Home Offices

Yesterday I blogged about design suggestions for a home office - Today we continue on the important facts of home office 

Stay organized

Having a heap of files and papers on your desk and counters doesn't make you look busy and important – it makes you look like a slob. So keep visible areas neat and tidy. In fact, it doesn't hurt to show off your organizational skills by using transparent cabinets and cubbies, display shelves, and even cord control accessories. Your client will pick up on the fact that you have your stuff together!!

Be different, but not too different

The last thing you want is your home office to resemble a drab mishmash junk.  So avoid burnt orange or lackluster blue carpet and go easy on harsh whites. Neutral colors are fine if they don’t look tired; blues, greens, and grays work well, too. If your business is more creative, then a few well-placed eye-catching hues might also be appropriate.

Be serious – and fun

It’s important to strike a balance between professionalism and relaxation in a home office. Obviously, you don’t want it to look garish or showy. But erring too far on the staid side is also unwise; after all, if you wanted to work in a real office, you wouldn't be working at home. So mix elements of seriousness and fun into your décor, and tilt the scale toward the appropriate end of the industry spectrum (for example, a graphic design studio might be bolder than an accountant’s office).

Enable privacy

In other words, make sure your home office has a door. If you’re setting up in a living room, you can install exterior sliding doors on tracks outside the room without having to rip our door frames and walls. It’s important that you be able to keep out unwanted intrusions from the rest of your home and/or the neighborhood.