Jill Borash asked:


rk from home, you know how difficult it can be to keep your home office organized. The biggest challenge lies in separating work life from home life in your office space. So how can you get it under control? Taking 15 minutes at the end of every day to keep your home office organized can do wonders.

Spend 5 minutes getting the “stuff” off of your desk

If your desk at home is anything like mine, things tend to just build up there. I clean it off daily but paper and other things end up on it by the end of the day. Organizing a home office and keeping it organized means that you need to keep your desk area clear. Try to make sure that the only things on your desk are things that you need frequent access to and are projects that you are currently working on. Everything else needs to go.

At the end of the day, take everything off of your desk. Only put back those things that you need for the projects that you are working on tomorrow. For me, this helps clear my brain and get me clear on what I need to do the next day. It is a good way to put your work day to bed.

Spend 5 minutes getting rid of the things that do not belong in your home office

Organizing your home office at the end of the day also means getting stuff out of your home office that does not belong there. When you work from home, there are often things that end up in your home office that would never end up in an office at a work building. Toys, laundry, and cat toys are all things that have ended up in my home office at the end of the day. It is not always easy to separate work space from home space but make sure that this happens at the end of your day. Anything that ended up in your home office that does not belong there needs to go to it’s proper home at the end of the day.

Spend 5 minutes creating an “action plan” for the next day

This is more of a time management tip than a home office organization tip but it is a good tip nevertheless. If you take time at the end of your day to get your head clear about your game plan for tomorrow, that is definitely a wise investment of your time. I know that I get far more done in a day when I do this. It helps get your priorities straight for the next day and gives you a game plan to follow. I try not to spend more than 5 minutes at the end of the day doing this because otherwise I end up with a list a mile long of things I need to get done. This action plan for the next day needs to be a realistic one. When time permits, it is also a good idea to put that list in priority order.



Executive Desk

Maxine Chang asked:


Have you ever found yourself trying to get some work done at home with no success whatsoever? You’ve probably been distracted by the kids running around, your spouse constantly nagging you about chores, or you just don’t have a private second in your life to get anything done.

Nothing can match a private home office with furniture designed to make you more productive and less distracted. You may be wondering how home office furniture can help you be more productive. Whether you are running a business or trying to balance the check book, a place dedicated to work is exactly what you need. Many people use a small, one-person room with a cluttered desk or table to get these tasks done, but if your business expands or your family grows you will probably need more space.

You’d be very surprised to learn that a matching set of home office furniture in a dedicated room of your house is sometimes all it takes to be more productive and stress free while working. Think about your current situation. For example:

1.) You probably have a small space set aside in a bedroom or extra room to get work done.

2.) You probably have a small table, chair, and a computer in this space.

3.) You probably have cluttered papers and unorganized documents all over the place.

4.) You probably don’t have private access to this area with your kids and spouse trying to get at the computer constantly.

5.) You probably have no chance of getting any work done in this environment.

Now just imagine a dedicated private room for you to use whenever you want. Maybe you have an extra bedroom or a study in your home seldom used. Also imagine a beautiful, matching set of cherry wood home office furniture in this room. The set includes an L-shaped computer desk with set-top hutch for easy storage of stationary. Look to your left and you will notice a matching filing cabinet to keep you organized and stress free. Now imagine to your right a beautiful bookcase or credenza in that same color and style.

This is just one of many home office furniture options that will make your life a lot easier. The warm, rich look of an office furniture set is all you need to relax, clear your mind of distractions, and become the productive person you know you can be. Now your probably wondering where can I get all this for an affordable price.

I have always felt the best place to find these home office furniture sets is online. You may have visited a local furniture retailer and been turned away by only expensive, unrealistic options. Well, I’m here to let you know these same incredible furnishings can be found at a super discount online due to the competition between rival websites. Not only are the prices much better, but you’ll also have many more options to choose from online. Find the best set of home office furniture for you and have it shipped to your home in no time. Turn your home office into the calm, productive, and enjoyable room you’ve always wanted it to be. Happy shopping!



