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Last Updated on January 20, 2024 by Work In My Pajamas
Working from home certainly has its pros– the main benefit being you get to work in the comfort of your own home. While offices need to be comfortable to help employees achieve maximum productivity, working from a home office that is too casual can cause your productivity to head downwards.
Individuals who work from home not only need to have dedicated work spaces, they also need to have productive and inspiring work zones. If you work from home daily or on a regular basis and are willing to have a dedicated office space, you’ve come to the right place. Read on for some tips on designing your home office.
In This Post:
1. Choose the Right Spot
Before you begin setting up your home office, you need to be sure that the spot you’ve selected to be your work space is right. Converting your damp garage or basement into your work zone just because you want a big office might not be a great idea; setting up a small office in a dry, well-ventilated corner of your house will be better.
2. Keep Distractions Away
It won’t be possible to keep your work and personal life entirely separate as your office will be in your home. However, if you have a whole room to yourself to set up your office in, your job sure gets easier.
If you have limited space and your work zone is going to be a part of your living room or bedroom, ensure that there are as less distractions as possible around your desk. Try to keep the TV and gaming consoles out of sight and have only work-related items around your office space. Do remember to examine your office regularly for distractions that find their way in.
3. Make It a Private Affair
If you have a separate room for your office, you can simply slam the door shut to isolate yourself from other activities and disturbing sounds. Portable screens or bookcases can be used to separate work spaces that are a part of other rooms. A degree of white noise from fans or air filters can help drown distracting noises.
4. Have Adequate Light
Low lighting levels can induce sleep and also lead to negative psychological effects such as depression. As such, it is important to have a work space that is well-illuminated.
Natural light will not only make your work space look great, it will also boost your productivity. If your work space doesn’t receive enough natural light, use a combination of general and task lighting to brighten up your office.
Keep in mind that yellow cast illumination is the best for human comfort. Also remember to avoid placing overhead lighting right above your computer screen as doing so can create a glare. Further, refrain from positioning the computer screen in front of a light source to prevent eyestrain.
5. Use Comfortable and Functional Furniture
If you’re going to spend a lot of time seated at your desk, you should invest in comfortable furniture. Using the wrong chair for an extended period of time can cause back pain, and further take a toll on your health, mood, and productivity. Consider buying ergonomically designed furniture or use a seat support to help you sit right.
Your work space also needs to have functional furniture such as drawers and filing cabinets depending on your needs. You don’t want to run around in circles looking for stuff while you’re working, so be sure to analyze your needs well in advance.
6. Personalize Your Space
You don’t need to create a sterile office environment to get things done! Sure you shouldn’t have distraction around, but giving your office space a personal touch can give you the motivation and inspiration you need to get through dull days.
Simply painting the walls in a color you like can help bring out your creativity. You can also hang pictures of your family and friends or places you love to keep you motivated. Additionally, using art sculptures and prints, indoor plants, patterned blinds, unique light fixtures, and so on can help you personalize your work zone.
Wall decals and stickers make personalizing a space quick and easy. What’s more, they don’t cost a lot so you don’t have to worry about getting tired of the same décor! They are the best fit for adorning the home and work space. The boon parts of them are they are nominal and thrifty. The stickers, wall decals and other decorative materials are even sometimes inexpensive when they are obtained as freebies. The family practicing to live a frugal life can adopt this option.
7. Eliminate Clutter
Clutter can hamper your productivity, so eliminate unnecessary items from your work zone. Be sure to keep your office space clean and organized. Doing so will make your office look pleasing and will encourage you to get down to serious business.
Beware when personalizing the work zone- you don’t want to overdo anything. Using too many colors or displaying too many pictures and articles around the office can tire out your eyes.
Conclusion
Designing a productive and inspiring home office may require you to experiment with new technology and try new designs. While it might be time consuming, keep at it to find what works best for you. Seeing your home office evolve is enjoyable to say the least.
Happy designing!
