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Many people are giving up their jobs as employees and opting to start up a business from home to become their own boss. A home office needs to fulfill the same function as a desk in an office building, but because it does form a part of the home it is necessary to decorate it in a style that is in keeping.
The home/work balance
One drawback of working from home is the temptation to work at all sorts of hours, both during the week and at the weekend, and allowing the work area to spill over into the rest of the home. Both for the benefit of the business, and for the home/work balance, it is best if the home office is both physically and mentally delineated from the rest of the home. This way, a home worker can switch off at the end of the day, in the same way that they would if they still worked in a communal office.
The essentials for a home office
No business these days is likely to thrive without a computer and a broadband connection enabling Internet access. However, most start-up businesses are very conscious of the need to not spend money needlessly, so decide whether computer peripherals, such as a printer, are truly necessary. Consider installing a separate telephone line for the business, rather than risk having the phone answered in an unprofessional manner in another part of the house. With this in mind, many internet plans, such as internet plans, now enable you to bundle your services, combining your internet, phone, and TV services, which can often prove more convenient and save on costs too.
One essential that cannot be overemphasized is a good backup system. Always back up the business data to a removable hard drive and if possible arrange for it to be kept off the premises to ensure that work is not lost. Additionally, consider investing in ergonomic furniture to improve productivity and comfort. An adjustable desk, for example, can allow you to switch between sitting and standing positions, promoting better posture and reducing the risk of health issues that can occur with prolonged sitting.
Decorating a home office
Of course, one of the pleasures of working from home is the chance to decorate the home office in a style that suits its occupant, rather than having to conform to industrial style décor.
Keep the wall colors neutral, with whites, creams and blues. A good-sized desk is a must, but this can be formed from any type of table, whether it is an antique writing desk, or simply a worktop held by brackets to the wall.
Take advantage of having a home office by ensuring it provides the best equipment for the body’s health. This means finding the most comfortable desk chair, maybe using an ergonomic keyboard and mouse and especially, making the best use of natural light. Blinds and shutters provide the best means of regulating the natural light into the home office, and shutters have the added advantage of allowing ventilation even when they are closed; perfect for homes where full access to the windows could pose a problem for small children and pets. Shutters are a very hot trend at the moment and are available in a wide range of unique colors and finishes, which are certain to complement any existing room décor. For dark days and long nights, ensure that the desk has a good lamp to avoid straining the eyes.
A home office also needs to be well organized to be productive. Use bookcases as storage solutions, filling their shelves with decorative storage boxes to hold stationery and other items.
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** 2013 Holiday Gift Guide Feature ** Several months ago I stumbled upon a really cool online store called ZestAvenue and instantly fell in love! When you shop at this wonderful store you will find candles, home decor, indoor furniture, outdoor furniture, seasonal decor, lighting, water …
Have a sports fanatic on your holiday list this year and not sure what to get them? I have a great gift idea for you! I recently had the opportunity to create a custom decal at Peelstar of my son’s soccer team jersey. The site …
** 2013 Holiday Gift Guide Feature **
Today we are kicking off our 4th Annual Holiday Gift Guide and we are featuring one of my favorite companies first! If you have been following our blog over the past year you will have read several reviews on various products from the great online store ZestAvenue.
If you are new to our blog, ZestAvenue sells all kinds of high-quality home décor, outdoor garden items, furniture, lighting products, holiday items and more…all of their products are at great affordable price points!
With the holidays quickly approaching the company sent me a complimentary 5FT Wood Trail Pine Pre Lit Artificial Christmas Tree to review for all of you. This size tree is perfect for those of you who have smaller spaces, live in apartments, assisted living centers or to take into the office for a little holiday decorating. For me, I wanted a tree this size because I like having multiple trees decorated in certain themes throughout my home.
What is really cool about this prelit Christmas Tree is the fact that it only takes a few minutes to set up and it takes up very little storage space once you are done with it that season. Within 10 minutes, I had my Christmas Tree fully assembled and plugged in. Ready for decorating within minutes!
Product Details: The tree measures 32″ in width by 32″ in depth by 60″ high when fully assembled. There are Pre-lit clear lights that glow and twinkle from the 370 tips of pine tree branches. It comes complete with amazingly 200 clear lights and stand. This is an artificial tree for indoor use only.
I love how quick and easy this tree is to set up and I was able to do this task all by myself. There is nothing complicated about it. The branches all slide in and out easily and really look realistic. Furthermore, it doesn’t shed and trust me, even artificial trees can shed their faux pine needles but I had no problems with this one at all.
This year I am doing a “coastal” theme tree for the holidays and putting it in our dining room. This tree is the perfect size for that. I like to hang a lot of ornaments on my tree and some of them can be pretty heavy. I hung some weighty ornaments on this one and I didn’t have any problems with the branches not holding them or bowing under the weight. They are nice full and sturdy tree branches!
I love that it has clear lights and they are built right into the tips of the tree. I don’t have to mess with wrapping Christmas lights around the tree and there are plenty of lights…they didn’t skimp on them at all! Aren’t they pretty? I think so!
My photos make the tree look small but it’s not…it’s 5 foot tall! Sorry about that, our dinning room lighting is out right now while hubby remodels that room so I was going off natural sunlight through the windows.
The tree is very sturdy and you don’t have to worry about it tipping over easily since it comes with it’s own tree stand. You don’t have to buy anything extra. Right now I have about 50% of my coastal ornaments on it and once the others arrive I will be adding them along with my mermaid tree topper to complete the look.
As you can see, I have some large and weighty ornaments on the tree and those branches are not drooping from the weight. That really speaks to the quality of this Christmas Tree! I am really impressed with it and for only $39.99 it’s a great holiday bargain!
Disclaimer: Shelly has personally reviewed the product listed above. Shelly has not received any monetary compensation for her review. Shelly did receive a free product to try out so she could evaluate and use it for her review. Her thoughts & opinions in this review are unbiased & honest and your opinions may differ. Two Classy Chics is not responsible for delivery of any giveaway items won from this blog. We are not responsible for injury or mis-use of any products won from the Two Classy Chics Blog. Please read our Terms of Service & Disclaimer Policy before entering our giveaways. This giveaway is not affiliated with Facebook or Google+ in any way. Thanks!
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