How to create the perfect home office

Feature - How to create the perfect home office

May 15th saw this year’s first National Work from Home Day. Now nearly 3.5 million people work from home in the UK. But still twenty-five million people in the UK currently commute to and from a fixed place of work, according to the RAC Foundation, of which 18 million people go by car – the rest by other means. If we jump ahead 17 years, reports suggest that by 2025, congestion will waste around £22 billion worth of time in England alone.

Working from home saves time, energy and money, not to mention reducing carbon emissions and pollution – the travel cost savings made in just six months could mount up to the price of a family holiday abroad! So working from home is, in theory, a great idea. It's probably the place where you feel most relaxed – no dress code and you can even wear your slippers under the desk! Yet whether you’ll get as much work done is another question – what you have to take into consideration is the fact that your home will probably include noisy children, doorbell interruptions and the distractions of home comforts.

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If you are thinking about working from home, you need to look at your environment . Here are five top tips to create your own home office:

1) Adapt or extend?
Whether you’re starting up a new business, can’t afford to keep up the running costs of your current commercial premises or simply don’t want to do the long commute to work anymore, then working from home can save you a significant amount of money and ease the burden of debt. Significant savings are going to be made by paying to rent/own, maintain and heat just one building instead of two and with the ever-increasing price of petrol, now’s the time to make the move to a home office.

You have to make the decision as to whether to adapt an existing space, such as a spare room, or add extra space to your house with an extension based on your needs, property and available funds. Before you start planning your new office, take into consideration what features will provide you with the most beneficial working space.

For example, if you’re simply after a quiet secluded workplace then consider using a spare room or convert your basement/loft as these will provide plenty of space without the cost and inconvenience of an extension that could drag on for months.

However, if clients/customers will be visiting the premises on a regular basis then taking them through your house to the basement will not create the best first impression! Consider extending the ground floor of your house, but include a completely separate entrance that will take them straight into your office.

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2) Don’t ignore the paperwork
Recently, TSB Insurance warned the growing number of home-workers that they need to ensure they have the correct home insurance in place.

Remember to adapt your existing insurance to protect yourself from accidents in and around the home while in work time, including potential damage to your equipment or loss of data, otherwise a relatively small accident could put your business under threat.

3) How to get the most from the space available
Moving into your own home office is an effective way of saving money and boosting your business’ profits, so don’t be tempted to splash the savings on expensive furniture and designer paintings.

However be sure not to scrimp on the important features of an office. For example, make sure you have enough electrical outlets, suitable lighting and ample storage or filing. Getting the small things right from the start can make your days at work stress-free rather than full of hassle.

To maximise a good-sized office, consider setting your desks up in a U-shape so that you are able to reach all three surfaces without having to walk across the room. If you have a smaller office, buy a little table just big enough for your computer system and then place two more tables either side at an angle, so that it resembles a V-shape. This again enables you to reach all three surfaces without taking up the entire floor space.

Creating a barrier between your office and your home life is the key to a successful move. Don’t be tempted to install a TV or fridge in the same room as it may create the temptation that could inevitably reduce productivity levels – and increase your waist size!

Remember not to live in your office. Make it feel homely by adding colourful plants and photos of your family but don’t be tempted to work overtime just because it is down the hallway.

4) Kitting out a Home Office
Keeping your business facilities separate from your home and family is a very good idea. Young children who use the same computer as you during the evening could easily put it out of action simply by spilling a drink over the key board.

So ensure you install a ‘work-only’ computer, including business only phone line and broadband, into your office. Not only will this reduce the likelihood of damage, it will also make it possible for you to claim back the running costs as a business expense for tax purposes.

Working from home doesn’t guarantee a peaceful retreat away from noisy co-workers or machinery, especially if you also work at the weekends. However, you can take effective steps to reduce the amount of noise that makes its way through to the office.

Sound proofing the room is going to be the most effective way to reduce noise however it will also be one of the most expensive. Experts suggest that to reduce noise at least 25 per cent of a room should have a soft surface, including carpeting and upholstered furniture, as these will absorb noise. Door and window frames can also be sealed to reduce rattling and outside noise when closed.

If you’re going to spend money on anything make sure it’s spent on a quality desk chair and suitable lighting, as they can make a long day in the office a lot more comfortable. Be sure to buy a chair that enables you to sit at eye-level with the computer and fully supports your posture.

5) Must have products
Large rubbish bins – you’ll be surprised how much paper and packaging you get through in just one week and overflowing rubbish is neither tidy nor professional. Most residential properties only have one collection each week, which alternates between recyclables and non-recyclables, so it makes sense to separate your office waste.

A magnetic board/pinboard – if you lose a number on a little scrap of paper there’ll be no colleagues there to back you up!
A landing spot for incoming mail – without a dedicated receptionist or PA important documents, and even cheques, could easily get swept up with everything else.

Creating a home office doesn’t have to be time consuming or expensive and the savings made can make a huge difference to your overall quality of life. Flexible working hours are an option for parents with children under the age of six so consider speaking to your boss about spending more time working from home.

If you’re going to take the plunge and build an office extension then consider designing it in such a way that it can be utilised as a bedroom or dining room in order to add considerable value to the property if/when you come to sell.

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*Taken from our last monthly newsletter to over 250,000 home owners. To receive our free newsletter, click here. You can unsubscribe at any time.