So you have taken the plunge and are setting up your own home based business, or maybe your employer has given you flexible working arrangements so you can work from home. Whatever the reason – you now have to find room for a home office – and you don’t happen to have an empty room just waiting for you to occupy? So how do you find space for a home office? Obviously some home workers will need more space than others – but most people these days will need at least a computer, an internet connection, possibly a telephone, and a desk.
Beyond these physical requirements most people will need a space which is free of distractions – particularly if there are children in the house – and which they can close the door on when the time for work is done.
So how to find the space for your home office? Well if you are working online you need surprising little space. In fact, as I write this I am working on a small desk in the corner of a living area. Its hardly an ideal arrangement – and wouldn’t work if I had to share the space with someone else – but it works just fine for my needs.
The most common approach many people take is to convert a spare bedroom into a home office. If you have the money – replacing a bed with a more flexible piece of furniture such a convertible sofa means that the room can still work as a spare bedroom but you will have space for a work area. One bedroom I would never use as an office is your own – enough to give you nightmares – and make it way too easy to check email in the middle of the night.
Another area often successfully converted is a basement or garage area – though this may cost a bit if you need to add insulation and internet/phone lines.
Even if you don’t have a spare room, some place such as the kitchen table can be used temporarily. The space under the stairs can sometimes also convert to a surprisingly large amount of space if a built in desk and lighting is added. The problem with this arrangement is lack of peace and quiet. A door is highly recommended in this case as it will prevent little things like pens and mouse pads walking when you aren’t looking.
So if your home based business is just getting started or has outgrown the current working space, look around – you may be surprised to find a home office just waiting to be created in a corner of your existing home.