work-from-home

Set up the perfect 

work-from-home office with

 this guide

23 Jul 2019

Whether you live in a beachside villa or in a small apartment in a big city, you can create a space to designate for your home office

Are you a seasoned lawyer who needs a quiet place to review briefs in the evening? 

Or perhaps you’re a freelancer who needs a motivating space at home to work. Either 

way, we will help you turn that unused space into your personal office, free from 

distractions and furnished according to your needs and tastes.

Follow these steps and get started working at home comfortably and efficiently:

1. Choose your space

You can consider converting a spare bedroom or storage room if your home is larger.

Think about whether you’ll be meeting with clients at home. You may want to select a

 room closer to the entrance to protect your privacy. Or perhaps you plan on spending 

long hours in your office—a room with a good view might lift your spirits and keep you motivated.

If you have a large family, choose a room with a door so you can enjoy some quiet time

 while working.

But if you are working with limited space, you may need to get creative. How about a 

large closet? Remove the clothes pole and clear it out by donating those shoes you 

haven’t worn in more than a year. Or maybe you only use your dining room when you

 have guests over once a year - that could be a great space to set up your printer, 

computer and work phone.

2. Think about what you will need

Make a list of everything you think you may need for your home office. Some things

 you may want to have could include:

- Temperature control

- Lighting

- Telephone

- Blinds for controlling natural light.

- Computer

- Printer

- Cabinets, and locks if client privacy is important.

3. Work surface

No matter what kind of business you have, you’re probably going to need a desk. If you

 are a creative type you can make your own desk by converting a small table and 

installing shelves on the wall behind the table for storing books and supplies. Or build 

your own desk by using filing cabinets as the base with a wood or laminate top.

If you are thinking of buying a desk, the best home office desks come in a wide range of

 prices, so you can find one that fits your budget.

4. Seating

If you’re eager to get started, you may think that you can make any old stool or folding

 chair serve as your office chair. This is only the case if you plan on spending fewer than

 20 minutes at a time seated at your desk.

It’s very important to choose the right chair for you and adjust it to your needs. No 

matter how old you are, sitting in a chair that doesn’t offer proper support, especially in

 the lumbar area, will cause you discomfort and pain, and make you less able to focus 

while you’re working.

Some things to look for in an office chair include:

- An adjustable backrest

- Appropriate height (your feet should rest flat on the floor).

- Arm rests that are close to the body and allow your shoulders to relax.

- Adjustable arm height that matches the height of the desk.

- Adjustable lumbar support

- Wheel base (make sure your wheels are compatible with your flooring, e.g. carpet

 versus wood.

- Breathable fabric

5. Proper lighting

Many people are unaware of the damage that prolonged screen time causes to their 

eyes. The good news is, there are things you can do to help.

In an ideal situation, your home office will be in a room with plenty of windows for

 natural light. However, realistically, most people don’t find themselves in an ideal

 situation when setting up a home office. If this is your case, you can enhance the area

 with direct lighting. First start with overhead lights that fill the general space, then add

 a desk lamp to illuminate your work surface, and a floor lamp to enhance the light 

around your work surface.

You should also make sure that the lighting is not right in front of your computer monitor, so it doesn’t reflect off of the screen. If you plan on working right before bed, you may want 

to consider buying a pair of glasses made specifically to reduce the glare from the 

screen.

6. Invest in critical equipment

If you’ve spent any time looking at pictures of home offices on the internet, you may be

 eager to go and splurge on unnecessary décor. Don’t worry, that can come later, but

 first it’s important to make sure that you’ve got the necessary items accounted for.

Some of these may include:

- A fast internet connection.

- Specialized software

- A separate work phone.

- A tax consultant (because paying self-employment taxes can be complicated).

7. Keep it professional

There are three main reasons that you’ll want to keep your home office space professional:

- Clients: If you have clients in your home office, you wouldn’t want to have dirty clothes lying around or anything that might reflect your political or religious views.

- Motivation: You may be tempted to have tones of personal effects in your workspace, and while a family photograph or two or your favorite piece of artwork are okay, too many

 decorative items may become a distraction.

- SARS: It can be hard to get started as a small business owner, so tax deductions are

 very important. You need to be able to take advantage of tax deductions related to

 home office expenses, but if you can’t prove that your office is a dedicated work area,

 you may not meet the conditions set forth by SARS.

8. Keep a regular schedule

although it’s important to keep distractions to a minimum, this doesn’t mean that you

 shouldn’t try to create a visually appealing space. Decorating with color will make the 

space more inviting, and patterns will help stimulate your brain to keep you feeling 

awake and focused. Try choosing a color that calms you but doesn’t put you to sleep.

 A pale yellow perhaps, or a delicate spring green.

conclusion

Planning your home office space is essential to being able to work comfortably and 

efficiently at home. Make sure you have everything you need, and add a few 

decorations to make it an enjoyable place to work in and be. You’ll enjoy your time

 working more, and approach each project with more enthusiasm, and that will be sure

 to reflect in your work.

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