Guest Blog:
Design Tips To Make Your Home Office A Space You Actually Want To Spend Time In
During the COVID-19 pandemic more people were working from home than ever. Many of these home offices may have been makeshift and lacking in basic functionality. Home working is becoming a reality for more and more people. There are many ways that you can turn your home office into a productive space that you actually enjoy being in.
Look At Your Home
If you want to work efficiently ideally you will have your own space, away from the noise of your family. You will be able to achieve the optimal work/life balance if you are able to have a clearly defined office space. This way you can also shut the door at 5pm and enjoy family time.
It doesn’t necessarily have to be a whole room - it could be a shed or even a closet. As long as it’s comfortable enough for you to work in and gives you some privacy.
What Do You Really Need?
When designing your home office, functionality and practicality are the most important things to consider. You may need a lot of storage space, in which case you should find a desk with lots of drawers or a very tall shelving unit to make good use of the space.
Desk caddies, magazine wall racks, storage boxes or shelf ladders can all be clever storage solutions. When you identify what you really need then you can start shopping.
Division Isn’t Always A Bad Thing
If you don’t have your own room, then don’t worry. Try some creative solutions for sectioning off a part of a room. You can buy dividers or you can make your own by attaching 3 panels of MDF together with hinges. You could then decorate it.
You can even use some hefty pieces of furniture as a divider. A big bookcase could do the job. Find a way to claim your office space.
Make It Inspiring
Having too many items on and around your desk can make it look messy. However, choosing a few items that you find inspiring can be a great idea. These could be pictures of your family, postcards of places you love, interesting paintings, mood boards, inspiring messages or patterns that make the space more lively.
Make sure you don’t go overboard. Too much clutter can make your mind feel cluttered and block productivity.
Let’s Go Outside
If you have a garden shed or an outdoor room this can be adapted into a wonderful working space. Outdoor offices can help to create the sense of separation between your work life and your home life. There are likely to be fewer distractions.
Being close to nature could prove to be very inspiring for your work. The “shoffice” (shed office) can come in many shapes and sizes. It could be a compact wooden hut or a bespoke garden room.
Going Green
Being close to nature can help to make us happier and more productive. Studies show that viewing scenes of beautiful nature can help to reduce anger and stress. You probably don’t want to work in the middle of the jungle. However, you can buy house plants to spruce up your home office.
A bonsai tree or a miniature herb garden could provide you with the connection to nature that your nervous system craves. Even paintings with scenes of nature can be of help.
A Splash Of Color
Colors are shown to change our mood. Yellow and orange can spark joy and creativity. If they are too bright or prominent they can cause nervousness. Darker colors are stylish. However, they are less stimulating and may make you feel lethargic.
Keeping your office space light and airy will create a nice ambience. However, you could paint one wall a bold and bright color to help keep your productivity high. Or you could use pastel shades to make the room feel light.
Are You Sitting Comfortably?
It is essential that you are comfortable at work. Having your computer at eye level, having a strong sturdy desk and having a comfortable chair are essential. If you neglect these design aspects you could suffer from serious injury further down the line.
You could consider buying an ergonomic office chair from Canada. These chairs support the natural shape of the spine. This prevents slumping and reduces back stress. Some people use standing desks to help them to stay alert and focused.
Let There Be Light
A well-lit room is really important if you want to feel alert and inspired. Good lighting can help to boost your productivity and your creative juices. A dark space is likely to leave you feeling tired.
Make sure you are in a space with a lot of natural light. You could arrange mirrors in strategic places that reflect light. Try and arrange your desk so you are looking out of a window. This will give you a nice break from staring at the computer screen all day. You could also consider a good natural light lamp.
Think About The Kitchen
A kitchen has a lot of functionality. It has big walkways, good ventilation and lots of storage space. A lot of people probably don’t think about the kitchen when considering an office space, but it could be a great solution.
Kitchens tend to have a ton of cupboards and storage space that could come in very handy. You also have the wonderful bonus of being able to reach over and grab food out of the fridge whenever you feel like it.
In Summary
If you are working from home, find a space and make it your own. You will be much happier and more productive if you like the space you are working in. There are a number of ways to make your home space pleasant to be in.
Find a suitable space. This could be a private room or you could use a divider to make it separate. Make sure you have good storage solutions. Add inspiring items to your desk space. Add color to the room and find some plants that fit. Make sure you are comfortable and that you have good lighting.
About The Author:
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Hey, I'm Emma Porter, a product designer based in Canada, with a passion for sustainability. In my role as product designer at EffyDesk.ca, I specialize in designing sustainable furniture that looks beautiful, works more effectively, and costs less. |
Thank you for the insightful article on home office decor ideas. The practical tips and stylish suggestions provided are sure to elevate any workspace, creating a productive and inspiring environment. Excited to implement some of these ideas in my own home office
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