by Infoshelter

Created on: April 07, 2011   Last Updated: April 08, 2011

“The other day I visited my friend who is a freelance typist, just to see how she was getting on in her new home office, as she was now working from home. I hadn’t seen her for long and last time we met she had not yet moved from her old premises.

I rang the bell of her house and she opened. I was so glad to see her again. Her new office was a small room, but this was the best she could afford in the current harsh economic conditions. The actual place was a bit dark to be honest, probably due to the fact that the only window was a small opening from where the rays of the sun could just find their way in. On top of that, the furniture was huge in proportion to the actual dimensions of the office and this made the already limited space of the office, look really packed.  She invited me to sit in the client’s chair, which was easier said than done, because my legs could not fit under the small desk. When I asked her about the piles of papers everywhere, which made the place look a real mess, she replied that her cabinets were full and she had nowhere else to put them.”

This is not an uncommon situation, faced by many freelance workers who have decided to work from home and, due to lack of adequate room they struggle to fit everything in a, usually limited, home office space. So what practices can be applied to organize the available area in a more efficient manner?

Don’t fill your home office with unnecessary furniture

Try to use just a couple of cabinets where you can put your most essential files and archives. You don’t need huge lockers looking like skyscrapers, which would transform the place into a warehouse. You need only two to three chairs: one for yourself and a couple for the occasional visitors. Your living room could serve as an alternative, where you can accommodate visitors in case of meetings with more people.

Get rid of office clutter before it gets out of control

To be able to use fewer filing cabinets you should keep your office clear from non-essential papers, documents, leaflets, brochures, bills, newspapers etc. You can only do that by applying a strict filing system. As soon as you receive mail you should decide what deserves your attention and must be kept, and what must go straight into the garbage basket.

Bring more light into your office

Since you work from home, you might have the choice to select one of the most favored rooms in your house, in terms of sunlight, to use it as your office. However, if for example, there is no other choice than the basement, try not to be penny-pinching when it comes to investing money on effective and functional lighting, which in the end, will increase your productivity and satisfaction from working in your own place.

Decorate your office with a couple of nice paintings and flowers

A beautiful picture, especially a beautiful landscape, can change your mood in a positive way, make you relax and boost inspiration. House plants and flowers can have a similarly relaxing result.  

Keep external disturbance off your home office

This is not directly related to the internal organization and decoration of your home office space, unless you decide to make the room sound-proof, of course. However, it is vital to find isolation from outer distraction, such as family, pets or noise from the street, machinery etc, in order to work concentrated and produce better results. 

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