Reason #1: Freedom of Time

Working as a freelancer — whether it is in a home office or indeed from your coffee table — allows you to set your own hours, by and large. It’s important to note that “setting your own hours” doesn’t mean laziness, as it seems to be the idea of some. It means you don’t have to punch a time clock. If you feel like getting up an hour early and giving your best time to a project, that’s setting your own hours. If you finish up the project early, take the extra time to (a) Either have a second cup of coffee, or (b) Spend extra time double-checking and re-resting your work, you have the freedom to do that.

Your time is flexible for each task and each project as a whole. Punching a time clock largely removes this aspect of creative work.

Reason #2: Freedom of Expression

Personal Viewoint: I’ve worked in offices with designers and in a home office (where I currently work now, mostly). For many creatives, working with other people, even if each is immersed in his or her task at hand, put somewhat of a damper on expression. For me, I had trouble loosening up around other people, in the creative sense. I do my best work when things are quiet and the personal sphere is undisturbed.

Freedom of expression is having the easiness in your surroundings to talk to oneself about a problem without worry of disturbing the creative time of others. Listen to music without distracting your fellow. Get more involved in a given design without being disturbed or distracted oneself.

Reason #3: Freedom to Move

When you punch a time clock, it is (rightfully) expected that you finished certain tasks before taking a break. Sometimes, though, you needs to stretch your legs as you work out a problem. Some think better or more analytically when they’re moving, others when they’re making/drinking a cup of tea, etc etc. There’s no end to the activities we each use to help our brains get around a problem or seek inspiration.

Freedom to move is being able to jump up and have a jog if that’s what works. No guarantees, no promises. Just creativity.

Reason #4: Freedom to Multitask

This may be a blessing and a curse – but having the freedom to do two things at once can be beneficial, especially when nearing a deadline. Some of us work better being single-minded and intensely focused, but most jobs require some sort of multiple tasks. Having freedom to multitask is great because when one task slows we can easily switch to another without loss of productivity. (and hey, who said working on your coffeet table was easy?)

Reason #5: Freedom to Work In Your Jammies

if you check in at an office there’s a dress code. Granted, a lot of design firms seem to be quite relaxed in this regard, but there still abound those design houses that require slacks or a dress shirt. Whatever the dress code is, you can’t walk in the front door with a bathrobe on.

Of course, working from home doesn’t mean being lazy, but the point is if you do great creative work in with more relaxed togs, a home office is perfect. This is not to say if someone works from a home they shouldn’t take it seriously – and there are recommendations that even if you work from home you dress the part, and if that means a dress shirt and slacks you wear a dress shirt and slacks. It really depends on the type of designer or developer, but who can argue that some of us do better work when we’re not so uptight?

Reason #6: Freedom to Power Nap

The brain gets tired if it overworks. Big corporations (Google, for one) have recognized the importance of the Power Nap. Most design houses, however, aren’t going to let you get some sleep on the job. If you work from home, you have the freedom to let the brain rest if it needs to. The only requirement is that the jobs is done on time, not that you work constantly from 9 to 5, clocking a carefully tracked number of hours each week.

(Check out more about how power naps boost brain power)

Reason #7: Freedom to Decorate Your Office

When you work in an office with others, it’s often okay if you have a picture of your wife and kids. Or cat. But the your decorative prowess ends there, for better or worse. This is good, in a sense, because it keeps the agency’s offices on track with their brand, and presents a cohesive, well-designed image to clients and potential clients. It also keeps everyone on the same page when they’re at work. When you work from a home office, however, you can decorate the room(s) however you please; to suit yourself, or at least to suit your own business style.

This isn’t a free pass to be messy, or go hog wild with weird decoration ideas you’d never get away with in an office with other people – because even though you work from home you’re still a professional and it’s by sticking to a businesslike style and look that you can stay serious about what you do.

You have a say over (even minor) things that can have a big impact on your creativity.

Things like what style of furniture, what chair (I prefer Aeron) what style of desk (I like those big, glass-topped “drafting” desks), and so on. Even what kind of lighting and whether you get to keep one of those little mug warmers for your coffee.

Reason #8: Freedom to Blow Off Steam

Qualifier: This doesn’t effect everyone
Sometimes there’s a glitch in the code; or your target practice with shooting trouble is a bit off. Things get tense, you get testy (not you you, but you in general. You know who you are.)

Simply put, if you work with yourself you can shout and holler obscenities all you like. Some folks find this helpful. At the very least, you more have freedom to talk to yourself as you work out a problem. I do this myself, but at the times I’ve worked at an office I couldn’t do this because it was a disturbance.

Reason #9: Freedom to Respond Immediately to Events

If you work from 9 to 5, most events and goings-on are going to happen when you’re at work. This entails giving the boss notice, finishing up key tasks (if the event in question isn’t exactly a life-and-death emergency) and explaining next steps and procedures to someone else, if need be.

If you work from your couch or your home office, when something arises you can just get up and leave to respond to it. I’m not suggesting at the drop of a hat you can run off to some minor occurrence, but the time to respond to more serious things is greatly reduced if you work from home. This is true because you don’t have to explain any process to anyone else; you know where you left off and where you have to pick it up when you get back. You can explain to clients directly what happened (if need be).

Reason #10 that I forgot to Mention…

The tenth (and final) freedom of working from a home office if being able to have a cat. I know, I know, or a dog. But you can have Photoshop open, you can cut up a mock, and you can talk to clients with a cat on your lap. This little, simple pleasure you just don’t get working in a traditional office.

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