Office workspace needs careful planning

If you plan to make a home office your primary workspace:

Take your work habits into account when deciding whether to locate your office in a more social area of the house or off by itself. Where and how do you function best?

If people will be meeting with you, locate the office in a room near an entrance, or in a space with its own entrance.

Make sure there are enough electrical outlets to run your equipment, along with adequate phone lines and lighting. If not, can they be easily installed?

Consider whether there is sufficient room for storage there or nearby.

Carefully measure walls, windows and doorways for a clear idea of how much space you have to work with. Then sketch out a floor plan, making sure you don’t block elements such as vents, windows and closets. When shopping for furnishings, measure them, too.

If you’ll be spending more than a few hours at a time at your desk, buy the best task chair you can afford. Test it out at a desk as you would use it. How easy is it to adjust? Does it support your back?

Think twice about integrating a home office into your bedroom: You may not be able to leave work behind at the end of the day.

Sources: Michael Shannon, Lisa Kanarek and Kanarek’s book “Home Office Solutions: Creating a Space That Works for You” (Rockport, $15.99).