The perfect home office should be a stimulating and streamlined workspace that promises the ultimate work-life balance.
Whether your home has a designated space for running a business, a remote workspace, or simply a nook for paying bills and organizing your schedule, you deserve more than a metal desk and extra chair stuffed into a spare corner.
An office that reflects the design and comfort of the rest of your home is a place you’ll want to burn the midnight oil in. This is only possible if you adorn it with as much detail as you would any other space in your home.
You could put countless ideas to work while you look to create an inspiring space out of a home office. Here are some tips to help you make your home office a success story.
Find the Perfect Location
For some people, working from home is a dream. However, others struggle to concentrate, stay productive, and maintain focus. Choosing the perfect location for a home office may significantly affect your output and the ability to get things done.
Not everyone can afford a room set aside for a home office, so choosing the perfect spot is crucial. It will determine how you are going to decorate your office space.
Curating an inviting space will make you want to spend more time in your home office. Make it comfortable and welcoming with touches of your personality throughout.
Transitioning from an office environment to a home office can be tricky and cause interruptions in our work. However, creating a workstation that provides vital elements can set you up for success when working from home. Consider traffic flow and your ability to withstand distractions in the space that you have. A private room with ample seating is crucial.
Stay Organized
Working from home can be super comfortable and productive. Get control of the clutter before it takes over your space. Go through every piece of paper in your office and sort them using the System of Three. Either shred it, file it or take action from it. File your helpful paperwork in a color-coded filing system, so you won’t find it hard to retrieve them.
One step people miss when organizing their office is making the most of the wall space. Use your wall space to hang filing systems, calendars, whiteboards, and shelving. There is so much more space available when you go vertical. When utilizing this space, remember to arrange it conveniently. For example, if you go for shelving on your wall, have different sections for files, books, and other items you store on the shelves.
Choose The Perfect Desk
Working at home means spending a lot of time at your desk. So, you want to invest in a desk that fits your budget, workflow, and space. Having the perfect desk means one that contributes to your productivity by helping you stay comfortable all day.
Sitting all day can cause both aches and even long-term health issues. If you’re clocking long hours at your workspace, look for a modern desk that accommodates both sitting and standing positions. There are many benefits to switching classes throughout the day, including decreased back pain and blood pressure.
With an ergonomic height adjustable desk, you can sit when you feel like it and stretch your legs when you need to by bringing your desk to standing height with a push of a button. At the same time, they can get used to and consider getting a standing desk instead of a traditional fixed desk.
Tame the Wires
Wi-Fi is everywhere, but that doesn’t mean you won’t have a lot of cables in your office. Even your mobile devices have to plug into recharge sometimes. You will need a computer, printer, and other electronics in your home office. Most of this equipment requires to be plugged into a power source physically. Invest in a suitable cord management system. This can be as simple as a twist tie or something a little more elegant.
Consider mounting a power strip underneath or on the back of your desk and use cable ties to wrangle any cords that get plugged into that power strip. Then feed them along the back of your desk or other furniture, as long as they’re out of sight.
Sometimes you may not have a lot of options and find that you have to run power strips and extension cords across the floor. When that’s the case, make sure you find a way to do it safely, like using cord covers. You’ll be amazed at how simply removing the eyesore of cords makes your office feel bright.
Read more about HOW TO DECORATE AN OFFICE.
Light It Up
Lighting often gets overlooked when setting up a home office. We do most work on computer monitors and keyboards, and since they light up, what’s the big deal? There’s plenty.
Poor lighting in your office won’t cause blindness, but it will cause you to strain your eyes. Over time, that eye strain can cause headaches, making you less productive.
Set up your home office where there’s as much natural light as possible. It can help you feel good and may even boost your productivity. When natural light isn’t possible, or you just need more light, invest in the right kinds of lamps. While you may think overhead lighting is the way to go, it can create a glare on your screen or desk, making it hard for you to see. Get a task lamp with a solid shade that can point the light directly at your desk when you need it.
Prioritize Comfort
It can be tempting to simply grab a dining room chair and use it when you’re working from home. But sitting at a desk for long hours without proper support for your back is a fast track to posture problems. Ergonomic office chairs offer the needed help when you’re sitting for long hours. Like the rest of your home office furniture, investing in a supportive chair is an investment in yourself. It is worth every dime if you can get yourself a height-adjustable swivel-base chair.
