Working from home has a lot of perks. It offers a great work-life balance, eliminates the need to travel, saving time and money, flexibility to set up your schedule and much more. One aspect of working from home that can be an upside as well as a downside is setting up a home office. A home office has become a necessary space that promotes efficiency and is no longer just a space in the corner of your room.

An average home office will have a computer, a desk, and a chair, a copier with a fast and reliable internet connection.

Consider these tips to have a professional working space even when working from home.

List Your Needs: The foremost thing to do is to make a list of things you need for your home office. It includes devices that you will need to work efficiently, it can be items like a computer, desk, ergonomic chair, telephone, copier, etc. Based on your profession you may need additional storage space, file cabinets, etc.

Find the Ideal Location: Once the list of things needed for a home office is ready, the next task is to find a perfect location. If space is limited then converting the closet by removing the poles and getting electrical connections installed is the best choice. Look for a place that is quiet and not frequently visited. The guest room or a spare room is the best place as it gives you privacy and also shuts out noise.

Install Proper Lighting: If possible, choose a place which has natural lighting. If that is not possible, then efficient access to lighting is necessary. Install overhead lights so that it brightens the whole workplace. If needed, add desk lamps, floor lamps or other lights that brighten your work area. Place your computer screen such that it does not cause glare. Have proper lighting to reduce the strain in your eyes.

Use the Right Equipment: It is critical that you have the right stuff for your home office. A proper desk and an ergonomic chair which provides excellent support to your back is a must. A computer with sufficient memory and a good internet connection is another prerequisite if you work online. A good surge protectorto protect your equipment during a power outage can save hundreds in replacement cost.

Less is Better:A workspace that is free of clutter improves efficiency. Look at the supplies and see if you can place the extra stuff someplace else or get rid of it. Keep your place organized so that you can work better, put the manuals and the reference books and the mails in the same place.

Setting up a home office is fun when the space needed is not too much. You can make it more interesting by adding some personal touch to make it more appealing. You can hang some pictures of your loved ones or artwork on the walls if you have space. It is easy to forget the time when you are working from home, ensure that you set office hours so that you call it a day at the right time even while enjoying the perks of working from home.