Beginner's Guide to Home Office

Home Office Decor Overview

2006-01-26T16:37:43Z

Creating an effective and well laid out office can prove essential in everyday life. Whether you work from home or you just want to create your own personal space, having a nicely designed office will make your home more appealing.

The style and fittings you apply to the office will be down to personal tastes but try and keep it in tone with the rest of your home.

There are plenty of little touches that you can add apart from furniture. It doesn’t need to stop there. Consider purchasing small features like pictures, plants and bean bags for example. It will make the room feel more welcoming and whereas it may just normally be a spare room, you can potentially make it a whole lot more.

When styling your office, it is best to use like pastel colours on the walls like White or Blue. Experts say the reason for this is, if you buy a desk made of dark wood and place it in a dark room then it may feel a lot smaller and would not make an ideal working environment. If you have a lighter room and have a dark oak desk then it will blend in better giving a feeling of more space.

Overall, it is best to shop around and ask for advice before you start any refurbishment. Staff at local D.I.Y. shops will be pleased to help where possible but remember before you purchase anything, what looks okay in the showroom may not be what was expected once it has been set up.

Introducing Feng Shui

2006-01-26T16:38:33Z

What is Feng Shui? This is a very popular style that is usually used within the home but may benefit some to apply this to your office as well. More commonly thought of as the Yin/Yang effect it is believed that placing items such as Wind chimes and Fountains can create positive chi. www.fengshuitips.co.uk offer many ideas on how to create a calm aura in your office.

Use of Mirrors and Pictures

2006-01-26T16:39:16Z

A few carefully placed pictures of loved ones and the odd mirror can make a huge different to the light flow and stress levels. When some people style the home office they don’t like to consider it as a place of work and adding those small touches can make a difference as it will feel more like a room to relax in.

Selecting a Desk

2006-01-26T16:39:47Z

Choosing a new desk is not always as simple as it looks so it may be an idea to see what retailers have to offer. If you bear in mind several factors when searching then it could make the search a little bit easier.

· How much storage space will I require?

· How much do I want to spend?

· What size desk can my office store?

· Will my computer equipment fit on this desk?

These are a few of the most common questions you need to ask yourself as all furniture purchased will need to be comfortable because it could end up being the most used room in the household.

Top Tip: Remember to measure the whole width and length of the chosen room. The slightest miscalculation could result in purchasing too big a desk.

Selecting an Office Chair

2006-01-26T16:40:33Z

Within the working office Health and Safety is paramount so why should it be any different at home? It shouldn’t.

Choose an office chair that has a high back and is adjustable. Never use a stool as you have the danger of developing severe back problems if you spend hours on end in the office.

There are many reputable companies that offer chairs which comply with current Health and Safety laws and as result can reduce any possible long term effects. You may pay a little bit more but at the end of the day, your health is worth it.

Selecting Office Equipment

2006-01-26T16:41:07Z

This is usually the last thing you may need to add to your new office, computers and other essentials like a mouse, keyboard and printer. With monitors and keyboards there have been long term problems associated with using both of these. If you stare at a computer screen too long, it could damage your eyesight in the long term and with keyboards, you could develop a condition known as RSI (Repetitive Strain Injury). This is when the soft tissue in the hands are damaged due to bad posture or repetition of a task such as typing.

To overcome both of these problems there are possible solutions and purchasing the following goods can greatly reduce any possible risk.

· Screen Filter: This reduces the glare that a computer monitor can omit and stops the pressure that is usually put on your eyesight.

· Natural Keyboard: The layout of this keyboard means that your hands are elevated when you are typing and has been proved that cases of RSI have been prevented.

· Wrist Rest: This is what you would place in front of your keyboard and again this causes your hands to elevate while you type, thus creating better posture.

Office Dangers

2006-01-26T16:41:45Z

Any office can pose a threat if a safety procedure may have been overlooked. Whilst most facts are obvious, it is very easy to overlook something that may be a problem in the future. How do I safeguard my office against any possible accidents?