Training Tables

Akhil Shahani asked:


If you’re thinking of setting up a home based business, then designing your home office is one of the first things you need to do. Just because you’re working from home does not mean that you should think of your workplace as a mom and pop outfit. A home office can and must be as professional a setup as any other. How you design yours will depend on a whole lot of things.

The first thing to figure out is where you will set up your home office. Of course, available space may be the deciding factor, but if you can’t make up your mind between a couple of options, consider this. A spare bedroom might be ideal, especially if it has a separate entrance for visitors, so that they don’t intrude into your home. Attics and basements are great options for businesses that don’t have client walk-ins, and can provide much needed privacy at work. However, mildew, poor lighting and inadequate ventilation are issues that need to be dealt with before you move in.

Once you’ve zeroed in on the location, it’s time to design the home office. If your work is desk based, it’s likely that your computer will be the centre of your universe. Place your desk in a way that you can see visitors enter. If you have the luxury of space, create a small discussion area in a corner – this could also double up as a reading area.

Make sure that your desk is large enough to accommodate the computer as well as other tools, like folders, writing instruments, calculators, handheld devices and whatever. The chair is perhaps the most crucial element in your home office, after you, of course! Don’t skimp on this one – choose comfortable, yet functional chairs. Ensure that they have an adjustable seat and backrest, so that you can maintain a natural sitting posture. Swivel chairs are a good idea but might damage the flooring. And don’t forget storage! A cluttered office will do nothing for your professional image and efficiency – put in an adequate number of shelves and filing cabinets.

Once you’ve dealt with the basic furniture, it’s time to move onto lighting. A well lit home office not only makes a pleasant workplace, but also does wonders in limiting fatigue. While natural lighting is great, it’s highly unlikely that you won’t need other sources. Get the office fitted out with sufficient lighting for all your needs. Halogen bulbs are energy efficient light sources, while warm fluorescents on the ceiling might be a good idea. Very important – make sure the light sources are placed above or behind your computer, and are not reflected off the screen. If you can’t, better stock up your medicine cabinet with Aspirin.

While we’re on the subject of electricity, let us also remind you to fit out your home office with a number of electrical outlets. Power surges can kill your equipment, so the decision to invest in a multi outlet surge suppressor is a no-brainer. If you’re not a born handyman, talk to your local electrician on what and how.

That leaves you with one final decision – what equipment to use. Home office owners might find it hard to resist the temptation to use the family computer for their business. Before you do that, think of the risks involved – virus attack caused by an email attachment your sister sent you, “accidental” deletion of your files to make space for your teenage son’s favorite music…. We don’t know of any client who can see the funny side of data loss! Given that the computer is going to be your business’ lifeline, it’s wise to invest in a good one. Your PC is probably becoming outdated as we speak, so when you buy a new one, choose a model that will remain in fashion a couple of years down the line. You’ll also need to invest in peripherals – a multi-purpose machine that print, scan, fax and copy should do the trick.

Furniture vendors like can cater to all types of office spaces and might even be able to give you some useful tips. Remember, however, that setting up a home office is your decision. Be sure to get it right!



Executive Chair

Ivanovich Cuxev asked:


Choosing your home office furniture can sometimes be time consuming. Using your home to conduct your business is now a common scenario. More and more people are now conducting their businesses at home because of the many benefits home working brings.

When setting up your home for business, the furniture receives most of the attention. Furniture selection involves budget, space, functionality, usability and safety. To make it easier and fun, follow the following tips and you will not waste your time thinking what furniture is needed.

1. Determine the home office furniture that you need. Include common items such as desks, chairs and filing cabinets. Buying furniture offered in sets is often cheaper than buying the items individually. To save on money, buy in sets.

2. Make a list of your furniture requirements. With a list, you can avoid buying furniture that is considered unnecessary. When business is conducted at home, space is limited and space management is important.

