A home office is practically a necessity these days. Whether you regularly work from home or not, it's great to have a separate, designated area for bill-paying, storing important files, computer and printer set-up, and a work station for work you bring home.

With a wide range of options, from a simple desk and chair to a specially-designed workstation, setting up a home office is easy. Your individual needs will dictate what you'll want in your home office.

A "Home" Home Office

Think about how you and your family will use the office space. Usually, there are a variety of home-centered tasks, like emailing, uploading pictures, doing your taxes and taking care of the business of "home."

• Will the office be used when you bring work home? If this is an infrequent occurrence, you may not need any modifications. But if it's fairly routine, that will make a difference in what's needed for the home office.
• Are there tasks that require a lot of concentration and quiet? If this is the case, one of those cute desk "nooks" positioned in the living room or kitchen won't cut it. There will be too many distractions and noise.
• Will the whole family be using the home office? You and your six-year-old will be doing different things in the office and you don't want grape jelly on an expensive office chair.
• Does your office have a double life? You may have to combine the office space with a guest bedroom. This will change the arrangement of your office.

An "Office" Home Office

Folks who work at home have different requirements in a home office than the multi-purpose "family-use" office. It's important that you and your family treat the space like a work space.

• Will you be taking a home-office deduction on your taxes? If so, you will need a separately defined space, ideally with a door to close.
• What type of business do you have? If you are an accountant, you will need more file cabinet drawers. If you sell goods from your home online, you will need another storage option.
• Are you organized or a work slob? If you're the latter, you may want to invest in a more elaborate office system that makes it easy for you to manage chaos.

Get the Best Basics

The home office that isn't a work-from-home office won't require too much expense. A decent quality desk and chair won't break your budget. But if you will work in the office every day, you'll want the good stuff. In either case, it should be comfortable and functional.

• Go for the good chair. It's tempting to pick up an office chair at one of the big, club stores, but put some money into a very good, supportive chair. Go for one that has an ergonomic design and seat, arm and height adjustments.
• You'll need a functional desk. Sure, you've seen those beautiful antique desks in magazines. Think of how you work. Do you spread everything out on your desk top? Do you make piles on the floor? Be sure to consider where all your computer components will go too.
• What kind of storage do you need? Face it, there's never enough storage space in an office. Do you want a rolling file holder so you can access things easily? Assess how much space you need.
• Light me up. You need good work lighting. Try to use specific task lighting in low lamps.
• Bring on the technology. Consider purchasing an all-in-one printer, fax, copier and scanner. These units simplify your workspace and are very affordable now.

Supplying the Office

The work world is divided into two groups: people who are addicted to office supplies and those who don't really care. But again, everything needs to be functional if you're working from home. Popsicle-colored folder labels might be fun for the family's home office, but get the real deal if this is where you're making your living.