Home Office Essentials

Starting a home office can be a challenging project. There are so many options and purchases you can make, from finding the right computer and computer+printer to the right desk and chair and organizing the space. The final choice is strictly up to how functional you want it to be and how much space you have to set up your home office. This can also become a costly project. Shop around and compare prices. Just remember, your home office is about you and your personal needs.

Computer and Printer

This will probably be your biggest expense when setting up an office. But how do you choose a computer that’s right for you? Will it be PC or Mac? Depends on your business as well as personal preference – many industries are Windows-PC-centric, whereas art and advertising business tend to be Apple-friendly. Will it be a desktop or laptop? Desktops have their advantages. It is a totally stationary system. The monitors can be flat screen with good visible range on them. The laptop on the other hand is portable. You can take it anywhere. So if you have business that you will conduct outside your office, the laptop is the better choice, and you can buy docking stations and full-size monitors for when you’re in the office. Companies like HP, Dell and Gateway offer reasonably priced computers for home office use. Acer offers a laptop for around $350.00. Obviously there are many more specifications than we can discuss here, from the size of the hard drive (250 gigabyte is common today) to the speed and number of processors. Numerous web sites contain reviews and technical comparisons of the machines you might be considering.

Laptop Computers

Along with your computer, you will need a printer. There are many good printers out there that can service your needs. The all-in-one printers will print, copy, fax and scan. If you need a lot of copying or faxing done, you can choose to go this route. This would eliminate the need for separate items and condense your work space. The HP or Lexmark all-in-ones are just a couple of suggestions. If you will just be doing a lot of printing, then just a simple printer will suffice. Purchase extra ink cartridges – you can often get a better rate with a multipack.

All-in-One Printers

Desk

There are many options in desks ranging from a simple metal workstation to huge wooden desks. Keep in mind your office area. Don’t buy a huge desk if you have a modest office space and will feel closed in. You will need space to move around. Of course, the bigger the desk the higher the price, too, so shop and compare. Discount stores offer modestly priced desks from about $79.99 on up. You want a desk that can hold your computer, papers, CD’s and miscellaneous, but don’t want it to become cluttered. Also consider storage spaces such as file drawers.

Metal Workstations

Chair

You will definitely need a comfortable office chair. If you plan on working in the office for hours, then an ergonomic chair will be the best. You could spend anywhere from $29.99 to well over $500.00. Again, the choice depends on you and the time spent in the office. Aeron chairs are sort of the luxury standard these days, and even knockoffs will generally run over $200. Their mesh surfaces are generally considered more comfortable for long periods than leather or fabric. You’ll also want a chair with adjustments for height, angle and recline.

Mesh Chairs

File Cabinet

There is a wide variety of file cabinets out there. If you are only going to use one for very few files, a two-drawer cabinet should suit you just fine. You can get the two-drawer in either metal or wood at a relatively inexpensive price. If you will have a huge amount of files, then a four-drawer would benefit you even better. Think of your office space also. You don’t want to feel crammed in. Remember to purchase hanging file folders along with the manila folders. These are essential and will keep you organized.

Shredders

Other items

Regardless of the built-in light such as ceiling fixtures, you’ll want to consider a desk lamp for your workspace. If you have books you will be using in your office, then invest in a bookcase. Even if most of your work is on the computer, you’ll need someplace to keep all those manuals. If space does not allow for a bookcase, consider wall shelving to place your books on. Also, depending on the desk you’ve selected, you may be able to put books on that.  And despite all the talk of a paperless office, you will need paper and other office supplies. Printer paper, scratch paper or notepads are just a few types of paper that you will need.  Pens and highlighters are essential to any office. You can never have enough of them. Buying in bulk is a good way to save money. Envelopes and stamps, paperclips, staplers and staples should all be on your shopping list. If your business generates sensitive or even mildly confidential information, you’ll want to buy a shredder – and a recycle bin to take the shreds. Inexpensive shredders tend not to last very long at all. This is one item where, if you think you’ll be using a lot, it definitely makes sense to spend more. And finally, you’ll need a good trash can, one that’s big enough to take the most trash you’ll create in a morning but not so big that it’s taking up space you need for other purposes.