If you work from home, creating an office that feels professional and productive is essential to being productive and effective. Luckily, your home office design can reflect your individual decorating style!
Home office deductions may apply if you use one or more rooms of your home as offices. The IRS calculates expenses using either actual expense method or simplified square footage rate calculation methods.
Design
At home office ideas are essential when working from home; whether that means setting up an entire space dedicated to work or updating an area within your bedroom, living room, or kitchen nook – our home office ideas will help create a productive area that keeps you motivated throughout your day!
Many designers recognize the importance of storage in a home office, so ensure your desk offers enough drawers and shelves to house books and supplies. If there is a window nearby, position your desk so it faces it and add decorative art or plants for visual interest near the windowsill. Incorporating natural elements can help increase focus and productivity by engaging your senses; including real greenery, fragrant plants, or even including natural sounds into headphones can keep you on task and on task!
If space is at a premium but you still want to add flair to your work area, try opting for a console table with a slim profile instead of a full desk paired with an ergonomic chair for an appealing and contemporary aesthetic.
Space
There are various strategies you can employ to maximize home office space, even in tight or narrow quarters. Just ensure the room remains free from family members and pets to minimize interruptions while working effectively.
Your home office doesn’t have to be physically separate from the rest of your house in order to qualify as such; permanent partitions may help distinguish this space, however. According to IRS standards, however, regular and exclusive business use must occur within that area; working from your spare bedroom or a kitchen table wouldn’t count.
Unusual spaces make great home offices, such as an awkward corner inside a bay window or under a staircase. A desk, bookshelves and sconces can transform these awkward spots into productive workspaces while leaving plenty of room open for leisure activities in the remaining portion of the room. They may even qualify for tax deduction if meeting principal place of business requirements.
Equipment
Equipment is key when creating a home office. Ergonomic desks and chairs help employees work comfortably and efficiently while additional items include lighting fixtures and sound dampening panels.
Depending on the work being completed, choosing the ideal equipment depends on several factors. For instance, graphic-intensive work might need a desktop PC rather than a laptop. Furthermore, supplies necessary for remote offices include storage containers and drawers to organize stationery and papers.
Remember that all expenses related solely to operating a home office are tax deductible – this is known as direct expenses. Another option available to home offices is using indirect expenses as deductions – using 20 percent of rent, utilities and other indirect costs can help. A professional tax advisor will offer more guidance in either case.
Organization
Messy home offices can be more than a mere distraction; they can actually hamper productivity as well. Cluttered supplies, paperwork and wires can lead to frustration, stress and mistakes – so take some time this weekend clearing and organizing the space so you’ll feel in charge of your workday from within the comfort of your own home!
Amy Vance, an organization expert, says the key to an efficient home office is keeping it free of anything but essentials. Sort like items together and purge items no longer required or wanted while organizing everything into bins, baskets or containers that can be labeled.
Set home office hours and stick with them. Although it might be tempting to answer text messages and phone calls at all hours, setting regular work schedules can help ensure a healthy work-life balance.