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If you work from home as I do, then a dedicated home office is a must-have for so many reasons. The commute is awesome, and if you hold meetings on Skype or in person then it looks much more professional to potential clients than a laptop in your front room. More importantly it’s a distraction-free work space and you can get stuff done.
Lots of people have a home office using a spare room inside their house when they are just starting out, but to help your blog or business get ready for the future, a dedicated garden room office like the one that we have is a great option.
A garden office is perfect because you can close the door at the end of the day and mentally clock off, enabling you to have that separation between work and home life that is so important.
Convinced? I don’t blame you really. However, it’s important to remember that a home office relies on so much more than just the structure it’s set up in. Getting the right decor (dare I say ‘vibe?!’) and equipment – and having the right attitude – will help your business grow and hopefully make it future-proof.
Tips for setting up your new home office
Below are some great tips for setting up a new office in your home or garden, including equipment, technology and decor to help you create a work space that serves your needs now and will do in the future.
Find the right place to work
As mentioned above, a lot of home businesses (which includes blogging!) will begin in a spare room inside your house. This is fine in the early days when cash flow is limited, but as your business matures, a stand-alone office will make working easier, help you to be more prolific and give a better impression to your clients.
Obviously this is dependent on the space you have at your disposal. You could re-purpose an existing shed or a summer house by running electricity to it and insulating it to to turn it into an office, or have an impressive bespoke garden room built specifically for your business needs!
It’s simple enough to add electricity, but you can even plumb in modern garden rooms so that you can have a toilet or a small kitchen unit, meaning that you don’t have to traipse up to the house should nature call. We don’t have this, but it’s definitely something to consider if your garden is big or you do have a lot of visitors.
Furnish once, furnish well
If you have a computer-based job such as blogging, then it’s likely that you’re going to be sat at your desk for many hours of the day, so you want something that will be both comfortable and practical in addition to stylish.
A cheap desk is all well and good but if the laminate starts to peel or the desk drawers stick after a few weeks, then it’s a false economy.
A proper, ergonomic chair is worth its weight in gold; sitting on an unsupportive desk chair for hours on end is a recipe for disaster for your back, and it is most definitely worth investing slightly more in something that will not only last, but also keep your back healthy.
Decorating your new home office
The interior style you choose to decorate your new work space should ideally be both modern and timeless.
Going crazy with up-to-the-minute interior fashions might be tempting and brilliant for Instagram, but in reality it is best to avoid using anything too bang-on-trend to style your space, because they age quickly and it will soon require redecorating which is easier said than done when you require the space to work from.
It’s far better to go for something simple and stylish that will last the distance without becoming dated; minimalism is a style that seems to age well , and then add your own touches with prints and soft furnishings which can be changed at whim.
The key to having an ageless office is to avoid any permanent decor that’s too fussy or distinctive. The room needs to look pleasant but not very memorable if it’s going to stand the test of time.
Of course, it does depend on your business. If decorating is your passion and you have the time and money to spare then disregard this entirely and go with your heart!
Choose technology that is built to last
Giving your office an overhaul can require a substantial outlay, especially where technology is concerned, and once again there is very little point in cutting costs by buying inferior products as you’ll end up having to pay twice.
Instead, do your research – which.com is a great resource – and invest in decent technology that is built to last. Read around the subject, ask for recommendations and look after your equipment once you’ve invested in it.
Making wise choices surrounding technology will save a lot of money in the long-run, as well as helping you to work more efficiently right now.
Dress it to impress
I don’t invite others into my home office as it’s a horrendous mess (oops) but if you will be hosting client meetings, then you need to put in that little bit more effort to keep it clean, tidy and *totes profesh*.
A large interactive whiteboard, maybe a conference style table, a decent coffee machine… All go that little bit further to convince potential clients that you are the one to go with!
A modern outlook is essential
Modern life is busy and non-stop and, somewhat irritatingly really, people often expect you to be available day and night to respond to their questions. However if (like me) you are the only person on your ‘team’, you have to accept this is just not going to be possible and it’s no good for your mental health to try either!
Having set office hours and then setting up automatic replies for those who contact you outside of these, and getting back to them quickly when your working day starts again, can increase their satisfaction with your business without compromising your own very important free time.
Making your business visible and contactable via social media is an absolute must, as is as having a sleek website which is easy to navigate and use. It doesn’t matter how good your product and/or service is if people don’t get that far or can’t find out easily how to contact you.