Define Your Space

Establishing a dedicated work space is the first important step in setting up a home office. Using a spare room with a door is ideal, so you can close out day-to-day distractions, but if that’s not possible, designate a specific spot in your home that will serve solely as office space, whether it is a “work only” desk in the living room, or a converted walk-in closet in the bedroom. The last thing you want to do is have to clear your laptop and all your business paperwork off the kitchen table each evening before dinner. Plus there can be tax advantages associated with having space in your home dedicated solely to your office.

Set Up a Professional Workstation

You can spend anywhere from a few hundred to several thousand dollars on office furniture and lighting. Since you will be spending a lot of time in your office, invest in the best quality desk and chair your budget will allow, both for aesthetic and ergonomic purposes. Choose office lighting carefully to make sure you have enough light to work by.

Having sufficient storage and filing space is also important for keeping your home office organized, particularly if your office space if small. Kitchen and bath displays in home stores can be great places to get ideas for creative storage ideas.

Invest in Technology

Working from home does not mean that you should skimp on the technology you need to work effectively. At the bare minimum you will need a reliable computer, with enough memory and processing speed to handle the kind of work you do, as well as a good quality inkjet or laser printer. All-in-one units that combine printing, copying and faxing functions can be good home office solutions, so you don’t have to crowd your space with multiple office machines.

A high-speed Internet connection is vital for a home office. Dial-up connections simply don’t belong in a professional working environment. If you live in an area where DSL or broadband cable Internet access is not available, look into high-speed satellite Internet access.

Get a Business Phone

Nothing says “unprofessional” like a client calling your business and getting your home answering machine with the cute message from your four-year-old. Invest in a separate business phone line and only use the line for business purposes. Your business phone plan should include, at a minimum, voicemail. If you receive a large number of phone calls, consider a two-line phone system.

If you send and receive a large number of faxes, get a separate fax line. If two phone lines are not in your business budget, look into online, email-based fax accounts, such as eFax.

Treat it Like Your Office

Once you’ve got your home office up and running, establish guidelines to ensure that you and others in your household respect that space as work space. It can be difficult to set personal/work boundaries when working from home, but doing so helps you maintain your professionalism.