A home office's design can either contribute or decrease a home based business owner's productivity and affect overall business management flow. So, it's important to heed the advice of the experts themselves in designing or filling a home office with the appropriate furniture and appliances. Check out these home office pitfalls:

How should people design their home offices?

My home office fits in with the rest of my house because I use the same colors and furnishings in that space that are used elsewhere in the house.

My office looks more like a study or a sitting room. I have two overstuffed chairs with an ottoman to put your feet up. I have a window seat in my office, and then I have a built-in desk with shelves that can be closed up when I'm done working so no one can tell it's a desk.

What rooms are ideal for home offices?

I think (using) a spare bedroom is a good idea. Some people are even turning their formal living rooms into home offices because that space is unused.

The worst place to have a home office is in the kitchen or the master bedroom. You are literally sleeping or eating with your business all the time and you never really escape it.

What are other common home office mistakes?

People don't invest in a good office chair. Many will just go grab a kitchen chair or a dining room chair to avoid spending the money on an ergonomically correct one. They pay the price in doctor bills for back pain and neck strain.

Where else should people avoid skimping?

Don't opt for a cheap desk. Take advantage of the fact that furnishing manufacturers have realized there is a market for people working from home. The quality is much better than it used to be. Hookerfurniture.com is one of my favorites.

More home office do's and dont's here.