Creative a Productive Home Office- Tips and Tricks.

Creating a productive home office space is absolutely crucial when planning or even revamping your home based business. If you get the basics right, your business stands a much better chance of being efficient and profitable. Consider these tips when creating your haven.

 

 Creating the Space

If you are extremely short on space, use a wall and try mounting shelves on the top portion of a wall to store files and use a table that can be folded down. Use a privacy screen to help define the area as a work space. Generally a bugger space with  a door is extremely preferable- when that door is closed, it means that you are in work mode, and it should discourage distractions or intrusions.

 

Be Prepared

Having everything you require at your fingertips is an extremely important rule to learn about Working from Home. I find that even going to the kitchen to make a cup of tea can be devastating to my work flow-all of a sudden I’m washing dishes, a doing non-work related tasks. Make sure you have a working compute, paper, phone, pens etc – all easily accessible. If your leaving the office every 5 minutes you will surely achieve a lot less in your day.

 

 

Separate your working space
Have a well thought out plan from the get go is pivotal when trying to set up and create a space that has everything you need. Draw yourself a floor plan and consider where the power points are, where you can fit storage and the desk, and how does this effect noise levels, and possible distractions. You need to make sure the space is as work friendly as possible. (e.g Having the desk facing the window has presented major problems for me the past, giving me an excuse to anything but work!) Clever and well thought out planning is essential- Your home based business’ success is fairly reliant on it!

 

Organisation

Whether you have a sanctioned off wall, or a massive home office, keeping the area organised will do wonders for you efficiency! Consider filing systems, overhead shelves and stackable storage boxes, there is literally thousands of nifty and innovative storage products out there (my inner control freak is getting dizzy just thinking about it!) try Ikea or Howards storage world for ideas. It is also one thing to have amazing storage solutions, however, you really need to implement an easy to use filing system, get to know where you keep all of your important documents quickly, there is nothing worse than wasting time ripping the office apart looking for things! You should also take that advice when it comes to organising your computer and hard drive… If you’re like me you think “I will remember that downloaded folder in that really awkward spot on my hard drive”….. 9 times out 10… you don’t!

Let there be light

A home office is a place you may well be spending a lot of time in. Having proper ventilation and a well-lit area will make potential long hours a lot more comfortable. There may be some areas that are well lit, and others that are dank, consider the placement of your desk… will the rising or falling sun create glare? Will the sun be directly on important documents that will fade over time? Do you have reflective surfaces that will create over bearing reflections? Having a light, bright and airy space, with clever use of light will make your home office much more pleasant!

Comfort first

So you may have your eye on the most divine Scandinavian chair, but frankly, a wooden plank with splinters maybe more comfortable. Like shoes, sometimes comfort should be your priority. Ensure you have a good desk and an ergonomically-designed chair. If you really want to add personality to a room, use colours, artwork and furnishings, rather than uncomfortable furniture. Or if you prefer, go with a minimalist look that projects a clean, calm and natural palette. It’s all about your tastes, and where you feel both mentally and physically comfortable.

So you now have the perfect space. Well….stop day dreaming and get to work! In many cases you have to work much harder at the home based business then if you were working your average 9-5. It takes discipline, and dedication- however having an amazing space to work and creative is a massive step in the right direction.