Tips for Setting up Your Home Office

If you’re just beginning to work from home, you may be (simultaneously) excited and overwhelmed by the possibilities. A shorter commute and better focus are just a few of the benefits you could experience by choosing to work from your house. Not to mention, you’ll have greater flexibility of when you wake up and likely better lunch options than what you might be eating in a cubicle.

Now, how do you choose the right room for your new home office? When it comes to working where you live, location matters. After all, just because you’re working from home doesn’t mean you want to slack off.

Here are seven tips for choosing which room to make your home office.

1. Avoid Working From Home Distractions  

While working from home can be great, one of the biggest obstacles to productivity is the fact that your home provides countless distractions. With no one looking over your shoulder and a more flexible sense of time, it can be tempting to go down a Pinterest rabbit hole or take an extended lunch. So, if you are choosing a home office, you’ll want to make sure it’s in a place that supports you in being as focused as possible . Choosing a room without a TV or refrigerator could help keep you working; even when boredom or impulsivity strikes.

2. Consider Your Career

Different jobs will require different tools. So when you are creating your home office, take the details of your specific career into consideration. Do you need a computer? A TV? A desk? If so, your home office should have–or be capable of having–these items, so you can work comfortably. Not all home offices need to look the same. As long as you have what you need to conduct work, the room is up to you.

3. Choose an Appropriate Home Office Space

It may be tempting to make your home office as comfortable, cozy and homey as possible. In doing so, you could sabotage your productivity. Depending on your career, you may also be using your home office for client visits or video calls. If this is the case, you’ll want to make sure that your space looks like a work environment. While you should, of course, have a great chair and the supplies you need, try to designate this space as a work-only zone. If the room you’ve chosen doesn’t lend itself to a more professional demeanor, then it may be time to consider other options.

4. Home Office Tax Write Off

One of the many benefits to working from home is the potential for tax write offs. Choosing a space that is exclusively used as your home office is important. In fact, according to House Method , you can deduct the percentage of costs associated with any home improvements and utilities that are related to the designated space. The larger and more work-related your space, the more potential you have for an enjoyable tax season–and a bigger refund. Just be sure to keep any receipts related to the home office space and you’ll be good to go.

5. Make a Home Office with a View

While undisturbed focus is one element you should look for in a home office, a view  is another. When choosing your home office space, picking a room with a nice window can make all the difference. If ever your eyes need a break, simply take a look outside. This will help you feel less like you are working in isolation and more in-touch with what is going on in the world. A view outside could also signal when it’s getting late or may be time to take a break, so you don’t become overwhelmed.

6. Bring Plants Inside Your Home Office

If you can’t get yourself near a window, or even if you can, houseplants are a great way to make your home office a space you’ll want to work . Rooms with natural light are the most supportive to maintaining plants. But, there are several hardy varieties that may live even in artificial light. If greenery is important to you, however, you’ll want to make sure you have that window we discussed above. Any room where plants can thrive could make for an excellent office space.

7. Clarify Your Goals

It is also important to make sure your home office is a clear, clean and organized space. With bright lighting and proper storage , you won’t have any doubt about what needs to get done every time you walk in the room. Additionally, you may think of your home office as a place for generating new business ideas. If this is the case for you, picking a room that allows for this clarity of mind can be helpful.

Choosing a home office doesn’t have to be intimidating. In fact, with these tips, picking the place you designate to work from home can be one of the most fun parts of your remote job. So, go ahead and enjoy your more comfortable, productive and convenient career. When your home office supports your best work, you may just see your career pick up speed and your success skyrocket.

Maria Gold is a Content Manager/Writer for Empire Resume. She is dedicated to helping educate people with the latest career articles and job search advice. When Maria is not working, she enjoys reading and spending quality time with her family.

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