Getting Your Home Office Just Right
April 11, 2011 
Click on this photo for some home office feng shui tips!
Irwin Weiner ASID - Working from home can either be the best thing you ever did or your worst nightmare – and you have the power to influence the experience by creating the right environment.
Not all of us are privileged enough to have a huge office space in our homes, and many have to make do with a corner of another room or doubling up next to the guest beds. A friend of mine in the UK has an old-fashioned bureau in the living room which houses her work world, and luckily has a roll top allowing him to shut herself off when it's time to relax in the evening. Her husband, who also works from home, has created a man cave in their spare room which involves an incredible amount of electronic equipment and an unhealthy lack of natural light. His wife is not allowed in, and she's oh so disappointed!
- Whatever workspace you have to work with (forgive the pun), think carefully about how you use it to make sure you get the best result possible. It will not be the same for everyone, so take it personally and get it just right for you.
- If you're sharing a room with beds, sofas, the dining table or even storage, then maybe position your desk so that you face away from the distractions. This will help you focus on your work tasks and may stop you from deciding to do chores instead.
- Light is important too; well maybe not to some gadget-fascinated men but still, most home workers like to be next to the window for the light and the view onto the garden as well. If there's no adjacent window, then maybe invest in a great floor-standing lamp which can also help define your home office as a separate area in the home.
More than anything, working from home is about enjoying the flexibility it offers, while also maintaining a routine where you actually get things done. Try it – you might like it. We have two videos for you: click here to view our Design2Share How Can I Work from Home Without Making a Mess? video; and here's an eHow video with some bright home office lighting tips (what, another pun?!).
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