Do-it-yourself Home Office Organization: Tips For Maximizing Vertical Work Space
In todays economy, setting up a small office-home office (SOHO) working environment is an important survival strategy for emerging and small businesses struggling to curb the hard-hitting effects of the US economic recession. According to the US Small Business Administration, at least 52% of the 27.5 million small businesses in America are now home-based.
Aside from the fact that working from the comfort of our homes substantially reduces our business operating costs and makes mobility and flexibility possible, it also affords us lifes simple joys: being able to work dressed in pajamas, transacting with your client in your garden or patio, being productive without necessarily being away from your newborn baby or family.
Although working at home is a great and self-fulfilling experience with its endless pros, building and organizing your home office might be a real challenge and might need special attention. Having a particular place in your home that is designated as your office space is of foremost importance. It should be well organized, well equipped and free from distraction.
Every square inch of your precious home office space counts and should not be wasted. To avoid the situation of not having enough work space and the constant need to rearrange your furniture, we suggest that you go vertical!
Here are some ways to organize a vertical home office that makes you productive and happy at the same time:
Make an inventory of things in your office, store them vertically
Begin by taking inventory of the things currently in your office. Purchasing your furniture, shelving and cabinetry should be done after you have sorted through your things, purged your office clutter and measured available office space.
The weight of items such as your sample products, brochure, stationery and appliances such as your TV or radio should be measured as these are best placed in built-in wall shelves or media cabinets aligned in your walls. Hand held devices or cell phones and their cradles, reference books, photographs and awards, business cards, clock and lighting should be placed above your desk. Paper, neatly stacked office supplies, small network hubs, ink cartridges and neatly coiled power cords should be placed above your printer, fax or scanner.
Functionality in your furniture
A vertical office space requires functionality. Choose a good desk that best suits your needs and is according to the type of your work. It could be U-shaped or L-shaped, among many other types, for as long as it fits the nature of your work. Choose a chair with the right height, good back support and capable of easy movement because youll spend so many hours sitting on it.
Add built-in shelves and cabinetry to maximize your vertical space
Finally, built-in bookshelves and cabinetry that stretch upwards and freestanding furniture pieces can add practical efficiency, permanent storage and display areas to your home office without taking too much floor space. A lot of shelving and cabinetry options are availablefrom custom cabinetry that is most expensive to off-the-shelf cabinetry that is fraction of the cost of custom made. Shelving can be expensive finished, unfinished, economically wire or plastic.
Aside from the fact that working from the comfort of our homes substantially reduces our business operating costs and makes mobility and flexibility possible, it also affords us lifes simple joys: being able to work dressed in pajamas, transacting with your client in your garden or patio, being productive without necessarily being away from your newborn baby or family.
Although working at home is a great and self-fulfilling experience with its endless pros, building and organizing your home office might be a real challenge and might need special attention. Having a particular place in your home that is designated as your office space is of foremost importance. It should be well organized, well equipped and free from distraction.
Every square inch of your precious home office space counts and should not be wasted. To avoid the situation of not having enough work space and the constant need to rearrange your furniture, we suggest that you go vertical!
Here are some ways to organize a vertical home office that makes you productive and happy at the same time:
Make an inventory of things in your office, store them vertically
Begin by taking inventory of the things currently in your office. Purchasing your furniture, shelving and cabinetry should be done after you have sorted through your things, purged your office clutter and measured available office space.
The weight of items such as your sample products, brochure, stationery and appliances such as your TV or radio should be measured as these are best placed in built-in wall shelves or media cabinets aligned in your walls. Hand held devices or cell phones and their cradles, reference books, photographs and awards, business cards, clock and lighting should be placed above your desk. Paper, neatly stacked office supplies, small network hubs, ink cartridges and neatly coiled power cords should be placed above your printer, fax or scanner.
Functionality in your furniture
A vertical office space requires functionality. Choose a good desk that best suits your needs and is according to the type of your work. It could be U-shaped or L-shaped, among many other types, for as long as it fits the nature of your work. Choose a chair with the right height, good back support and capable of easy movement because youll spend so many hours sitting on it.
Add built-in shelves and cabinetry to maximize your vertical space
Finally, built-in bookshelves and cabinetry that stretch upwards and freestanding furniture pieces can add practical efficiency, permanent storage and display areas to your home office without taking too much floor space. A lot of shelving and cabinetry options are availablefrom custom cabinetry that is most expensive to off-the-shelf cabinetry that is fraction of the cost of custom made. Shelving can be expensive finished, unfinished, economically wire or plastic.