Some people are lucky enough to have a house with a ready-made study that is plenty big enough to suit their needs. Others may have an outside room that has already been converted. But others will be starting from scratch.
A few tips to keep in mind:- Remember that you will be inside this space from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday and possibly longer:
- Try and give yourself a good view.
- Make sure the room is well lit and is warm in winter, cool in summer.
- Try and make a space in a room where you can shut the door behind you at the end of the working day.
- Give yourself more room than you think you actually need – you will be surprised how quickly you can fill any given space.
- With these points in mind, you need to decide whether to adapt an existing room or whether you are looking at converting the garage or shed outside.
- If you take up an existing room, consider other members of your family. Will they be happy to lose that space? If it has to impact on them, are they happy to keep out of the way while you are working and not interfere with the papers on your desk when you are not there?
- If you are converting an outside space, check to see if you need planning permission. Also check the building costs and the time required for the conversion. Adding utilities such as lights, water and telephone lines can prove very costly if it is an entirely new installation.
- Inside the office you will need dedicated telephone lines as well as a fax line and internet access. Again, plan ahead and try to envisage what your requirements might be in the future. Forward thinking can save a lot of unnecessary hassle later on.