If you have a home-based business, you may not have given much thought to decor. However, even in a home office, there are many benefits to having a professional, inviting atmosphere. The idea of staging and decorating a home business is exciting for some and offers an opportunity for creative expression; for others, it may feel like an unwieldy or complicated task. Need some help getting started? The tips below can help you transform your office into a comfortable, productive space.
Why Staging and Decor Matter
The way your home office is decorated impacts your daily emotional state, whether you realize it or not. An unkempt space with dreary lighting or drab colors can subconsciously influence the way you feel about your workspace. Disorganization, bland walls, and uncomfortable accommodations can make your workspace feel like a dungeon rather than a space where business magic happens.
Clients pick up on the energy of your space whether they are interacting with you in virtual meetings or in-person. The way your office presents is an unspoken commentary on how you operate your business. Provide clients with a safe and inviting space to learn more about what your business offers; it could mean the difference between a successful transaction and a declination of services. Making changes within your home office can range from major renovation to minor alterations like paint, furniture upgrades, and attractive window treatments and wall hangings.
How to Start Your Home Office Transformation
Often, we can become oblivious to the familiar surroundings of a space we are in every day. To get a clearer vision of what your home office looks like to the outside world, you can invite a friend into the space and ask for honest feedback, or take a photo of the office area and try to look at it from an objective point of view. As you inspect the space, pay attention to the colors and textures of your office as well as lighting, odors, seating options, and easy access to restrooms. Envision the type of office you would like to enter and try to create that for clients entering your home business.
Virtual staging for Zoom meetings is equally as important and establishes an early introduction to the type of atmosphere your company represents. Professionals can also assist with this staging process. If your company is lively and energetic, your staging should represent that invigoration and style, just as a company that brands itself as calm and reflective should convey that in their home office decor. Whether you are making major renovations or small, impactful changes, be sure to take before-and-after photos. This offers you an indicator of the ways your space has changed, as well as documentation for valuation of these changes if you ever decide to sell your home. A fully functioning home office with upgrades is a strong selling point in today’s economy, particularly with more people working from home.
Protecting Your Home Office and Assets
Upgrading your home office brings many benefits. Not only will you enjoy your office more, it will also lend validity to your company by conveying professionalism. Another important step to take for the protection of your business and personal assets is establishing yourself as a Limited Liability Company (LLC). Bringing people into your business, particularly a home-office, comes with some inherent risks. By filing as an LLC your personal assets are protected from litigation.
Formation companies can assist in developing your LLC at a much cheaper rate than an attorney. Hiring a formation specialist can allow you to concentrate on other aspects of your business, including staging and creating an inviting atmosphere for customers.
Your home office renovations will make the time you spend in that space more enjoyable and will show customers your commitment to all aspects of your business. Remember, if office renovations and staging your space feel beyond your skill level, let the pros assist you.
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