THE INTERACTIVE BLOG

Desk? Check. Computer? Check. Yourself? Check. If you have all these three things, you have the barest-bone home office ever. As an entrepreneur, you’re going to be spending a lot of time in your home office making things happen and growing your business. Because of this, you need to make sure you really have everything you’ll need, beyond the basics. Here are seven must-haves for every entrepreneur’s home office.

Whiteboard
If you have the wall space, hang up a large, dry erase whiteboard. This will be so helpful to you in more ways than one. It’s an excellent tool for visualizing your ideas and tasks. You can map things out, use it as a reminder system, or any other creative use you can possibly think of. Buy dry erase markers in multiple colors to help you organize your notes or drawings.

Family Photos
Don’t forget to personalize your office with a few good family photos or pictures of your kids. Hang them near your computer or put them in some decorative frames. No matter how you display them, they’ll serve as a constant reminder why you’re working so hard.

Potted Plant
No matter what it is, bring in some kind of plant life to your office. You can have a tiny bamboo shoot on your desk, or a large flowering bush in the corner. Keeping a potted plant will help bring some life into your office – literally. Not only will a large plant help improve the air quality of your room, it will be a nice, vivacious addition to your décor.

Window
Like the potted plant and family photos, a window in your office offers some important benefits. It will help bring natural light into your office, making it easier to work and reducing your need to rely on harsh artificial lighting. It will remind you about the world outside your office, and you can even use it to let in the refreshing flow of outside air. Pick a room that has a window to be your home office.

All-in-One Printer
When you’re running a business, you’re going to have to frequently make copies, print things, or scan something to your computer. If you have an all-in-one printer, there will be no need for you to have a large, industrial copier, and you don’t have to run to Staples every other day

Filing Cabinet
Good organization is absolutely essential for all entrepreneurs. It may not be enough to rely on a stack of papers, folders, and overflowing inboxes and outboxes. Purchase a good-sized, sturdy filing cabinet that will help you maintain order in your office and keep important files and backup papers in line and close at hand.

Comfortable Chair
You’re going to be doing a lot of time sitting, so you should definitely invest in a comfortable desk chair. This is not a place to skimp on, because a chair with proper support will keep you from developing back problems and other pain and health issues associated with sitting at a desk for long periods of time.

Stella Brown focuses on functionality and comfort in her home office. As a professional freelance writer and consultant, she saves time editing with help from the web's best grammar checker. New writing ideas come from her involvement in business networks.