6 Simple Tips to Set Up a Functional Home Office

By Andrew Koh Do you function best with a lot or a little visual stimulation? Do you feel most focused in a space with little or no decoration, something very spare? Or do you feel most comfortable with reminders of your life around you, such as photos of friends and family or a collection of memorabilia? Some people need absolute silence when they work, while others need sounds of life around them. This changes from task to task too. Writing or focused analysis needs one level of stimulation, while stuffing envelopes or artisan work will need more stimulation (no matter what your baseline is). There is no one right way -- the best way is what is right for you. The following are 6 tips many people find useful when planning and setting up a functional home office. When going through them, it is important not to take these ideas wholesale but rather to adapt them to suit your individual style, taste, personality, and needs.