Don't forget about safety when you work naked.

If you have kids, you probably remember the baby-proofing stage when you had to install cabinet latches, toilet locks and baby gates. I realized it was time to remove the locks when my younger son showed his babysitter how to use them.

Taking the time to make your house safe for your kids is important, but who’s keeping your office safe for you? All it takes is one fall to break a leg and you’re out of commission for weeks. (Although you can milk it and get your family to do tasks and errands for you that normally they wouldn’t.) Either way, an injury is still inconvenient. There are a few steps you can take to safety-proof your home office.

• Avoid accidental falls by securing loose cables and turning overflowing stacks of papers and magazines into organized files or next week’s recycling. I used to put things on the floor “for now” and would forget I did that until I tripped over whatever it was I should have moved earlier. Graceful is not my middle name!

• Set up your office so you can reach the equipment and supplies you use often and avoid straining your back. You may not notice the effects of regular up, down and twisting motions until you feel a sharp pain shooting up your spine or down your neck.

• Avoid neck, back and even wrist injury by using a chair that supports your back while absorbing and distributing your weight. In other words, don’t use your kitchen chair or dining room table chair in place of an ergonomically correct chair. By using an ergonomic wrist rest, mouse, and adjustable and articulating keyboard, you can reduce the likelihood of developing Carpal Tunnel Syndrome or causing damage to your wrist.

• Sharp pains or a throbbing in your neck are a sure sign that your monitor is either too low or too high (usually it’s too high). There are various monitor risers that can put your monitor at the right height to help you reduce neck strain.

• Make sure your home office has a smoke detector and a fire extinguisher that you know how to use. The time to figure out how to use your fire extinguisher is before, not during a fire.

Create a compact, yet not-too-confined work area with your desk, credenza, file cabinet, supplies and information within reach. Then you won’t waste time jumping from area to area to grab what you need.

Several years ago, when I worked with the winner of the “Most Disorganized Home Office” contest, we turned her enormous attic home office into a cozy, workable space. The end result was a home office set up in the back part of the attic, near windows, and the rest of the space left open.

Limit the number of accessories–especially on your desk. Keep in mind that design magazines “stage” their photos. They add more accessories than normal, place furniture in awkward places because it photographs better, and–in some cases–create a room that no one could comfortably live in.

Your home office should be comfortable, yet functional, stylish yet not overstuffed with excess accessories. The rule of thumb is that less is more. Buy what you need for your office, but make sure you can find what you need when you need it.