3. Buy home office furniture that is aesthetically and visually appealing to all the people who will be working in the office. Add your personal taste. Choose from the different products ranging from wood furniture, metal, laminated, contemporary and traditional style being offered by the vendor. Furniture now comes in different colors, finishes and sizes. With a good environment to work on, workers are more inspired to work and produce better results.

4. Buy home office furniture with warranty. It is important to check the type of warranty being offered. Companies may only honor warranty for office furniture when used in the office while home furniture warranty is valid only when it is used at home. Choose a vendor that offers warranty to your office furniture even when used at home. This will be very important when defects are encountered yet the furniture is found in a state not included in the warranty.

5. Buy home office furniture for their usability and functionality. Do not buy furniture to be used only as a decoration as it occupies space which can be used for other more important gadgets.

6. Consider the safety and health of your employees. Furnitures that are comfortable and ergonomically designed are recommended. Wrong furniture can easily cause fatigue, headaches, backaches, irritations, lose of concentration and eyestrains. Productivity is oftentimes lessened when employees do not feel comfortable with the furnitures they are using.

7. Decide whether to buy, lease or rent. When on a tight budget, consider leasing or renting furniture instead of buying. Leasing or renting is also recommended if you do not intend to use the furniture for a long period of time or when home office improvements are expected in the near future. If you plan to use the same furniture for sometime, buying is recommended to save on rental and leasing expenses.

8. Although built-in furniture looks good, modular furniture is recommended to easily adapt to the changing needs of the company. Modular furniture can be moved easily. Durable, modular furniture is oftentimes more economical than built-in counterparts in the long run. When a transfer is needed, the modular furniture can be transferred to the new home office location.

Make your home office the best place to work with the right choice of furniture.



Reception Desk

Niall Roche asked:


Your home based business needs a dedicated area in your home to work from. It’s essential to your overall success to have a properly designated space to work from in order to maintain your work ability and efficiency. Simply “making do” won’t help your business be a success in the long run. Choosing the best area in your home to locate your home office in is a key task for anyone who ever wants to work from home.

Now you’ll need to look at what part of your home you’d like to convert to a home office. Which room in your home will readily convert to a home office with the least amount of fuss and expense? No matter what room you choose make sure that you’re not going to be mixing work with family issues - you can’t focus on what you’re doing with kids running wild around you.

Once you’ve selected the actual location itself then you’ll need to look at how you’re going to layout the office itself. Where will you put your desk and how big is the desk going to be? Are you going to be using a filing cabinet and if so where are you going to put it? Why not spend some time sketching our rough plans for how you’d like the office to look when you’re finished?

One of the key pieces of furniture in any home office is the desk . This isn’t something you can just kinda leave to chance and hope it works out. It needs to be the proper height (or height adjustable if you can afford it) and have more than enough room for all your office equipment and supplies; especially your office phone - it should be placed in an uncluttered part of the office.

Having ample free work space on your desk is important from the point of view of setting up your computer. When positioning your computer on your desk you’ll want to have it set on one side of the desk to make it easy to access and to maximize your working environment. The last thing you need is to be straining across your desk to reach anything.

Another key part of your home office is your chair. Your behind is going to spend several hours each day stuck in this chair so make sure you invest in something that won’t cause you pain and is comfortable to sit in for prolonged periods of time. It’s so important that whatever chair you choose meets your height and body style to promote proper sitting posture and allow you to sit comfortably.

And last but not least you need to look at the lighting in your home office. Good lighting is as important an aspect of creating your home office as anything else. Use natural light as much as possible - it saves on energy bills and is also good for your mental state whilst working. For those dark evenings or early mornings just make sure you have adequate lighting in the form of a table or floor lamp that properly illuminates your entire desk - eyestrain can become damaging very quickly.

The actual cost involved in setting up your own home office is not as high as you may think. Just focus on getting the basics right - a good desk, a good chair, proper lighting and a decent computer system. The rest will come in time or when you can afford it.



