Working from home? Saswati Gupta gives you the inside on making the most of your workspace

Go SOHO:
The Small-office home-office (SOHO) is a concept that can work very well for you if you’re one of those who work from home and are unable to keep strict hours because of constant interruptions. A small space that you can shut yourself into, works wonders — just make sure it has a door and a ‘Do Not Disturb’ sign!
Here are a few pointers you’ll need to keep in mind:

Maintain uniformity in terms of decor.
Maintain three definite zones — an interaction area, a work area and a private thinking area.

Your interaction area can be informal with comfy low sofas, gaddas and bean bags, or formal, with swivel chairs and a meeting table.

The work area needs bright lighting, sufficient plug points for apparatus and electronic items and subdued colour schemes, so as not to jar the senses, and enough room to move around in. It will also need sufficient storage space.

The private space should be your master zone. It can hold your library and reference material, as well as back ups of personal records. It’s also a place in which to maintain the link between the office and the family. You can have your private telephone line here, a small music system and personal memorabilia.

Merge and blend these zones so that you can shift easily from one into the other. If you seal them off from each other completely, the transition from one to the other will be difficult. Maintain a continuity in colours and textures and keep a slight openness between them.

Choose a colour scheme based on the type of environment you want to create. Warm and bright colours like red, yellow and orange are used to create a playful, stimulating decor, while beige, off-white or moss green are used in a more funky, but more sombre space.

Try for sound insulation between the office and home. Effective and strong barriers will serve for these, ranging from brick walls to fibre-glass dividers.

Office spaces should as far as possible have a view of the outside or the front of the building or home, rather than the more private courtyard or back of the building.

Greenery generates a positive vibe through the office, replenishing the flow of oxygen. It is a must, even in a tiny office.

Maintain separate means of communication for the home and office. Have separate phone lines, fax machines, computers, etc to maintain the professionalism and a sense of privacy.