Give Yourself Some Space Before you set up your home office, make sure it's the best spot to serve all your needs.

For homebased entrepreneurs, the executive suite can be anythingfrom a fully equipped office to a card table in the corner of thebedroom. And with more than 18.3 million homebased business ownersin the United States, home offices come in all sizes--and suit allbudgets.

Flexibility is the key to every good home office. Not only istechnology changing every day, but your needs will continue toevolve as your business grows. Before you stake your claim in homeoffice territory, ask yourself these questions to help determinewhat you need:

• Does the space have the electrical outlets and phone jacks youneed, and are they conveniently located? If possible, haveadditional wiring or phone lines installed before you move in soyou're prepared for future needs.

• Where are the windows? Do you like to look out the window asyou work, or do you find it distracting? Will the glare from thewindow make the computer screen hard to read? Configure yourfurniture with these things in mind.

• Will you be seeing clients or holding meetings in your office?If so, do you need a conference area and/or extra seating?

• Will more than one person use the office, even part time? Thinkabout privacy and storage needs.

• What kind of storage space will you need? In addition to paperfiles, computer disks and CDs, remember that you'll be storingoffice supplies and business records.

• Is your office part of a room that has other functions? Howmuch of your work will you want to hide at the end of the day?

Liz Seymour writes about design for publicationsincluding The New York Times and Southern Accents.She lives in Greensboro, North Carolina.

Ready To Go

Ready-to-assemble (RTA) furniture is getting better all thetime. Although it's still the most affordable option in newfurniture, for the most part, RTA furniture has shed its"cheap" image. Finishes are better, construction issturdier, designs are more attractive, and function is at theforefront. To shop smart for RTA furniture, follow theseguidelines:

• Whenever possible, don't buy anything unless you can see anassembled sample in the store. Check to make sure veneers aretightly bonded and that components fit snugly together at thecorners. Check moving parts such as doors and drawers to make surethey operate smoothly.

• RTA furniture often comes as part of a modular group so you canmix and match to create your own office configuration. If you thinkyou'll be adding on later, stay away from discontinued orspecial-purchase items.

• You seldom need more than a basic screwdriver to put together apiece of RTA furniture, but that doesn't mean it's alwayseasy. Know your capabilities before you commit to an RTAproject.

• Most RTA furniture locks together once it's assembled--youmay have trouble getting it out the door after you put it together.If portability is a consideration, look for pieces designed to betaken apart.

• It's easy to shop for RTA furniture through catalogs or onthe Internet, but when you're planning your budget, don'tforget to add shipping costs, which can be substantial. Also, studymerchants' return and service policies before you buy.

Tools Of The Trade

If you think of your office chair as a tool and not a piece offurniture, you'll understand how important it is to get theright one. Before you buy a chair, analyze yourself and the way youwork.

• Are you substantially larger or smaller than average? Mostchairs are designed for the middle 80 percent--if you're in the10 percent at either end of the spectrum, look for a chairthat's adjustable or one that's correctly proportioned foryour body.

• Do you need to move around--from filing cabinets to the copymachine, for example--while you're seated? If so, buy a chairon wheels with a swivel base.

• Do you need to project a professional image to office visitors?If so, consider the style of your chair--especially the halfthat's visible above the desktop. Also, look for a chair that,even if it doesn't match perfectly, will be visually compatiblewith the rest of your office.

Your home office doesn't need to be grand--or evenparticularly tidy. But it should be inviting enough to keep youlooking forward to work each day. Here are some of youroptions:

Saving Space

A surprising amount of functionality can be tucked into onecorner of a room. A compact office armoire and a comfortable diningchair allow you to double up when space is tight withoutsacrificing the look of your home. Because their space is limited,however, office armoires work best for businesses that aren'tprimarily desk-based. If you find yourself spending long hours at adesk, purchase one that's designed for offices, and do yourback a favor and trade in the dining chair for an ergonomicallydesigned office chair.

Spend Less

1. The Monarch computer workcenter hides a fullworking office behind closed doors. Features include built-inlighting, a file drawer, a pull-out keyboard shelf, storage, andspace for a printer and CPU. The unit is available in fruitwood(shown above), country pine, classic oak and warm oak finishes. Youmust assemble it yourself.

