With more and more people working from home these days, the need for a well-designed home office is more essential than ever. You are probably spending more time working than anything else (except maybe sleeping) so a dedicated area that feels like an authentic office will keep you productive and happy.
When designing home offices, many people don’t realize the big impact small things can have. Here are 6 of the top factors to consider when designing your home office space.
1. SPACE
Pick a quiet area away from high traffic areas and distractions at home.
Studies show that colors impact our mood, so surround yourself with a color that motivates you and keeps you calm. If you can paint your walls great, but you can also use the color to accent your space with desktop accessories, small pieces of furniture, or even your file folders.
2. FURNITURE
Fill your home office with furniture that is comfortable and efficient.
There are many different types of desks to choose from including traditional, corner, and the increasingly popular standing desks. The benefits of a standing desk include improved posture and blood circulation, so it is easy to see why they are becoming more and more popular for home offices. If you are going to be standing for prolonged periods of time, make sure you invest in shock absorbing insoles for hard surfaces.
If you use two monitors or need reference materials handy, make sure your desktop workspace is large enough to accommodate it.
The best office chair—one that is comfortable and ergonomically correct—is worth the time and money to find. There are multiple ways to customize a chair—from the backrest to the arm supports. The wrong chair will have you avoiding your space and interfere with your productivity.
3. LIGHTING
Proper lighting is very important for an office. Without enough light, you can develop eyestrain and headaches.
Having the right type of lighting is helpful as well, so try to strike a balance between natural and artificial light if you can. It will not only help you while you are working but people who work in spaces with plenty of ambient light sleep an extra 46 minutes a night!
4. ACCESSORIES
Enhance the comfort of your office space with just a few small items.
Set up a coffee station or keep a pitcher of filtered water chilling for when you need a quick pick-me-up.
Use a mug with your favorite motivational saying as your pencil holder. Find sticky notes that have your favorite superhero or TV characters on them.
It is your space, so fill it with the things you like!
5. TECHNOLOGY
Upgrade your Wi-Fi signal or consider plugging directly into a LAN line while you’re working, especially if you are on a lot of video calls or are sharing large files with your colleagues.
Additionally, don’t forget to make sure you have good anti-virus software set up on your computer to protect your files!
6. ORGANIZATION
A cluttered workspace can be a huge drain on productivity, so only keep things you use daily on your desk. Put everything else away in drawers or files to cut the clutter in your work space.
Don’t let your home office space be overrun with cables! Use Bluetooth-enabled devices and keep your equipment close to outlets. Cord tubing and wire organizers will help to corral cables.
DESIGNING HOME OFFICES WITH EASE
No matter what your home office budget is, you can make the perfect workspace for yourself. Take just a few moments to implement these ideas and you will be on your way to designing a home office that is a comfortable, productive place you want to work in every day! Designing home offices doesn’t have to be dreary!
