If you are setting up your own office at home then it is easy to assume that you can achieve the same
level of productivity and functionality that you can at work. In truth, planning your office takes a lot
of thought and planning so that you can ensure you have everything in place to do your work and get
the job done. Here we look at all of those aspects that are involved in planning your home office so
that you can incorporate everything that you need.
A PC and Monitor
Obviously, your first and most important purchase will be
a good PC. Very few people are able to work effectively
without one so you will need to make sure you find one
that suits your needs. Some people will opt for a laptop
that they can transport but if you are working for long
periods from home then it may be wise to invest in a
monitor so that you can work at the right height at your
desk without stooping your neck. You can connect a
monitor to your laptop if need be. Additionally, some
people require the use of two monitors so that they can
see a great deal of information at one time. If this is the case
then you can buy a monitor to plug into your PC.
Reliable Internet Connections
Internet access is key. It is quite rare for people to only require the use of a PC for word documents and
printing alone. PCs are most often needed as a way of communicating via email or skype and sourcing
information from the internet. If you require the internet to be able to communicate then you will need
to know that it won’t let you down. As such, you should opt for a high speed internet connection and
look at what deals are available to you.
Office Furniture Designed for Comfort
If you visualise what your office is going to look like then obviously you will see that a desk and chair
are the fundamental requirements. You might be tempted to buy whatever is cheapest but there are
desks that will help you become more organised with built in shelving, draws, and lockable units.
There are also chairs that are ergonomically designed so that you have maximum comfort as you sit
at your desk. If you are going to be sat at your PC for long periods of time you will want to be comfortable.
Good Office Lighting
It is probably wise to install the right lighting so that you are able to see your monitor clearly without
straining your eyes. You could opt for dimmer lights but it is far cheaper, and just as effective, to opt
for table lamps that can be adjusted for height.
An Internet Phone Service
Internet, or VoIP phone services are a great way to stay in touch with people without the hassle and
expense of setting up a landline or purchasing a mobile phone for work purposes only. You can use
these internet phones to contact people just as you would with any other phone service so it may be
worth your time looking at what equipment you could purchase.
Installing in the right Software for your needs
Before you invest in a PC, think about what software you will need. What this means is that you will
need to think about what you are most commonly going to use. For instance, if you need your PC
for word processing then install word. If you need it to set up bookkeeping spreadsheets or
accounting logs then install excel. Whatever you think you will use on your PC will need to be
set up so that you can use it whenever you need to.
Considering Network Routers
Network routers are sometimes required, and wireless routers are a good idea if you have a laptop
and you work in different parts of the house. You might need to have one of these fitted so make sure
you contact your internet service provider for some advice.
Protecting your equipment from electrical surges
If you rely heavily upon the information stored on your PC and are constantly looking to back it up
then you might also want to think about a surge protector so that in the event of an electricity surge
your work is protected.
Printing and scanning equipment
You might not need a printer most of the time as you might tend to send information via email etc.
However, it is often wise to consider investing in a printer/scanner/photocopier as they are now
relatively cheap and will cover you in the event that you need to send hard copies to a client.
Lockable storage cabinets
If you keep important information in your office on hard copy then consider the benefits of keeping
them locked away. Although there are desks that you can buy that will give you some lockable storage,
it is usually not enough to keep everything safe. It is a good idea to think about filing cabinets. Even if
you don’t need the added security you will need the storage space and the organisational benefits a
cabinet can give you.
Shredding confidential information
As a business, it is likely that you will have a great deal of confidential information in your office.
When it comes to sorting through it and throwing some of the information away, you should always
shred your details. Shredders do not have to be expensive but if you are going to need to shred
quite a bit of information, look at buying a substantial shredder that can handle a lot of paperwork.
Portable storage devices
USB sticks are a great way to back up your work in the event that a power surge affects your PC and
you lose all of the data stored on it. Portable storage devices such as pen drives not only protect
your work but allow you to access it from any PC using a USB port.