Nothing Beats Working In The Comfort of Your Own Home: Tips for Designing a Home Office

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The current trend of working from home put a huge strain on working conditions but also presented unique opportunities to shake things up. Having a comfortable space at home is increasingly becoming more valuable than ever. Especially if one is to work regularly, one needs a space that strikes the perfect balance between being yet appropriate for work.

When working, it is necessary to have a place to focus. Home offices allow people to work efficiently from the comfort of their house. When designed properly, any space can be transformed into a conducive space for productivity.

Whether you are working or running your business remotely, you might be wondering how to create a home office where you can get some serious work done. Here are some tips: 

1. Find your sweet spot

Start by thinking about the purpose of the space. You are to carve out a nook where you’ll spend most of your hours working so pick a spot where you feel comfortable enough. Do not stiff yourself in a space where you feel restricted such as a windowless closet just for the sake of making a home office. The goal is to have a space solely for working without compromising comfort. Check a rarely used guest room or a corner of your living room you can convert.

Also, consider your workflow and distraction. Do you work best with background noises or do you need a space tucked away in a quiet place? If you want to be able to focus, find a spot where there is less traffic. Unless you live alone, there is probably a place in your house where you’ll get less interruption.

Nailing that workspace even if you might need to file a PTO to design your home office is important. However, setting up that office in the right place makes all the difference.

2. Get Organized

You can manage everything related to your work from the comfort of your home office provided that you have an organized space. Just as with any room in your house, you need to take account of storage and organization no matter how spacious or conservative the square footage is.

Storage is often overlooked when it comes to designing a workstation but it is crucial if you are aiming for a visually pleasing and clutter-free space. That can include having floating shelves on the walls to get papers out of your desk or having a drawer where you can file anything within arm’s reach. If you are a freelancer or a property manager working remotely who has to stack paper works and keep knickknacks, adding a nice basket under your desk is a fun touch to keep your tidy. Having enough storage eliminates distractions and can therefore influence you to concentrate on your work. 

3. Form should always meet its function

The goal of creating a home office is to have a suitable space to work in therefore, functionality is an important factor to consider. Form follows function comes from the idea that the design and layout of a workstation are based on its intended purpose.

Your desk, chairs, and cabinets should serve their purpose. You may want a desk with built-in drawers, but before investing in any furniture ask yourself if it is functional and if it would fit in the layout of your space. While the home office is a spot dedicated to working, it should also be able to complement the rest of your home especially if it is a part of open space. It is important to consider the overall look and function of the design so you can come up with practical as well as stylish solutions.

4. Invest in a good chair and desk

Pieces of Furniture are among the most important pieces of equipment in your home office. If you will be working for long hours, investing in an ergonomic chair and desk is essential for your safety and comfort.

Nothing is more frustrating than having to work uncomfortable. It can heavily affect your productivity. When choosing a chair, ensure that it comes with enough cushioning and back support so you can prevent posture problems. As with desks, consider how much space you have in the room. It should fit the area suitably at the same time provide enough space to accommodate your monitor or laptop and give you space to write and take notes.

Also, consider matching your chair and desk to the rest of the room’s furniture. There are a lot of options you can find online that are ergonomically designed yet provide a stylish look to your space.

5. Avoid cord clutter

Finding a wire you need, scrambling to connect a device to the socket, can be a real chore having to deal with messy wires and tangled cables. There is so much you can do to avoid having a cord jungle workspace. Some desks have built-in wire channels to keep these cables out of the way. If your desk does not have this feature, you can opt for cable management options such as cable sleeves, box cable organizers, and cord ties. Also, make sure that your equipment is close to power outlets so it will be easy should you need to plug.

If your budget allows you, you can also go wireless. Going wireless gets rid of the typical tangle of wires keeping your space organized and tidy.

6. Have good lighting

Having a home office with natural daylight and a view if possible is a great way to help you feel more active and energized. Natural lighting is good for your wellbeing because it regulates the body’s sleep-wake cycle and helps maintain your levels of vitamin D – a nutrient that promotes a good mood. In addition, using natural lighting can help you reduce your energy consumption.

You can enhance lighting by placing a mirror across the window to reflect the light in the room. If your space does not have enough lighting, an overhead ceiling light or a lamp placed on a corner of your room will provide good general lighting. Make sure your home office has plenty of light sources to prevent the risk of eye strain and headaches.

7. Steer away from Distractions

One of the disadvantages of working from home is getting easily distracted by your surroundings. While there are also distractions working at the office, they are nothing compared to what you have at home. It can be easy to take longer breaks if the couch and the TV are just around the corner. Stick to a regular work schedule and place your workspace away from things that can distract you as much as possible. With no books, gaming consoles, or TV around, there are fewer chances of succumbing to them. 

If necessary, use noise-canceling earphones to avoid auditory distractions. If you have someone living with you, make sure to communicate your working schedule so they know when they can approach you and when you are in do not disturb mode.

8. Add things that will inspire you

While having too much stuff can cause your desk to look messy, a few personal touches that bring you inspiration can help you boost your creativity and productivity. Whether it is a mood board, your favorite photo, or a painting, adding decorative pieces to your desk can be an instant perk-me-up. Always surround yourself with items that motivate you. This will not only help you set the right mood for work but also serve as a reminder to move forward and overcome some of the roadblocks you may encounter while working.

9. Spruce up

A great way to add some life to your workspace is by adding greenery. Plants are proven to reduce stress and increase levels of happiness, energy, and concentration. These plants will also help to naturally filter toxins in the room and help freshen up space. Try adding indoor plants in your room to brighten up space.

About The Author:

Katreena is a scientist and a life hack specialist. She's authored scientific journals on biotechnology and molecular biology. To take a break from scientific journals, she puts her mind into writing about lifestyle, health, and sustainability. She strongly believes that kindness makes the world go round.


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