Working at home isn’t all fun and games. It’s essential to prepare a quality office so you can focus on being productive every day. Try these 7 different tips that will help you set up your home office!

1. Make A List Of Equipment Critical To Your Business

One of the most vital components of having a home office is ensuring you have all the equipment to run your business properly. There’s no sense in working at home if you’re constantly looking for essential office items to use. If your business regularly ships items, it’s worth investing in a label maker, packaging tape and other crucial items for fulfilling orders. Take the time and make a detailed list of things your business needs on a daily basis.

2. Choose A Dedicated Part Of Your Home For Your Office

Once you know what type of items you’re going to need for your home office, you can set up a dedicated space. Having an assigned space is vital to minimize interruptions and help you maintain a professional work environment. You don’t want people on the phone to be able to hear what’s going on in the rest of your home. Even if you’re working at home, you should have some semblance of privacy. Dedicating a certain area of your home to your business also makes it easier for you to write off your expenses come tax season.

3. Invest In Storage

One of the drawbacks of having a home office is it’s easy for clutter to get out of control. You can preemptively manage clutter by investing in storage solutions. Use vertical storage and blank space on your walls to your advantage. Try and avoid using your desk for storage since it’ll get quickly cluttered. Try and manage your documents electronically instead of having to manage huge files of physical folders.

4. Make Sure You’re Using Ergonomic Equipment

Anytime you work long hours sitting down you need to ensure you aren’t damaging your neck and back. Many long hours focusing on a computer screen can cause neck, back and hip pain which will reduce how effective you are at work. It’s worth investing in an ergonomic office chair that allows you to work in a comfortable position.

Make sure your chair is giving you proper back support and that it’s adjustable. Futon mattresses also provide a comfortable alternative for working long hours when compared to stiff office chairs.

5. Keep Your Personal And Professional Documents Separate

When working out of a home office, it quickly becomes easy to mix your personal and business life. Try and keep these two parts of your life separate, especially when it comes to your finances. If you can prove your office is used only for work, you can get a significant tax deduction.

6. Invest In Proper Lighting

Proper lighting is essential for any home office. Try and pick the room in your home that has the most natural light. If you don’t have natural light or windows available, set up different layers of lighting in your office. You can use a desk lamp for task work and an overhead light to illuminate the whole room. Use both types of lights in combination to ensure you have adequate lighting in your office.

7. Find Ways To Add Privacy To Your Office

Keeping your home office private is essential for improving your productivity. Try using portable screens to shield your work area from outside activities. You can also use divider walls that double as bookcases. Even using a bookcase by itself can be a good way to block off your work area while adding some extra storage to your space.