How to Set Up a Home Office
Once you're ready to set up shop in your home, it's time to turn your little corner into a real corner office.
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Things You'll Need
- Copiers
- Cordless Phones With Answering Machines
- Fax Machines
- Laser Printers
- Modems
- Phone Lines
- Bookcases
- Desk Chairs
- Desk Lamps
- Desks
- Tables
- Internet Access
- Office Supplies
- Computers
Instructions
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Establish a permanent space within your home for your office. A separate room is ideal.
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Decide on an office arrangement. The best is a U-shaped arrangement, which lets you use three surfaces to keep everything within reach.
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Choose an L-shaped arrangement that provides a secondary surface if space is limited. A parallel arrangement can provide two full-sized working surfaces if they are placed opposite each other.
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Consider a V-shaped arrangement, which consists of a small working area in front of you (generally used for a computer monitor) and two surfaces angled to your left and right if your office area is very small. This is similar to a U-shape, except the central working area is much smaller.
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Establish two business-only phone lines (one for voice and one for fax and/or Internet) for your office. If you'll need to forward calls to other offices, ask your phone company about related services.
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Buy office furniture that suits the arrangement you've chosen. Include desks and tables, chairs and desk lamps.
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Buy a phone with a built-in answering machine and a hold button. If you'll be transferring calls from within your home office, make sure your phone has a transfer button.
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Buy a computer system, including a printer. Consider built-in fax software if you'll be sending and receiving files created on a PC.
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Purchase a separate fax machine if you'll be sending and receiving photos or articles from newspapers or magazines by fax. To save money, consider buying a fax machine that can also serve as a photocopier.
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Stock your office with standard office supplies. If you're self-employed, budget the cost of these items in your monthly business expenses; otherwise, your employer may provide these supplies for you.
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Tips & Warnings
If you don't have a separate room available, use devices like screens, bookcases and directed lighting to create the necessary separation between home space and office space.
Consider getting a small headset for your phone, both to free your hands and to block out background noise.
