So many of the articles I see about working from home recommend you have a separate, dedicated space to work from. In fact, some of them suggest that without it you are not only bound to fail, but also cause all kinds of problems for your family or housemates.

I speak to home workers all the time, and their stories tell me that this is far from the case. I’ve met a number of people who have spent time and money carefully setting up an office in accordance with the ‘rules’, but who have never actually worked in it because they feel too cut-off from the rest of the house! They have moved into a corner of the living room or kitchen and are much happier and more productive.

What is necessary to work from home successfully is not a well-appointed home office, but a knowledge of your own habits, personality and needs. So what do you need to think about when starting to work from home or rethinking your arrangements?

• Wifi is a godsend as it means that you can take a laptop anywhere in the house, so try out different spots and see how they make you feel. It’s likely that you’ll feel relaxed and at ease in some rooms and just wrong in others. The obvious contender, such as a spare bedroom, might not be the best place for you.
• If you live with other people you need to take them into account - you might be able to work in the kitchen when the kids are at school, but what about after school and during the holidays? These types of constraints can actually work in your favour by giving you clear timescales in which to complete your work.
• Home workers set up shop in all kinds of nooks and crannies around the house. Consider areas such as the landing, under the stairs, a corner of the hallway and in a bay window as well as more obvious spots like the dining room, which is often under-used these days. I regularly come across cellarworkers, shedworkers and garageworkers!
• Think carefully about how much furniture you need - it may be less than you think now so many of us work online. I downsized last year and now all I need is a surface for my laptop and monitor and pedestal drawers for essential stationery and files.
• Don’t feel restricted to one area once you’ve chosen. You might find yourself much more creative and productive if you move about. Some people like to designate certain areas for certain tasks - they find it helps get them in the right frame of mind - and I like to follow the sun in winter, whereas in summer I keep out of it!

Many more people are considering home working now and I hope nobody will be put off because their home isn’t big enough for a dedicated home office. The home office gallery on my website www.workfromhomewisdom.com should provide plenty of inspiration.