Drafting Table

Kris Koonar asked:


When someone runs a home business the last thing he or she wants is a project coming to a halt because the home office supplies are over. When this happens, everything else has to be kept on hold and you need to order additional home office supplies immediately. There are few things that should be kept in mind if you as a home business owner do not want to face such a situation.

Getting organized:

You need to keep your workspace very organized so that you never run out of home office supplies. There are many home business owners who do not give a lot of importance to organizing material and supplies. They ignore proper planning and only think about filling in thousands of orders, even if they do not have enough supplies. But when your business is doing well, you will be naturally spending many hours in the office everyday and due to this you should try and make it more organized. There are many factors on which the process of organization of the home office will depend; for instance where your home office is and whether you use it for any other purpose or not. If your printer and computer desk are in a corner of your living room, you will be probably using the cabinets in the family room for storing the home office supplies.

On the other hand if you have staked a claim on the spare bedroom in the house and moved away the bed and bureau, then you can use some space for stacking the home office supply products. Try and install a desk that is large enough for the computer, keyboard, phone, coffee cup, printer and CD rack.

Convenient storage of things:

A good worktable is very useful if you are not working on a computer. You can use this work table for drafting, writing or doing any other work that is part of the home business you run. It is a good idea to keep each home office supply in an appropriate and convenient place from where you can easily access it; for instance, keep the cartridges and printer paper near the printer, folders and files near the filing cabinet. Keep your financial records separate from the business orders that you get. If you are planning to store the home office supplies in the drawer, then you need to keep a constant track of what is there in each drawer and also create an inventory every time you use a supply. This needs to be done so that you know when you have to stock the drawers again.

Knowing everything about your expenses:

It is very important to keep a track of how much you are spending on buying your home office supplies. You need to have the information for tax purposes as well tracking monthly expenses. By knowing how much money you are spending on buying the supplies will help you to cut costs and manage the home office in a more efficient manner.



Reception Desk

Tom Wheelwright asked:


You should if you want to take full advantage of a tax deduction many people overlook. The home office deduction allows individuals to deduct expenses that are not otherwise deductible such as utilities and homeowners insurance. There are certain requirements you must meet to have a home office, including:

You own a business (if you are an employee, you must meet the “for the convenience of the employer” test). You have an area set aside in your home used regularly and exclusively for specific administrative or management activities There is no other place of business where you conduct those activities

These requirements help you to determine whether the area used in your home is your principle place of business for certain business functions.

If you don’t think the area you use qualifies, you may just need to change the facts. Are there too many nonbusiness items in your office area? Move them to another room and you may qualify. Are you struggling to find business activities that you can do at home? Bookkeeping, billing and ordering supplies are just a few activities that are easily done from home.

Once you’ve determined that you have a home office and you would like to take the home office deduction, you need to track certain expenses.

Allowable home office expenses include:

- Utilities

- Mortgage interest

- Property taxes

- Homeowners and liability insurance

- Repairs and maintenance of office area

- Depreciation of office area

Deductions that do not qualify as home office expenses are items that do not relate to the home office such as landscaping and pool care. In addition, taxpayers are denied a deduction on a first phone line regardless of the level of business use. A taxpayer must have a second phone line to deduct telephone expenses, long distance charges and internet service.

Of course you can’t deduct 100% of these expenses. The expenses are allocated based on square footage or number of rooms in the house. In most cases, the number of rooms allocation yields a higher deduction, make sure your CPA calculates both numbers to maximize your deductions.

- What You Should Know About Home Office Deductions -

Home office deductions are allowed for areas used exclusively for the management and administrative duties of the business when these functions are not conducted in the principal place of business.

Prior to 1999, the IRS regarded the location of major business transactions, based on time usage, as the principal place of business. For example, sales conducted in customer’s homes disallowed the home office deduction, even if invoicing, bookkeeping and other management functions were conducted from the home. Now these responsibilities are accepted for home offices.

