The home office is increasingly becoming an important part of home design. But, unless you have a very new house, possibly custom built, you may not have one. What can you do to create a comfortable space away from the hustle and bustle, yet remain accessible when needed? What are the necessary components?

The space of choice for most people is an unused bedroom. This room usually offers windows for natural light and closets for additional storage. If you have this luxury, placement of furniture becomes your highest priority. If possible, position your desk to allow a view of anyone coming into the room. This prevents you from becoming startled with unexpected visitors. It's also known as the power position in any office. A comfortable chair and ample lighting are important. If you need to keep paper records or require a fax or copy machine, position them to unite the functionality of the room.

If you do not have a spare bedroom, look for other areas that might work for you, possibly a big closet or a corner in the kitchen. If your attic has enough head room, or if you have a basement, you could possibly finish an area there. Creative people have even turned garages into wonderful hideaway offices that are a very short walk from home! The separateness allows you to shut the door at the end of the day in order to enjoy your personal time.

Whatever your business, a home computer usually takes center stage in any office. It is the workhorse for everything, including correspondence and financial records. Plan for comfort by placing the keyboard at a level that forms a right angle at your elbow. The surface should be 24 to 27 inches from the floor, depending on your height. You'll want to have the monitor placed in front, so you can look down at a slight angle. Eliminate eye strain by paying attention to how the light strikes the desk and the monitor.

Office furniture can be anything from a desk and chair to conference tables and full scale armoires. If your budget is small, inexpensive bookcases and working surfaces are easily obtainable. Upscale and ergonomically correct pieces with slide out keyboard trays, disk storage, file drawers and more can create a very high tech workplace.

One of the most important considerations will be your office chair and there are a number of models now available to help ease the discomfort of long hours at the desk. They come in a variety of styles and price ranges. If you spend a lot of time sitting in one position, your back will appreciate the extra money you've invested in a good chair. Don't pick a chair on style and color alone. Try out several and select the one that suits you best.

Decorating your office can be a special challenge. You will need a combination of calming colors with enough stimuli for creativity. Include items of inspiration, such as favorite artwork, a poster of someone you admire or photos taken with your family. You might also include books or other learning materials in an attractive display. Pay particular attention to the lighting. Natural sunlight is great, but you'll also need task lighting that enables you to work without eye strain.

One rule of thumb is to avoid placing your home office in a corner of the bedroom. The reasons are obvious. The first thing you will see in the morning and the last thing at night is work! Even if you absolutely love what you do, your home office needs to be elsewhere. If you have no other choice, place an attractive screen in front of the office equipment or desk to keep it out of sight when not in use.

Most people spend many hours in their office, so you'll want to give this space the same careful attention as any other part of your home.

After a hard day, what could be better than relaxing in your own hot tub? All of your friends have them and now you want to get on the bandwagon, too. With professional installation and a little information on their care and keeping, you can relax in style.

One of the first considerations is placement. Ninety percent of owners put their hot tubs and spas out of doors, possibly on a deck or patio. All you need is an electrical outlet and a flat, solid surface. If you choose to have one inside, you'll probably have to add a ventilation system, because the heat and humidity will drastically increase moisture. This excess moisture, in due time, will cause mildew.

Keeping your hot tub or spa clean isn't all that difficult. Acrylic tubs with fiberglass backing are easy to care for, making this one of the most popular. Just make sure you keep up with your filter's needs. You can use an ozonator to spray ozone gas into the spa water, a very effective way to kill bacteria without the chlorine smell. Follow the instructions for daily use or use the usual bromide and chlorine cleaners.

If you plan not to use your hot tub for a while, especially in cooler weather, check on the proper methods for 'winterizing.' Fully draining the tub and pipes and placing the right cover over the unit will preserve its integrity.

Today's hot tubs come with an amazing variety of features, including stereo systems, customized head rests and extra jets for those who have special needs. Customized lighting creates a nice mood for evenings. You can choose a small spa for two or one large enough for your friends. Just consider how you want to use your spa and the cost of keeping it running, including water and electricity.