Introduction

Working from home can be a low cost way to start your business as every small business will need somewhere to at least carry-out admin work, but it may also be a principal workspace, and as this is going to be the source of your livelihood, it’s important to have a comfortable and functional home office space in order to stay productive and focused.

In this post, we’ll walk you through the steps involved in setting up a home office in the UK, from choosing the right space to selecting equipment and staying healthy and productive.

Choosing a space

When setting up a home office, choosing the right space is the first step. Ideally, you’ll want a space that is quiet, comfortable, and free from distractions. Here are some tips for selecting the right space:

Consider the lighting:

Make sure the space has adequate lighting, whether it’s natural light from a window or artificial light from a lamp. Good lighting is essential for reducing eye strain and keeping you alert.

Look at your power outlets:

Make sure the space has plenty of power outlets for your equipment, especially if you’ll be using a lot of devices like a computer, printer, and phone charger. You’ll be surprised at just how many things you will need to plug in. In my office, I have:

• PC
• Two monitors
• Speakers
• Label printer
• Laser printer/copier
• Network switch
• Powered USB hub
• BT Home Hub disc
• Desk lamp

That is TEN 230Vac mains outlets, and I don’t even have the internet modem in there.

Proximity to other areas of the home:

Consider the proximity of the space to other areas of the home. Ideally, you’ll want to be able to shut the door and focus on your work without being interrupted by other members of your household. You will also probably, find yourself working either late at night or early in the morning, so you will not want to disturb your family.

Selecting equipment

Once you’ve chosen your space, it’s time to start thinking about the equipment you’ll need for your home office. Here are the essential pieces of equipment you’ll need:

Desk:

You’ll need a desk that is the right size for your space and provides enough surface area for your computer, paperwork, and other equipment. Look for a desk that is sturdy and comfortable to work at for long periods of time. Consider spending enough to buy quality here; an inferior desk will lead to frustration and errors. Consider how much time you will need to use it and consider an adjustable height desk for standing and sitting use.

Chair:

A good office chair is essential for your comfort and posture. Look for a chair that provides good back support and is adjustable to your height. Again, don’t skimp on this. My office chair is now about ten years old and still going well.

Computer:

A computer is the heart of any home office. Choose a computer that meets your needs and budget, whether it’s a laptop or desktop. Make sure it has the necessary software and storage capacity for your work.

Think about multiple uses for your computer and speak to someone that actually understands the needs of a small business owner, not the person trying to sell it to you. For example, a good laptop with a docking station may serve you better than a desktop.

Printer:

While many offices are going paperless, there are still times when you’ll need to print out documents. Choose an affordable and reliable printer with the features you need, such as the ability to print in colour. I consider a printer to be essential as some things need a paper backup. For example, I keep paper copies of the following:

• All invoices and bills
• All POs, both placed and received
• All legal paperwork
• All bank statements
• All VAT submissions
• Trial balances
• Stocktaking sheets
• All calibration records for my equipment and calibration services provided to my customers.

This may seem old-fashioned, especially when you think that I am a technophile, but I’d rather take no chances with some things.

Setting up the space

Now that you have your equipment, it’s time to set up your home office. Here are some tips for creating a comfortable and efficient workspace:

Cable management:

Given that I have AT LEAST ten mains powered items in my office, plus all the interconnecting cables, cable management is key to efficiency. Make sure all cables are labelled and organised and out of the way, to reduce clutter and make it easier to move around your workspace.

Set up your computer:

If you don’t understand computers, consider finding a local IT support service that will configure things for you properly.

I have built many computers and work in a technical space, but when I installed my first server, I paid an IT specialist to set ip up and configure it for me. Total cost was about £350 (tax deductible) but I had a network that just worked. My printers were accessible from everywhere and I had an off-site backup system configured so I could recover everything with a maximum loss of one day of data. In my view, it was money well spent and, even if you use Dropbox, or OneDrive etc. Getting it configured is the most difficult part.

Arrange your workspace:

Think about where the sun is at different times of the day. Place your monitor(s) etc. so that you can work properly whatever the weather. Install blinds if needed for working (they become tax deductible in most cases). If you use Zoom/Teams type of calling, consider what will be on view from your web camera.

Minimise disruption

• Consider using a mail PO Box if you are likely to receive a lot of incoming mail, or a drop off/collection point for packages.

• Find a way of signalling to family and friends that you are working. My 84 year old mother lives three houses from me, so she knows when she can and cannot just turn-up, even for a few minutes… those few minutes often roll into longer, plus the time it takes to get back into the swing of whatever you were doing when the doorbell rang.
• Consider getting a video doorbell that you can answer from your desk.
• Schedule deliveries/collections for outside of your main desk-time.

Staying productive and healthy

Finally, staying productive and healthy is important when working from home. Here are some tips for maintaining a healthy work-life balance:

Take breaks:

Studies show that taking regular breaks throughout the day to stretch, move around, rest your eyes, and think of something restful actually increases productivity and the quality of work produced.

Use a timer to remind you to take breaks. Of course, we are surrounded by timer options on our phones, tablets, and computers, but I like novelties and find that this timer is great fun to use and makes me take the breaks I need. Just roll it to the time needed and watch it do its stuff:

Set boundaries:

Set clear boundaries between work and personal time. Make sure you have designated work hours and stick to them, and avoid working in bed or in other areas of the home where you relax. I try to turn everything off for dinner and to avoid going back to it after dinner, but find a system that works for you… Maybe set a time to walk the dog and call it the end of the day.

Stay connected:

Stay connected with your family and friends to avoid feeling isolated. If possible, use Zoom/Teams type of video conferencing rather than just pinging emails to stay in touch… it’s also better for sales relationships.

Manage stress:

Working for yourself is stressful, and stress is cumulative. If you don’t take this into account when planning your business, you will become swamped… being swamped is a classic way to get into making mistakes or forgetting to follow up on things, and that will damage the reputation of you and your new business.

There are many ways to manage stress, but nothing beats avoiding it in the first place. Plan your time or schedule by task… whatever works best for you.

FAQs

Conclusion

In my experience, many people creep into an office space and it ends up being far from ideal. Stress becomes the norm, and friction with the rest of the family causes even more stress. Admin is a critical part of keeping your new business on track and you can’t do this on the kitchen table.

If you really have no alternative, find a way of working that allows you to pack and unpack everything quickly and easily, and agree a schedule for using the shared space… and stick to it.

Most people are now okay with hearing the odd family background noise in calls, because CoVID led to a home-working explosion, so don’t over-stress if you are stuck with the occasional dog barking when calling a client; however, if you can avoid it, I suggest that you do.

Further reading

This is part of our series of articles about Getting Started – see more here