However, if multiple businesses are conducted from the home, separate office space should be allocated, or the entire deduction taken, in the most active business. This is particularly important where spouses each conduct business from the same home office space.

Home Office Requirements:

The home office must be an area in the home set aside and used regularly and exclusively as an office. No other fixed place of business can be used to conduct the same business regularly.

General expenses of your home are deductible in proportion to the business office percentage of your home. This can be measured either by square footage or by number of rooms, excluding bathrooms and hallways.

Certain home office expenses must be paid through your company, while others are personal expenses.

The following items should not be paid by your company:

- Mortgage expense and interest.

- Property taxes.

- Homeowners and liability insurance.

- Repairs and maintenance of the office space.

The following items should be paid through your company:

- urniture and fixtures purchased specifically for business purposes, whether stored in the home office or at another location.

- Separate business phone lines that are installed at the home office.

- Office supplies.

- Other items specifically used for the business.

The following items are not generally deductible:

- Landscaping and lawn maintenance.

- Pool care.



Executive Chair

Jo-Anne Peck asked:


We are all seeking ways to reduce costs to help weather the current economic storm. This is particularly true for those of us in business for ourselves. One of the simplest ways to reduce significant overhead costs from many small business owners is to work from home. There are ample dollar-related reasons to work from home; working from home eliminates rent or mortgage payments on a separate office, eliminates commuting costs, and reduces electrical, water utility, and internet fees. In addition, working from home recovers time lost to commuting, avoids office politics and distractions, and can allow for a more flexible work schedule. However, the idea of working from home makes many business people worried about how it will affect the balance between their professional and personal lives. They also worry about the professional image it portrays, their ability to avoid distractions and resist the temptation to stay in pajamas all day, and the amount of space that the home office will occupy in the house.

One simple way to mitigate these concerns is to set up your home office outside of your home in a separate outbuilding. By moving the home office just outside, and detached from the home, you can create a perfect setting that requires you to get dressed before leaving the house, keeps work (and that always nagging email) out of your personal space, and distances you from distractions found within the home. It also provides a professional setting for meeting clients and to have phone conversations without distractions in the background.

While a standard home-improvement store type shed probably does not meet most people’s idea of an ideal working environment, a custom shed can provide the perfect attractive and comfortable home office situation. A made-to-order shed can be designed to meet your exact home office needs, with ample day lighting, built-in storage and sited to enhance your backyard. Costs for a custom shed vary depending on size, details, and finishes, but generally start around $5,000 for an adequately sized and outfitted office space. Compare this cost to adding a comparable sized addition to your home, and the detached home office becomes an even more attractive alternative.

When planning for a comfortable detached home office, allow adequate room for a desk with rolling chair, office equipment such as a printer, fax and phone, and storage along with any other items necessary for your office to function properly. Also consider taking advantage of common shed space-saving ideas such as loft storage and built-in cabinets and shelves. Plan electrical, phone and internet outlet locations to complement the space plan. Another important item to allow for is ample daylight; installing French doors and windows on at least two walls can make a small office feel more open and spacious. Heating and cooling requirements vary based on local climate, but a space heater or wall AC unit may be all that is needed if floors, walls and ceilings of the outbuilding are fully insulated. Finish the space off with pleasant interior materials, colors, and furnishings rather than standard institutional finishes and you will have a functional and satisfying home office. Couple this with some good backyard gardening skills, and your twenty-second morning commute can become the most anticipated part of your day.

 



Executive Desk

Yuki Stevenson asked:


 With so many affordable home business opportunities on the Internet these days, many young mothers are choosing to become a work at home mum. Being a home business newbie, you may need to realize that to operate a business from your house, combines work and family from now on. And with both of these life aspect located in one roof, you will need to develop a new set of rules and disciplines.

You may need to prioritize between work and family now. And sometimes, there are days when you have the need to answer all your e-mails first before your laundry or other days, you may feel the need to do your laundry first before working on your e-mails.

