You’ve got a plan. You’re going to make it happen. But right now there is too much to do, and you don’t know where to start! If you’ve made the bold decision to go into business yourself, then your own home certainly seems like the perfect place to get things set up. It doesn’t matter what kind of business you want to develop. It doesn’t even matter what type of entrepreneur you want to be. All you need is a space, a design that works, and that first customer.
Finding the room that works
The first thing you need to do is to find a dedicated workspace for your business. It doesn’t need to be huge, but lying on the couch all day with your laptop won’t do your posture any good. You need a desk if you’re on the computer. And if you’re a therapist, you need easy access to the outside and space for clients to sit. If you need a bench or massage table as well, then a bit more space is essential. What better ground floor room than your dining room?
Converting to a workspace
Dining rooms often have patio doors to the outside or can easily be accessed from the main hallway. Of course, you’re going to have to start taking all your meals and entertaining back into the kitchen. If your business idea is worth the sacrifice, then start planning the renovations you need. Start with the floor.
When you have clients come to your house, the floor is going to see a lot of traffic. It’s not always appropriate to ask them to take their shoes off at the door! Choose a ceramic tile floor or a hard-wearing wood like the choices from Lindura® The Really Hard Hardwood Floor from Germany. It means you can wear your heels in there too. Wood looks incredible, especially if you offer therapies and treatments. It’s natural and comforting too. Most importantly, it’s easy to clean and keep hygienic.
Decor
Your choice of decor is quite important if you have clients come to visit you. If you are a childminder, teacher or tutor, you might want brighter colours and even educational posters on the wall. You can choose frames to make these look like part of your decor choice. Consider painting the woodwork like skirting boards and doors with a more durable paint to avoid scuffs and marks. If you’re creating a home office, you might want elegant lighting options like a chandelier. For a client room, something contemporary and out of the way like spots might be best.
Furniture
If your room is for you as a home office, then you need to get office furniture for the space. One of the most important pieces of furniture that you will need to buy is an office chair. It is especially important to look for full lumbar support and adjustable height and tilt. This can help you to ensure that your posture is as good as it can be in a seated position. Wheels aren’t really necessary, but they can help you get the chair out of the way if you need it to be moved in a hurry. Swivel is also important to help you move in and out from under the desk.
Your desk should be a standard height, but if you type, you really should consider a gel wrist pad. Trapped ulnar nerves can cause your fingers to lose mobility. That’s not going to help you get your business off the ground. Make sure you have plenty of rests from the desk by getting up and stretching too. Place any monitor at the right height for your eye line. If you work with paper a lot, then add a cute desk lamp.
Finishing touches
You should always keep something personal and personalised on your desk or in the room. Something from your kids’ art gallery or some family photos can be a lovely touch. It reminds you that you’re working too. This is important when you’re trying to motivate yourself to get on with it instead of lying on the couch! Now switch on your computer, and launch that new website.
Getting your first customer
Finding client number one isn’t necessarily the hardest part of your job in the early days. Keeping that clients, so they come back again and recommend you is the biggest challenge. Make sure you have a business card they can share, a FaceBook page, and a website. Your client needs to see those signs that you are a serious professional and business.
Starting a business is a big step. If you’re going to work from home, make your office or workspace as beautiful and as effective as it can be. Good luck!
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What a brilliant post Rebecca, thank you very much. Really helped out my wife and I with figuring out exactly the right office furniture to buy. We actually went with a stand up desk and the Herman Miller chair as it is ergonomic and great for my back. All the best!
Certain employees prefer chairs with arm rests, moderate height backs and adjustable seats. Fabrics for employee chairs depend on office climate.
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Nice blog about dining room home office setting business, I think your blog very helpful for lot of people, Thanks for sharing the information.
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Cool idea! Thank you for giving such good recommendations regarding equipment, decorations, etc.
By the way, if your job involves working at a computer, at the same time, you sometimes receive clients, you can also consider coworking offices as an alternative to a home office.
Yes, you need to pay for staying there, but there you can find anything you need for work from coffee to comfortable office chair. Additionally, there is the most favorable environment for work.
A Global Coworking Study by Deskmag (https://www.ranchoffice.com/coworking-blog/why-do-people-thrive-in-coworking-spaces) found that 85% of participants felt more motivated while working in a coworking space and that they were more productive (89.1%) than they were when working from home.