· All trailing wires should be secured to the ground with high strength industrial tape to prevent tripping

· Don’t keep drawers or cupboards open, someone carrying files could trip and fall

· Keep a Fire Extinguisher handy at all times, many computer shops offer specialised items like this specially designed for the small office.

· Take care when handling sharp objects like scissors. Keep the blade in your hand because a trip or fall could prove deadly.

These are just a few Health and Safety tips that you need to enforce in your office but the majority is not gained knowledge, it is just common sense. If you want to learn more then many local colleges can do basic health and safety courses.

Pro's and Cons of a Home Office

2006-01-26T16:42:24Z

For some having an office at home would be a godsend so they could complete any work they may not have been able to finish, whilst others may think it to be a complete waste of space and select another purpose for the room.

There are pro’s and con’s associated with any changes made in the home and it is best to consider all details before making any rash decisions that you may later regret.

Pros:

· You have personal space that you can call your own

· If you work from home then you can operate undisturbed

· Utilising any unused space

· Potentially adding value to your home

· No more commuting, you don’t have to worry about traffic jams if you work from home

Cons:

· May sometimes feel you work 24/7

· If you spend all day in your office then loneliness is a possibility

· Less space, you have one less room in your home and could make the house seem a lot smaller

· Could spend more time styling your office then you are in it

From this list, you can see that the pro’s far outweigh the cons but in all situations it is always best to think how a decision will affect you, right down to the smallest details.

Conclusions

2006-01-26T16:43:01Z

Each home office has the overall potential to become something really great and depending on your chosen style, it will hopefully provide more than just another room.

If you decorate and furnish your office to a high quality finish then you have the potential of adding extra value to your home and creating one extra selling point should you decide to sell in the future.

Whilst there are a lot of Health and Safety rules to remember, choosing the best computer equipment and furniture, do have fun with your upgrade. This is the one room that the modern community needs more off, peace and quiet from the hustle and bustle of daily life.

Computers Overview

2006-02-06T22:30:05Z

The definition given for a computer at www.dictionary.com is: A device that computes, especially a programmable electronic machine that performs high-speed mathematical or logical operations or that assembles, stores, correlates, or otherwise processes information.

In today’s culture you would be hard pressed to find someone who did not know what a computer was. It seems like computers run our society. These programmable devices have empowered our society to automate just about anything from building cars, to driving trains, to launching space ships, to firing missiles. These things are operations computers do on a large scale. What are some common tasks computers help or enable us to do today?

One of the most prevalent activities we use a computer for is emailing. Email stands for ‘electronic mail’. Computers, when linked to a phone line, cable line, or wireless hub are able to take digital information and send it all over the world.

Another activity we use computers for is word processing. Computers make it possible to write words through a keypad onto a digital screen. The software in the computer makes it possible for us to edit and delete and add to our document. Twenty years ago this type of word processing was only available to rich people or members of the government! We have certainly come a long way.

One of the most influential inventions in western culture is the Internet. Our computers link to the Internet the same way it links to send and receive email. Once linked to the Internet computer users are able to move from homepage to homepage and view digital documents that are hosted by servers along the digital ocean of the Internet.

In our culture there are two major types of computers: the desktop computer and the laptop computer. A desktop computer is a computer comprised of a keyboard for typing, a monitor for viewing information, and a CPU (central processing unit) tower that is the main area where the information is processed. These types of computers are typically the largest computers and are capable of storing large amounts of information.

The desktop’s counterpart is the laptop computer. A laptop is also known as a notebook computer due to the way it folds together like a notebook. A laptop has all the same features of a desktop only in a much smaller form. The same amount of power is found in a computer that, when closed, is typically no larger than one inch thick and fifteen inches wide. People who are highly mobile and perform their jobs in transit generally use laptop computers. The compact nature of the laptop affords its users high performance while on the go.

What is all this talk about PC vs. Mac?

2006-02-06T22:31:08Z

A PC is a ‘personal computer’. These computers are generally operated by an operating system called Windows, which is made by Microsoft. Work is performed by software through a series of windows. A user opens a window to perform an action such as word processing and then closes the window when finished. The platform for windows is WYSIWYG (What you see is what you get). There is no DOS code to know or write, the programmers who created Windows have written all the code.

