home office | local marketing center|Paul and Sarah Edwards |Working From Home |

Decorating Your Home To Suit Your Work Needs

Workplace changes influence how you utilize your house. For people who work from home, some may only need a corner of the room or a comfy couch and laptop. Others might need a designated room with a door for privacy while on client calls or quiet to read over documentation. Whether you intend to redecorate your existing space or find a new home that fulfills your work needs, these decorating ideas presented by Local Marketing Center can help you create an inviting home office.

Reinventing Your Existing Space

Create a distinct area that keeps you away from distraction and manages work items. This can be a small desk in your bedroom, an unused corner of the living room, or a free wall in the spare bedroom. When space is limited, think vertical rather than horizontal. Shelving going up the wall will save floor space, and you can add wicker baskets for storage. Utilize natural light, but add decorative task lighting that coincides with the rest of the room.

This is a good time to reinvent your front porch or back patio to provide a special relaxing nook for breaks from work for you and the kids. They then can serve as entertaining areas by adding comfortable outdoor furniture and creative lighting.

Finding New Accommodations

If purchasing a new home is your best option to ensure success in your career, start by researching the housing market in your desired location. Hire a real estate agent in that area that understands the local market and will search for homes that fulfill your parameters and budget. If the market is limited and an extra room is not an option, consider expanding your mindset to sectioning off an extra-large bedroom or refinishing basement or attic space in the new house.

Setting Up Your Home Office

No matter what nook and cranny or room in the house you take over for your office, make sure you are comfortable and inspired to maximize productivity. Studies have shown that productivity can be increased by 20% with well-designed office space, so have fun creating the special hub that speaks directly to you.

Having a tabletop to spread out papers, storage to keep documents safe, a comfortable chair to support your back and appropriate lighting are all high on your decorating list. Aesthetics play a role in inspiration, so hang plants, add family photos, and light a scented candle. Take a break from your desk by sitting in your dependable, super comfortable chair while planning, organizing or drafting. If it is worn or has been damaged, now is the time to consider a furniture upholstery service to recover it with a unique fabric suited for your office design. Search online for “furniture reupholstery near you” and start reading customer reviews. Reach out to discuss your specific needs and get quotes. Depending on the size of the chair, fabric and any customization will influence the cost of upholstering. For example, a large couch can cost between $1,200 to $3,500.

Your work needs and the space you require to be productive and successful will dictate your actions in creating and decorating a home office. Regardless of what storage, privacy, and organization you require, take time to assess the benefit of staying where you are and just cutting out and redecorating or making a move that will provide what you need for inspiration.

Holiday seasons are great for some businesses like party planners, craft-makers, and gift-related businesses, but not so good for others such as business consultants and training professionals.

When Business is Slow During the Holidays

You can anticipate these periods. So if you find holidays are routinely slow for you, build up your cash several months in advance. You can then use this time to to initiate special marketing efforts to attract business. What are some of the marketing activities you can do? Remind them of what you do and find a way to personalize it, such as printing a special offer on the back of your business cards. You can include a sample as a special gift along with thank you notes or holiday cards. You can give them something that you make or sell and better yet, deliver them by hand. You can also invite to a meal or if you know they value information, you can gift them with a subscription or a book that is relevant to their interests or business.

When Business is Brisk During the Holidays

Even when Christmas is a busy time for your store or business, it can be tempting to take off at special peak shopping times along with everyone else and it is difficult to always cover the phones when demand is high. But there are ways that technology and some planning can help meet these challenges without losing local business or worse disappointing potential customers who won’t come back and may tell others about a bad experience in not being able to reach you..

Guests in Your Home

If you have guests staying with you for the holidays, you face the challenge of hosting while keeping up the business while your guests are there. In some homes with a family room or den, the living room is actually anything but a “living” room. It’s reserved for holidays or the arrival of special guests. If this is your situation and you don’t need a more isolated office area, the living room can be an excellent choice.

What if you have employees?

Since not all people celebrate holidays at the same time, consider giving your employees the option to pick the holiday times of their choice.

You can make the holidays a time when business is good or you can make it better.