Devoted to WAHMs -Work at Home Moms

For the next few days, we'll be hearing from two guest bloggers. The topic: setting up a home office and getting started in business. While the posts contain some similarities, each guest brings their own unique perspective to the topic.

Today's guest post is from Sue Walsh, a writer and a blogger. One of the places where Sue blogs is at the Two Minute Commute, a great home business blog.

(Be sure to read tomorrow's post from Grant Griffiths of Home Office Warrior for a slightly different perspective on the same topic!)

When most people decide to start working from home, office space is the last thing on their minds, but there eventually comes a time when sharing the kitchen table or that rickety card table just aren't going to cut it anymore. It's time to give yourself some real office space. Where to begin? Here are a few tips:

• Space- This is one thing that most homes never seem to have enough of. For your office space, you'll need enough for a good sturdy desk and perhaps a file cabinet or other filing system to start. A window is a nice bonus, unless you're easily distracted. An unused corner of a living room, bedroom, basement or laundry room will work. Try and choose a space that's fairly quiet and away from major traffic areas.
  
  
• Furniture- A sturdy desk and good  quality desk chair are musts. Don't choose a either by looks or price alone. Sit down and see how comfortable they are. A desk that is too high or two low will cause pains and strains later, and a well made office chair is crucial for good posture and back support.
  
  
• Tools- A good computer and printer are obvious musts, and these days they have never been more affordable. You'll also want to invest in a good desk light, organizer system (anything from a filing cabinet to those plastic shelves that stack nicely on a desk), file folders and labels, reference materials (these will vary based on your particular business), telephone (and if you plan to use it a lot, a good headset), and of course, pens, pencils, and notepads. A bulletin board also comes in handy.
  
  
• Organization- Keep your workspace organized so you'll always be able to find what you need. This saves time, energy, and frazzled nerves. File important papers in properly labled file folders, and file those in a file cabinet, drawer, box, or whatever system works for you. Big things like printer paper can be stored under your desk or in a closet or cabinet. Plastic bins or wicker baskets  are also a great organizational tool. I have two tucked under my desk. One hold spare supplies like pens, post it notes, and tape, along with catalogs from several office supply stores. The other holds the mountain of charging cords I've accumulated  from my laptop, cellphone, pda, and other assorted electronics.
  
  Use a drawer or desk top organizer to hold pens, staplers, scissors, and other often used tools.
  
  
• Dedication- Try and make your home office area just that, a dedicated work space.  Not only can doing so lead to some helpful tax deductions, but it also helps put you in the right frame of mind when you're there. This is made much easier if you're lucky enough to have an entire room dedicated to your home office, but even a corner nook can be separated by a simple screen or other decorative barrier. This also helps your family members to realize when you're "at the office" and when you are free to enjoy their attention!

Setting up a home office doesn't have to be difficult and doesn't require large amounts of space. The important part is just going ahead and doing it. It's a great feeling!

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