What Should I Think About for a Home Office?

There are significant tax rules that affect home offices, but before you get into that, it's important to create a home office where you can work effectively. That means minimizing distractions (including finding child care for at least some of your working hours) and giving yourself the freedom to separate work from home, so that you can renew yourself in your "down time" without worrying about work and concentrate on your work without worrying about unwashed dishes. Other considerations: Be sure the space can be comfortably heated and cooled, and invest in the proper furniture that allows you to work in a healthy position. A good pair of noise-canceling headphones may be a wise investment as well. Finally, a quick summary of the tax rules: A home office should be your regular and exclusive place of work. That means you can't claim the deduction if you mostly work at client sites. If your home office meets this criterion, you can deduct a portion of your rent or mortgage payments as a business expense.