February 18, 2003 / SO you want to set up a home office, but you don't know quite where to start. Well, there are a number of things to look at before you actually start shifting furniture and buying that new office cabinet you spotted.

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First, comes planning. You need to assess your needs.

What kind of office will it be? Will it be a dedicated home office (a room set aside purely for use as an office) or one that is dual-purpose (that is an office which is part of a room)? Would an office that can be "wheeled away" and put in an unobtrusive corner suffice? Or would you prefer to convert an awkward corner that is currently unused to become your work area?

Keep in mind that if you plan to work occasionally on your computer then your choice would be a mobile workstation: This is possible as the computer and its accompanying equipment can be stacked onto a table with wheels and stored.

But whatever your decision, one thing is certain. There can be no haphazard placement of furniture and equipment, if you wish to work comfortably and efficiently. Perhaps before you do anything else, it would be best to whip out the tape measure to get the dimensions of the space available for your office. This applies to whether you are creating a dedicated office or a dual-purpose one or even transforming an awkward corner into a work area.

You will have to ensure that both furniture and equipment fit the space. You don't want to order a fancy executive desk only to find out that there is no place to put it.

Take note of all the equipment you will require. These days, the computer is an ubiquitous item, so too a printer. Other equipment that you might need, depending on the kind of work you do may include scanners or facsimile machines. Such things as storage systems are also often required and even knickknacks like pencil holders can figure in your needs.

You need to have sufficient space for the equipment but when it comes to items that go on your desktop try to avoid clutter, as you don't want things getting in your way be it useful little items or accessories to brighten up the office.

Depending on the lighting in the area, you may have to purchase table lamps or even change the ceiling light fixtures. A primary concern for a computer user here would be to make sure that there is no reflection of light onto the screen.

Then there is the all-important consideration of power points. The more power points you have in your office space, the better. Remember though to hide cables and that electrical sockets should be within easy reach.

But what about the placement of equipment ? When placing the worktable it would be a good idea to keep other needed items close at hand. You don't want to waste time on walking some distance to pick up a printout for instance, nor do you need to get up in search of a file.

Possibly, you should sit in the area marked out for your office space to get a better grasp on how to set up things before you actually start moving in the furniture and equipment.

If you are looking for a desk keep in mind that a kidney-shaped desk or an L-shaped one is ideal as a computer table as both enable you to get to other items that are placed on it.

As for the exact location of the office within your home, this once again will hinge on whether you just want to perform some tasks or whether it is one that will require you to entertain clients.

Should your business require that clients be entertained, then there is no way you can have a dual-purpose office or one that is part of a room that is used for other activities.

Here in Malaysia, having a dual-purpose office tucked away in the sitting room just won't do. More often than not guests can come a- calling, not to mention relatives. You could consider tucking the dual-purpose office in other less-used areas of the house, such as a guest-room or even the bedroom.

The location of your office within the home is one aspect that you have to give considerable thought to. You need to be able to work without disturbance and without disrupting family life.

Therefore locate your office in a convenient spot and ensure the decor and surroundings make for a pleasant atmosphere. There is no need to work in a grim area. Even a lacklustre spot can be brightened up with paint and plants. If your office is near a window and overlooks the garden, this is definitely a plus.

But while pleasant views from a window make for a better working environment, ensure that outside light doesn't interfere for instance with your working on the computer and so on.

You must also take note of flooring. A low-static carpet is necessary if you move chairs and electric equipment around. Wooden floors and linoleum are also great. Then again, here in Malaysia, a tiled floor would give a cooling effect.

While the dedicated office owner need not worry about the room being used for any other purpose, anyone who has a dual-purpose one has no choice but to cope with it and make the best of the situation.

What is a must is a screen or divider to separate the work area from the other on-going activities in the shared room. If that is the divisive factor that makes for a conducive working atmosphere, there must also be a unifying factor for the whole room and this would be the decorating style.

Indeed, the best thing about having a home office is that you make the decisions on its appearance and utility.

You can make do with what you have in several ways.

What you thought at one time to be wasted space under-the-stairs can become a computer workstation with a bit of imagination and planning. At the same time a small home office can seem roomier if light colours are chosen for work surfaces. Then again if it is a dual-purpose office you can also borrow suitable furniture from other areas in the house to keep costs down.

So plan, use your creativity and get the look and feel that you want for your home office. It is after all, YOURS.

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