Working from home is a privilege, and more and more people are starting to do it, whether it’s in a part-time or full-time capacity. With that said, one challenge that comes with working from home is maintaining a good work-life balance. When you’re working in the same space that you relax and do housework, it can be difficult to focus on tasks and avoid interruptions.
If you’re looking for ways to create a workspace that’s separate from your main living areas, look to your garage. Do you use it on a daily basis? Or is it basically serving as a storage unit for seasonal clothing, garden tools, and household items you’ll never use? If the latter, then perhaps you can maximize the space in your garage by converting it into a magnificent home office. That way, you can achieve a healthy work-life balance without going through the expensive, drawn-out process of a home addition.
Let’s take a look at some of the most important steps involved in making your garage your home office. And if you’d rather someone else handle all the heavy lifting, give Silver Lining Organizers a call at (937) 672-7567 or email us at [email protected].
Create a Clean Slate
The first step in creating your dream home office is to clear all the junk out of your garage. If weather permits, consider removing everything and setting them outside. Then, carefully go through the items and determine what to keep and what to get rid of. If there are still things you need to store but don’t have enough space in your home at the moment, consider renting a self-storage unit for the time being. Once most of the conversion is completed, you might find that you can discreetly store a number of items in the garage.
Make It Climate-Controlled
Whether it’s just you in the office or you plan to have customers/clients coming in, it’s essential that the area is climate-controlled. Make sure there is adequate insulation in the walls and ceiling. Putting up drywall can also help to regulate the temperature, not to mention it can make the space look much better. Although it can be costly, consider extending your home’s HVAC system to the garage. A cheaper alternative is to get portable heaters and air conditioners.
Light, Furnish, and Decorate to Your Needs
Light is critical to productivity. Utilize natural light if your garage has windows, and add as many overhead, table, desk, and floor lamps as necessary to brighten the place. Make the space comfortable and inspiring enough for everyday usage.
If you won’t be getting many visitors, you can get away with just a desk, chair, bookshelf, filing cabinet, and/or some personal decor (e.g., photos, art, plants, etc.). If you’ll be hosting customers or clients, you might need to invest in additional furniture and decor to boost the appeal and professionalism of the office.
Keep in Mind
As you alter your home to accommodate your work, it’s important to keep some business essentials in mind, especially if you’re a new entrepreneur. Every new business should be registered with your state. To do this, you’ll need to come up with a unique name, which isn’t as easy as it sounds. It should convey what you do and be easy to spell and understand.
Also, you should form a business structure. This part is actually simpler than it sounds. For instance, you might choose to form an LLC in light of the tax advantages and asset protection it offers. There are online services that allow you to establish it quickly and easily in Ohio, and then you can move on to more interesting aspects of starting your venture, like marketing and snagging that first customer!
There’s no doubt garages can make great home offices when you take the right steps. Thoroughly clean out the garage first. Then, make sure the office is climate-controlled, install the proper lighting, and add the furnishings and decorations it needs to be a comfortable office. Using your garage as your workspace can go a long way in helping you achieve that all-important work-life balance.
You can find Aimee Lyons at [email protected] and http://diydarlin.com/
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