Where to Find Office Space in Your Home

Are you self employed or working from home? If you don't already have a home office, creating a designated place to work in your home can offer all sorts of great benefits.

In 30 years of being self employed, I have had a home office in each of my homes over the years and can't imagine working without one. A home office is more than a designated place where we can work undisturbed, it keeps us organized by providing a centralized location for our office supplies and business records. A home office used exclusively for business may even provide some tax benefits to offset the inconvenience of losing floor space in our homes. (For more info, read IRS Publication 587": Business Use of Your Home).

Finding space in your home for an office is not at all hard. Here's some locations and ideas to get you started.

A spare bedroom or storeroom. An empty bedroom is the logical place for a home office since it is separate from the main part of your house, has lots of storage space, and a door for privacy. Bedrooms also tend to be quiet which means less distractions as you work.

The front room or parlor. If your home has an under utilized front room or parlor, you might consider clearing out the furniture and using the space for an office instead. The parlor is an ideal solution if you must occasionally meet with clients in your home.

A closed in porch. For business owners with older homes, enclosing a back or side porch can provide sizable office space. Porches tend to have lots of great lighting, separate entrances, and fantastic views.

Carve space out of the family room. If your home has a spacious family room, you might even consider carving out a little space for a home office in this area. A couple of portable screens is all it takes to create enough space to hold a desk, chair and a filing cabinet.

Find space in the kitchen. My Dad's home office was in a nook in the kitchen where he kept a small desk and 2 drawer filing cabinet. He preferred working in the kitchen since this area provided him with all sorts of amenities such as the phone, overhead lights, a large work table, extra seating, and the coffee pot.

The back of the garage. While the garage isn't my ideal place for a home office, I know a number of contractors who prepare their invoices in the back of their garage on a work table. With a couple of filing cabinets, an inexpensive computer setup and a strong overhead work light, this area is an ideal solution for keeping work out of the house.

Finding a place for a home office really isn't that difficult, since most rooms can easily accommodate a small desk and filing cabinet where you can work. What's important is finding a place large enough to hold your business records while also providing the privacy you need to work undisturbed.