Soho Space: Create The Ideal Home Office
American workers are escaping the corporate confines. But often they retreat to a home office that is wedged into a corner of the living room, crammed into a closet, or spread atop the dining room table. Not only is such an arrangement poor utilization of workspace, it often stifles the senses.
Personal values and boundaries are essential to operating a successful home office. A person who cherishes open spaces cannot be crammed into a closet. A person who needs silence to concentrate cannot work amid children and chaos.
Create boundaries and decide what's needed to put the mind in the right frame to work successfully. When a person arrives at the traditional office in the morning, they've already transitioned from home to office. That same boundary needs to be established in the home office setting by creating a dedicated workspace. This also helps family and friends understand and respect the "office" that's been created.
Location is key when creating a home office. Consider these points:
- Establish boundaries. This is a place of business, not a hobby shop. Decide where in the home a home office would be most functional, and set up rules about respecting its space.
- Privacy and deductibility are important. A dedicated room -- as opposed to a corner in the living room or bedroom -- provides quiet in a busy household, and often meets IRS requirements for home office deductibility (as long as the office doesn't serve another purpose after hours). And always consult a tax professional.
- Avoid the chaos. Set up the office away from the hustle and chaos of home or family life. The relative quiet will help workers focus on tasks at hand.
- See the light. Make certain to have plenty of light, either from windows or lamps.
- See the screen. Position the desk and computer terminal so that glare from windows or lamps don't inhibit the view of the screen. Buy a screen shield to cut incessant glare.
- Keep down the heat. Plenty of ventilation and ceiling fans will help alleviate heat from computers, printers and long work days, and make for more comfortable working conditions.
- Stay focused. If the office shares space in another room, position the desk toward a wall or behind a portable blind or Japanese shoji screen so household activity or the television don't distract attention.
- Stay stimulated. If working in a dedicated home office, where other distractions will be minimized, position the desk to provide outside views to stimulate the mind.
Realizing where a home office is in the home and how it interacts with daily life can make the difference between success and failure in the new workplace. Strive for SOHO success.
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