Whether you’re running a small business or simply telecommuting once or twice a week, a well set-up home office encourages an efficient and productive workday. That means knowing what you need: a desk and computer for sure; perhaps a printer or a scanner; definitely a dedicated workspace. You want a home office to be not only functional and practical but also a place where you can spend several hours a day being productive and feeling inspired. Here are some simple tips on how to create a physical space that displays professionalism, minimizes distractions and disruptions, and maximizes production.

Claim your space.

As with any piece of real estate, it’s all about location, location, location. Stake out a dedicated space, something that physically separates your work life from your home life, even though both live under the same roof. If you can’t set up in a spare room, use dividers to section off an area that affords some level of privacy. A dedicated space saves you the chore of packing up your things from a communal area every day and setting up shop all over again in the morning. Whatever your home allows, it’s about finding a balance between being organized but not being cramped, yet having everything within easy reach.

Remember comfort is key.

Your home office may look torn from the pages of a decor magazine, but if the chair isn’t comfortable, you probably won’t enjoy the view. Find yourself an ergonomically designed chair that provides sufficient back support. Next, get a sturdy desk with proper workspace. For added storage space, consider buying a desk with a hutch, which takes up space on the wall, not the floor. Alternatively, hang a shelf or two above the desk—anything to make the most of vertical space.

Gear up.

The right equipment helps ensure smooth operation of your home office. Consider what you’ll need on a day-to-day basis. An all-in-one printer is useful if you regularly need to print, copy and scan (and fax). You’ll save time going elsewhere to do these tasks. If a stand-alone office printer is all you need, both black and white and colour single-function options are available. Maybe all you need is a way to convert physical files into digital storage. Portable document scanners take up little desk space. You can even use them to scan business cards—one less pile of papers occupying valuable desktop real estate. A basic calculator (small enough to store in a drawer until needed) or financial calculator can help you keep track of your books. Just as comfort is key for your chair, compact is key for your gear.

Take the work out of paperwork.

As the old proverb says, a place for everything, and everything in its place. A well-organized filing system doesn’t have to eat up precious home office space. Consider an old-school filing cabinet if you want/need hard copies of everything. If you don’t, opt for a smaller file folder system of only the most important documents; keep digital copies of everything else. A document scanner can help you there.

Keep clutter under control.

Organize wiring, otherwise you’ll have a mess of cables at your feet. Set up electronic equipment such as your laptop, office printer and scanner close to an outlet to reduce the need for extension cords. If possible, go wireless, and share your keyboard, mouse and Canon printer cable free.

Decorate like everybody’s watching.

Treat your home office as if you’re expecting to host clients, whether you’ll be holding appointments there or not. Deck it out like you would any cubicle—a few personal knick-knacks here, some small photos there. Keep in mind that your home office may also be the background of any video conferencing calls. (A lock probably isn’t necessary, but, well, you never know.)

Go green.

Incorporating sustainable habits into your home office setup not only helps protect the planet but also helps control your energy costs. Look for ENERGY STAR® certified equipment. (Canon offers nearly 200 ENERGY STAR qualified products that incorporate advanced energy-efficient, environmentally conscious designs.) Print documents double-sided in black and white to reduce paper consumption and toner usage. Recycle no-longer-needed office equipment, and return used toner cartridges. Easiest of all, set up office by a window and rely on natural lighting for the bulk of your workday.