In order to work productively, consider the following advise when you are setting up your home office and find a space in your home to make it a place where you can work effectively.

Rule #1 – When organizing your home office, find a place where it is brightly lit such as buying overhead lightings and floor lamp. The wall of your office is important at creating an ambiance too. Choose colors which are not too dull or dark because it will affect the productivity of your work. Also, keep the room from getting stuffy by providing proper ventilation.

Rule #2 – Keep your home office or rather yourself far away from any possible distraction like having your TV right in front of you or have music playing at the background. Even noise from your kids screaming or whining can cause you to get distracted from your work. To avoid this, work out a time management schedule and plan out your day so that you can allocate adequate time for you and your family.

Rule #3 –Organize your home office supplies in a way that promotes your efficiency. Estimate how many pens and how many stacks of A4 paper you need every time you go shopping for your stationery. Because if you don’t do that, the fuel you are paying to drive to the mall would be more expensive than your office equipment. keep the supplies you don’t need in a cupboard or drawer. Be as neat as possible. Stuff you use daily should be on your desk but stuff that you hardly use should be kept away. Just don’t clutter your table because it all adds up to an unsightly and distracting mess that could affect your work.

Rule #4 – Clear out all the old clutter in your home office. Make sure you have enough room for all your requirements and try to maximize the layout of your home office space with the goal of promoting efficiency of operations. Be as neat as possible when organizing your home office. For example, remove stacks of paper next to your fax machine that could eventually block and jam incoming documents. It is always difficult to work in a place filled with stuff irrelevant to your business. However, if you cannot remove these things from the room, make sure that you move them out of your vision. Tidiness of your home office can help improves your productivity.

Rule #5 – The best is to have an ideal designated working area where you can work everyday. You wouldn’t want to have work in your kitchen today, and living room the next. A proper workspace helps to tell your mind that this is a place to work. And thus making you a successful work at home mum.



Leather Executive Chair

Maxine Chang asked:


One of the hottest trends in home furnishings these days is lines of furniture dedicated to the home office. Vendors are beginning to design furniture that keeps your office a part of your home instead of an extension of your workplace.

Do you have to close the door to your home office whenever you have guests over? Clutter and outdated office furnishings can really cause a room to take a nosedive. New home office furniture and a little organization can go a long way to adding much more appeal to your home. I will explain how to create a great living space in your home as well as a relaxing, productive work environment.

First, when shopping for this type of furniture you have to determine the items that you need. Some common pieces include desks, chairs, and filing cabinets. To add a touch of personality you may also want to consider a sofa or a sitting area with a table and chairs. There are many different styles to choose from when considering your new furnishings including color, material, finish, size, and type. These are obviously details to be decided by personal taste and matching with your existing decor.

Many sellers offer wood furniture, metal, laminate, contemporary and traditional styles of home office furniture in a variety of colors, finishes and sizes. Often times they are sold as sets including a desk, a chair, and an organizer or filing cabinet. Buying home office furniture in a set will usually save you some money over buying each piece individually. Add a nice bookcase and an end table and you will have a great place to work as well as a great place to spend time in.

Just remember the main rule is to buy pieces of furniture that are pleasing to you visually and aesthetically. You will be in a better mood and as a result you will get more work done in less time.

Another important thing to consider when buying home office furnishings is the warranty. One common misconception is that furniture bought from an office furniture vendor is warranted in their home as well. Many times this is not the case. Home office furniture will have a warranty that is only valid if the furniture is used in a home environment, while an office furniture warranty is only valid if the furniture is used in an office environment. This can be very important if you ever come across a defect or a quality problem.

It is very important to make sure that you buy your items from a vendor that warrants the furniture in your home and not just an office.

A great place to find pleasing new home office furniture is online. Just search the web and you will find great sites that offer these furnishings at super low prices. Happy hunting!



Executive Desk