Do you have a spare bedroom or part of a refinished basement that you've been thinking about turning into a home office? You're not alone. More people are choosing to set up an office in their home so that they can enjoy a more flexible work/life schedule.

Before you drag your computer into that extra room and call it an office, take a few moments to learn about some programs and tools to help you work from home successfully.

High-speed Internet access and a home network are essential for a home office. Talk to your company's IT department before you set up a home network to ensure that you get the right software and settings to access your office network safely from home.

Make sure your office is in a quiet part of your home. Try not to set up your office in the family room or near the kitchen. You can use tools like Microsoft Office Visio 2003 to plan your office layout and see if your desk, chair, and filing cabinet can all fit before you break a sweat.

You can deduct the expenses of your home office on your yearly tax return. Talk to your CPA about tax implications so that you can avoid potential pitfalls.

With the right hardware, software, and office layout, working from home can be a rewarding and productive experience. Use the following resources to help you plan and set up your home office.

• Tips for teleworkers (Article)
  Learn to keep your career on track and get the job done — from home.
• Connect to your company office (Article)
  Read about what tools are a must when working from home.
• Microsoft home network guide (Tool)
  Get detailed and personalized instructions on how to set up your home network.
• A quick introduction to office layouts (Training)
  Learn how you can create an office layout in a half hour or less.
• Create an office layout (Article)
  Take the guesswork out of planning and arranging your home office.
• Office layout (U.S. units) (Template)
  Put together your home office without lifting any heavy furniture.
• Microsoft Office System Trial Software (Tool)
  Download or order trial versions of the Microsoft Office System, Visio 2003, and other Office productivity software.
• Deduct your home office (Article)
  Find out if deducting your home office is a good idea.