Telecommuting is an increasingly popular option for people across the country. In fact, a report from remote working job board Virtual Vocation's 2017 year-end report found at least 20 percent of U.S. workers telecommute, whether on a part- or full-time basis. In addition, plenty of entrepreneurs and business owners have long worked out of their homes instead of operating and paying for a separate office.
Want to add a home office to your new house? Let's look at how set up a dedicated space and if it makes sense for your specific needs.
Finding the right place to work
Your new home might have a spare room that's set off from much of the rest of the living space, offering a quiet environment for work, or square footage may be at a premium. Either way, you'll need to find an area you can use to focus on work, whether on a daily or occasional basis.
The Spruce pointed out that a space as small as a closet can serve as an effective workspace, as long as you can fit a desk and chair inside of it and put in power connections. This approach, while not spacious, allows you to keep the office behind a closed door. That's crucial if you need to focus heavily on your daily tasks or field a large number of phone calls.
Comfort and function
Although the specifics are a matter of personal preference, you need to make sure your home office is a comfortable place to work. Lighting, temperature and air circulation are all basic needs that have to be addressed. The chair you plan to use is also important, so don't make cost your only consideration.
Fit Small Business offered an in-depth review of many types of office chairs. Standing desks are an increasingly popular option and should also be considered. However, many users still like to sit down at points during the day, so having a comfortable chair remains an important consideration.
Keeping work and home life separate
Focusing on work while at home can be incredibly easy if you live alone or have a spouse who heads into the office every day. On the other end of the spectrum, you may have to balance an at-home career with childcare and other major, unavoidable responsibilities.
Finding an equilibrium between these needs is important so you can address your personal and professional responsibilities with equal aplomb. You may want to plan your work-from-home schedule around these needs, setting aside blocks of time where you focus on each. That can be easier said than done, but it provides a valuable framework that you can strive to follow each day.
Help setting up your office
If you already have a home office set up, the expert movers and packers at Atlas can easily bring all of the large, bulky and heavy items like desks, computers and printers from your old office to your new one. To learn more, just reach out to your local Atlas agent!