More and more people are choosing to work from home for a variety of reasons. Unfortunately, tension among family members occurs when work and family activities conflict and compete for the same space. The best way to avoid conflicts is through judicious planning. A simple way to avoid competing for the same space is to designate a space for business use only. This could involve renovating an unused basement or attic into a home office. Another way to avoid conflicts that arise from competing for a room designed for both business and family use is to establish a sign-up procedure to reserve the space when needed. Family members would be responsible for giving advance notification when they need the room. Hang a sign-up sheet on the door, and ask family members to reserve the room as appropriate. However, family members must agree that, in most cases, the first priority for the room is the family business. For more information on this topic, see the fact sheet titled Starting a Business in Your Home: Weighing the Pros and Cons.

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