Cost: approximately $500. Sauder Woodworking Co.,(800) 537-8560 or http://www.sauder.com

2. This colorful side chair goes from office to homewithout missing a beat. Although it was designed as a dining chair,with its cushioned back and seat and the gentle pitch of the back,it works as a limited-use desk chair, too.

Cost: starts at $410, with various fabric options. Norwalk,(800) 837-9002.

3. No-frills bookcases from Hold Everything get thejob done. Three- and five-shelf versions are available in birch(shown below), honey, oak, black or white melamine. Some shelvesadjust to store files or tall office supplies.

Cost: three-shelf, $45; five-shelf, $75. Hold Everything(catalog only), (800) 421-2264.

4. Sleek and sculptural, the Bako Wire Basket from Umbralooks as good full as it does empty.

Cost: $25. Available in home designstores.(800) 387-5122.

Spend More

1. The C2 ("casual contemporary") officearmoire has remained one of Sligh Furniture's most populardesigns since its introduction eight years ago as part of a19-piece home office collection of mix-and-match furniture. A roomy70 inches wide, the armoire includes plenty of work space, plustask lighting, storage and even a built-in tack board. The armoirehas a cherrywood veneer; the folding "pocket chair"(shown here) is sold separately.

Cost: armoire starts at $2,299; pocket chair, $300. SlighFurniture, (800) 291-2789 or http://www.sligh.com

2. This graceful chair gets an extra dose of comfortfrom generous channel stitching on its seat and back. The chair isshown in leather but also comes in various fabrics.

Cost: starts at $2,280. Baker Furniture,(616) 361-7321.

3. The whimsical Moe shelf unit from Olé Ink isat home with books, knickknacks or office supplies.

Cost: $1,552. Olé Ink, (201) 440-8846.

4. The plaid oval wastebasket from Palecek isgood-looking enough to leave in plain view even after working hoursare over.

Cost: $65. Palecek, (800) 676-5382.

A Room Of Your Own

Even if you're fortunate enough to have your own officespace, don't ignore the "home" in home office. Ifyour office is in a converted dining room or den, it may be morevisible or centrally located, but even if it isn't, you canbreak out of cubicle thinking and furnish your office with thecomforts of home. Be sure, however, to mix in hard-working elementswhere they count: good task lighting, a well-designed desk chairand plenty of storage.

Spend Less

1. The assemble-it-yourself Mission Collectionborrows its style from turn-of-the-century Arts and Craftsdesigns.

Cost: Prices range from $102 for a bookshelf to $380 for thedesk. Sauder Woodworking Co., (800) 537-8560, http://www.sauder.com

2. The midback manager's chair from GlobalIndustries features an adjustable back for lumbar support.

Cost: $149. Available only through Staples,(800) 333-3330.

3. The fully adjustable Writer's Lamp takes a60-watt bulb; its retro style is dressed up in brushed metal andwood.

Cost: $69. Pottery Barn, (800) 922-5507.

4. The no-nonsense wastebasket, #2956 fromRubbermaid, won't put a dent in your pocketbook.

Cost: $5.50. Rubbermaid, (800) 347-9800.

Spend More

1. Designed by architect Frank Lloyd Wright in 1908,the Meyer May desk is a modern classic. The solid cherry desk is afaithful reproduction of the original, which is in the MilwaukeeArt Museum.

Cost: $3,245.Cassina, (800) 770-3568.

2. The Italian Forum Chair from Poltrona Frau isupholstered in hand-stitched leather and swivels on a cast aluminumbase. The chair adjusts for height and tilt, and a specialmechanism can change the shape of the back and seat to suit yourbody.

Cost: starts at $1,860. Poltrona Frau, (800)858-9374.

3. This elegant wastebasket from Frontgate is madeof polished plantation-grown mahogany (a plastic insert does thedirty work).

Cost: $160.Frontgate, (800) 626-6488.

4. The Flos Tango lamp has a personality all itsown.

Cost: $595. Flos, (800) 939-3567.

5. The leaded glass patterns on the doors of the oakbookcase from Bexley Heath are also based on a design byWright.

Cost: ranges from $3,575 to$3,835. Bexley Heath,(800) 954-7776.