Motherhood Incorporated

It’s always a good idea to keep your office equipment separate from your personal computer and other equipment. Not only will this cut down on fights for computer time, but it will be more assuring that your work files and other things won’t be damaged or compromised by your family.

Make sure you back-up your information regularly. Use a jump or thumb drive – a small storage unit that plugs into your computer’s USB port and that can hold reams of information. This way, if your computer ever crashes, the information on this drive is safe since it’s completely separate.

If you don’t want to purchase a fax machine but need to receive faxes, there are companies online that sell or rent you a fax number; when a fax is sent to this number, it gets forwarded to your email as an attachment, usually in PDF format.

Multi-purpose printers can be handy, as they often double as a scanner, copy machine and fax machine as well.

Get a surge protector and make sure all your equipment is plugged into it. Any electrical storm can wreak havoc on your equipment if not protected.

If all those cords are a nuisance to you, get a strong twist-tie and wrap them up neatly, tying them together to avoid some clutter. You may also want to use a small tag to identify which cord is for what – phone line, cable line, PC plug, and so on. This way, if you ever need to unplug something, you won’t need to pull everything out while searching for the right cord.

Smaller offices.

If you only need a small desk area to do some bills and light computer work, virtually any corner of a quiet room will do. Many modern kitchens even have a small phone area built in; consider claiming this as your own space and clearing out everyone else’s homework, toys, etc.

What about an unused or convertible closet? You may need your guest room for overnight company, but does it have a closet you can use to set up a desk and chair? You can either take out the overhead shelf or keep it to store files and supplies.

Larger and professional office spaces.

If you’re working from home and need to welcome clients or need more space in which to spread out, it’s time to do some major re-thinking when it comes to your home and its use. Sure, you may love the idea of having overnight guests stay in their own fancy bedroom, or your kids may love that separate playroom you’ve furnished for them, but sometimes work needs to take priority. Can your children not play in their rooms, or have a corner of the living room designated just for them? Can you invest in a nice pull-out sofa for your guests, or fix up the kids’ room and have the children double-up? Remember, visits are only temporary, while work is permanent.

Also give some thought as to unused rooms you might have. For example, many homes have a formal dining room that is rarely, if ever, used. Families eat in the kitchen or in the family room. Can you then convert the dining room into an office? Why let that space go to waste? This may also be ideal for when you need to bring clients into your home, as formal dining rooms are typically located near the home’s entrance and away from the other living areas.

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It’s easy to think that if you don’t have a spare room in your house, then you don’t have room for a home office.

As the French say, au contraire! (To the contrary!) There are all sorts of places in your home where you can put a home office without feeling cramped or overcrowded, if you just use some imagination and ingenuity.

Before you begin, ask yourself some basic questions. How much time will you spend in the office area, and what will you do there? Are you simply looking for a designated spot at which to pay bills and balance the checkbook, and maybe catch up on a few projects from work? Or do you need a full-fledged computer area with printer, fax, and so on?

If you work a secular career from your home, this will also help determine the amount of space you need. An interior designer or architect needs a flat area to spread out books and plans. A lawyer may need a quiet and comfortable chair to read in.

Do you have customers or clients that visit? This means you may need a separate entrance or direct access to your office without having to trek through the house.