Creating a home office

Home office
Find space for your home office
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Fed up of early starts and office politics? Join the masses who are setting up base at home – which is where more than 60% of new businesses are being launched. This year mydeco is a media partner for the Enterprise Nation 2008 Home Office of the Year Award, recognising growing home businesses. Founder and home business expert, Emma Jones, shares her tips to starting up at home.

1. Are you sitting comfortably?

You’ll spend plenty of time in your chair so don’t scrimp. Choose a chair that's designed for computer use – and try it out! Sitting in an awkward position can put your body under stress. Make sure you can adjust the chair's height and angle to suit your pose. I like the look of the Tobacco Klappe swivel chair (£199) from Ikea. It has a high, comfy back, with arm rests and swivel motion. Perfect for the active home business owner.

  • Faux Leather Storage Boxes Brown Set Of 3

    2. Tidy office means tidy mind

    Clutter is distracting and makes your office look smaller. Sort your storage with these Faux leather storage boxes set of 3 (£39.98) from B&Q. I recommend EMRIK (£45) from IKEA for homeworkers operating in small spaces. The beauty being that you can fill it with your papers and wheel it against the wall when you’re done for the day.

  • Prima Desk Legs Silver

    3. Entrepreneurial desk

    When Jeff Bezos launched Amazon in his garage, he revamped old doors into desks. If your budget can stretch a little, try something along the lines of the Prima desk legs silver (£34.98) from B&Q. It offers all you need in a home office desk. Bezos would be jealous.

  • Original Green Anglepoise Desk Lamp by Kenneth Grange

    4. Business light

    Lighting is critical. Try to find a room that's has lots of natural light. If it gets too bright you can diffuse the light with blinds or muslin. And buy yourself a good task light, bearing in mind not to shine it directly on to your computer screen. The Kenneth Grange original anglepoise (£150) from Heal's is an editor's favourite.

  • Recycled paper pin board

    7. I have a vision

    When starting and growing a business from home, it’s useful to have a vision board. Stick up pictures and notes as daily reminders of what you’re working to achieve. You can do this with the recycled paper pin board (£15) from Ecocentric. Help the environment while you are at it by cutting down on your printing, or choose the double-sided printing option and try to re-use your scrap paper.

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laurenbrewster

laurenbrewster

Posted | 16th January

Some lovely ideas for the home office, I will have to give them a go!

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