The US Census reports that in 2017, eight million Americans worked from home. That roughly represents 5.2% of the US workforce. In 2000, it was just 3.3%. But in 2018, the Bureau of Labor and Statistics reported that more than 26 million Americans worked remotely for at least a portion of their time. While the models and implementation vary across companies, large or small, the trend is expected to continue.
Thus, it might make sense for you to start thinking about how to create your home office. Depending on your requirements, it can be a make-shift setup in your living room or a little corner in your kitchen. If you’re going for the latter, you might want to scout for tile and grout-cleaning companies to make sure that your office area is clean and a pleasant place to work in. But you don’t have to limit yourself with these options.
Making the Case for a Home Office
One report released about telecommuting indicates that around 65% of employees believe that their level of productivity would increase with a remote setup. Time spent in traffic, and office gossip are some of the main distractions that impede productivity.
But it’s not only telecommuting that justifies the need to create your home office. A lot of entrepreneurs these days start their businesses from home, whether it’s a massage service or a landscaping service or a party-planning service. These will all require a proper and fully functioning home office setup that should look professional.
Key Ideas to Consider
If your job is a writer, maybe your kitchen table, laptop, Internet connection, and coffee pot will suffice as an office setup. But what if you’re in real estate doing land surveys and you need to lay down big maps? Here are some of the things you need to consider when building your home office.
- Location. Remember that productivity is still a consideration. Find a quiet place with ample light and consider the flow of traffic in your household. You don’t want other household members coming and going near your area. If you need to entertain clients, make sure that you have enough space for both of you to sit and discuss comfortably.
- The right furniture. Don’t just settle when deciding on a desk and your chair. The measurement of your desk should meet your needs. Don’t scrimp when spending on a chair. You will be sitting on it for most of the day. You need to be comfortable to maximize your productivity.
- Storage and equipment. Remember the adage, “A place for everything and everything in its place”? Keep this in mind when you decide on your storage and equipment. Make sure that access to envelopes, staplers, and your office printer will not require too much movement. Keep the layout simple and organized.
- Inspiring visuals. Use color tones that will motivate and inspire you to work. There’s no facilities director now that can shoot down your choice of color. Fancy apple green? Splash that color on your wall. Nature images calm you and make you more productive? Find the perfect representation piece and find a place for it in your office.
Maybe not every home would have sufficient space or the luxury of having a well-lit area. But the point of creating your home office is to find the best way to be productive and inspired. Dig into your creative juices and use the preceding discussion as your guideposts in making your home office.
