living Guide to Home & Garden

What works for other people, may not necessarily work for you. However, that does not mean that you have to start from scratch when deciding how to decorate your home office. Some basic tips will help speed your discovery of what works best for you…

Who will see your office?

If you are the only one who is going to see your office, then decorate in whatever manner suits your mood and your work style.

However, if you will be seeing clients in your office, it will be well worth your while to ensure that your office has a professional air. This means, a well-made desk, matching desk accessories, an extra chair or two for the clients to sit in, and of course - a place to hide all the clutter that inevitably finds its way into a home office from the rest of the 'home'. An extra filing cabinet makes a wonderful, and inconspicuous, junk drawer.

Equipment needs

Your equipment needs will largely, dictate how your office will be furnished and organized. For most modern home offices, minimum equipment is a computer, printer, fax machine, copier, and telephone. Luckily, a great deal of space can be saved by purchasing a multi-functional printer that can also serve as your fax machine, copier and office telephone. Such multi-functional machines are a lifesaver, especially when you have limited office space.

When designing your office, don't overlook any specialty equipment that you might need, as well as the furnishing you will need in order to use them, such as a drafting table.
File cabinets are a must - they serve as repositories of records and you can use them for storage of office supplies.
If you are short on space, you can make a very functional desk with two, two drawer filing cabinets, and a piece of wood or an old door. Simply separate the file cabinets so that the ends of the wood rest on top of them and presto, you have a desk with lots of storage space!
Don't forget to get a comfortable chair, one that can be adjusted to your desired height.
If you are going to be on the telephone, a lot, a hands-free phone is a wise investment.

Furnishings

In addition to your office equipment, you need the furnishing on which to put your equipment. You can buy ready-made computer tables or have one custom made. If you are on a budget, keep an eye out for yard sales and thrift stores. Tables, desks, and chairs can abound. If you cannot find what you want at your local yard sales, you can always stop by a used office furniture store. Prices will be higher, but still far below that of new items - and you are guaranteed a wide selection of merchandise from which to furnish your office.

When picking out items for your office, keep in mind their functionality and their size - that oak desk might be beautiful, but will it fit into your office?

Organizing for Productivity

Once you have your furnishing, you want to organize your office for optimum productivity. This means keeping things you use most often close at hand.

Keep your supply closet well stocked. This will save countless trips to the store.
When organizing your office think skyscrapers, i.e., build upwards. Instead of spreading your supplies and equipment out all over the office, stack them upwards whenever possible. This will help free up more space for other purposes, and will enable you to keep more items close to the center of your workspace.
Invest in good lighting. Initially, this may not seem like an investment in productivity but it is. A well-lit room will allow you to work more efficiently, and will help keep your eyes from tiring out.

Noise and the Rest of the Family

One of the biggest drawbacks of a home office is that family 'sounds' often filter into your office space. This can be very distracting if you are on the phone with a client, and can be disastrous if you have a client in your office. There are three main methods of dealing with household noise - one is soundproofing, the second is a stout door, and the third is simply talking to your family and explaining to them that there will be times when it is essential that they keep the noise to a minimum - period!

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The information provided on this site is for informational purposes only.

Always consult your doctor for medical advice.

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