You have planned out the perfect space for your home office. Now you need to personalize it and make it truly your own. You want to make it a functioning professional environment that is efficient and aesthetically pleasing. So, how to personalize and “professionalize” your home based business?
Start with choosing furniture, add decorative accents and mix in great office supplies and customized stationary. These should get you well on your way to building a wonderful working environment.
Furnishing The Office
Before you purchase the furniture, take measurements of your space. You don’t want to overcrowd the room with furniture. This will drastically cut down on the flow and will have you feeling claustrophobic in the end. Select a style of furniture that you like. For example, you may like the elegance of traditional or the sleek lines of contemporary. You may go for something altogether eclectic, where you can combine many styles.
Shop for the largest piece first, which will be the desk. Find one that is functional, with the amount of surface space and drawer space you need. Consider how much time you will spend working at the desk and whether you will be purchasing a separate filing cabinet. This will dictate the type of desk you select. Select the finish according to your preference. A rich mahogany or cherry is very handsome and brings great warmth to the office. A glass-top table fits wonderfully into a contemporary environment and makes the room appear visually larger.
The next item you select will most likely be a filing cabinet. Again, consider your needs by evaluating your work style and organizational needs. Choose a filing cabinet that either matches or complements the desk for a more cohesive look. To balance out a heavy dark wood desk, you may choose a similarly finished filing cabinet. For a nice complement to a glass-top desk, a metal filing cabinet in a light color would work well.
A bookcase is an essential part of a home office. You can store reference materials, magazines and various decorative objects to create a personalized look. To offset any storage shortages, bookcases offer great storage of office supplies. Simply put the supplies in decorative boxes and place them on the book shelves.
Shopping for the desk chair should be a large priority and you should try them out before buying. Do your back a favor and invest in a quality ergonomic chair. This will boost your productivity and keep your posture aligned properly. Ergonomic chairs are extremely comfortable and come in a variety of styles and colors to match any décor.
Finishing Touches
Your office décor should reflect your style and personality. If you like something, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t incorporate it into your office. Invest in one or more paintings or fine prints for the walls. For a contemporary office, black and white photos look stunning. If you feel the need, motivational posters can inspire and feature wonderful photography. Include nicely framed family photos and special keepsakes.
Don’t forget the floor. Buy a colorful throw rug that brings the whole room together. Incorporate colors from the window treatments and upholstery. A rug can bring great personality and warmth to a room and the home office is no exception. A beautiful rug is like a piece of art and it unifies and balances a room. It can also provide extra sound-proofing, an added benefit if you work late hours while others are sleeping.
You will need to consider lighting. Ambient, or overhead lighting, can be changed out with decorative fixtures that complement your design scheme. Accent lighting in any seating areas you may have will assist when meeting with clients. You should invest in a good desk lamp that will not only provide task lighting but will add greatly to the style and ambiance of the office. If your computer is in a space that is not illuminated by ambient light, you may consider placing a small task lamp there. Ensure that it is adjusted so as not to cause glare on your screen.
Personalizing The Necessities
Of course you will need office supplies. You will need the basics such as stapler, pens, pencils, file folders and paper. You will want to organize these supplies, locating the most used where it is most convenient to you. Keep supplies neat and orderly by utilizing drawer organizers. You can coordinate your desk accessories, such as pen holders and file boxes, to your overall design scheme.
Invest in quality personalized stationary and business cards. These are often the first impression of your business and should be professional and represent you well. You can visit your local printer and work with them on an appropriate design or logo for your business and incorporate that into your stationary.
Hopefully, now you are more informed about how to personalize and “professionalize” your home based business. With the furniture in place, the finishing touches added and your supplies organized and personalized, your home office is ready for productivity. Take the time to make this environment yours and your daily outlook will improve, giving you a boost of initiative to get through your days.