A Mac is a Macintosh computer made by Apple. A Mac does not use Windows as its operating system. Macs use their own intuitive operating system known as OS X. Typically Mac computers are simpler to use than a Windows based PC.

There are many different companies that make PCs. Some of those companies are: Hewlett Packer, Compaq, Gateway, Sony, and Dell just to name a few. With so many different companies making Pcs that run on the same exact operating system, it is not uncommon for PCs to be attacked by computer viruses (a virus is created by computer hackers to try and ruin computers). Because Mac computers are only made by Mac/Apple the chances of getting attacked by a computer virus are significantly less.

Is there a preferred computer for business applications?

2006-02-06T22:31:47Z

A few years ago there was a greater gulf between Macs and Pcs in terms of business applications. PCs are typically the weapon of choice for most businesses. Microsoft made most of the software for business applications. Therefore since most PCs use Microsoft Windows for their operation systems, the best computers used for business were PCs.

Today the playing field is a bit more level. With computer advancement at lightning speed most applications can be run on either computer.

Writer's Review

2006-02-06T22:32:29Z

As stated above, the line between Macs and PCs is severely blurred. It seems everyone has a bias towards one computer over another. Having used both computers I have found the Macs to be more intuitive and simpler to use. In addition, the Macintosh is set up to manage the cultural mediums of the day (music, photos, videos) better than most PCs. This is obviously a personal preference, and that is what it must be for everyone who uses a computer.

The recommendation is that before you run out to buy a computer you do a good bit of comparison-shopping. Here are some things you may want to consider while shopping for a computer: What is the main thing I am going to be using a computer for? What is my budget for this computer? Do I need a laptop or a desktop? How much memory do I want for my computer?

These are just a few things you may want to consider before purchasing a computer.

Final Thoughts

2006-02-06T22:33:09Z

Computers are machines that we can program to compute. Computers run so many things in our culture today, it would be a shame to stay ignorant of them. The computer can be used to compute and access many things such as the Internet. The Internet is what is sometimes referred to as the Information Super Highway. Our computers access this information by linking to the Internet (also known as the World Wide Web) via a phone line, cable line, or wireless hub.

When deciding what kind of computer to buy we must take into consideration the types of tasks we will be doing with the computer. This should dictate whether we buy a laptop, desktop, Mac, or PC.

There really is not much of a gap any more between Macs and PCs. Some say the biggest difference between the two is the price; typically Macs are more expensive. The use of a computer is need based. That is the most important thing to remember. If you are going to be doing more business type applications then you may want to stick with a PC. On the other hand if you are going to be doing more creative things like design and word processing then you may want to stick with a Mac.

Finally, computers really aren’t difficult to understand and operate. Many folks today are intimidated because of the great wave of technology that is constantly heaving in our culture. It is easy to be overcome by such a wave and allow it to overwhelm. For this there is no need. Technology is there for man, not the other way around. Many times when man creates something like a computer or the like it is presupposed that the creation will in some way enhance life by making something easier. This is not always true. Many times it is just as easy to write something down, as it is to enter it into a program that does this, that and the other thing for you. Remember simplicity does not always come in the form of a microchip.

Home-Office Tax Deductions

2006-03-17T19:28:48Z

Essential to the self-employed or employee who uses his or her home for business is deducting associated costs from taxes.

The requirements for home office deductions are as follows: Your home-office must be used regularly (and exclusively) for your business needs. Secondly, the business part of your home must be the principal place of business in which you deal with clients or customers.

Such things as billing operations, keeping books and records, ordering supplies or setting up appointments qualify as administrative duties. The IRS cautions that your home location must be the only place where you can fulfill these responsibilities.

If you meet the requirements to claim a home office, some expenses can be deducted from your portion of real estate taxes, deductible mortgage interest, rent, utilities, insurance, depreciation, and painting/repairs. The total amount you can deduct depends on the % of your home used for business. Your deduction will be limited if your income from your business is less than all your business expenses combined.