Working from home is a different experience from working in an office. Apart from the many distractions, including your screaming toddlers, it can be so hard to adhere to the “office decorum.”  It is harder to stick to a routine in the same way you would in a traditional office. To remain disciplined and productive when working from home, you will need to design a functional home office; a room, corner, or space dedicated for work. Whether you are using the home office as your remote workplace, run a business, or a nook for paying bills. Here is a comprehensive guide to help you create a perfect home office. 

Determine your needs

Before setting up your home office, it is important to do a deep dive into your needs. How will you use your office? Is it a permanent or a temporary solution? Will you be seeing clients in the office? These queries can help decide the features you need in the home office design. At this stage, you begin to access if you need more than one computer, a project station, an administrative area, and a meeting space. Determining your needs makes the process of designing a home office easy. You also get to create something functional. 

Choose a good location

Imagine setting up your home office next to your kid’s playroom? Well, unless you need to keep an eye on them every minute doing that might deem chaotic. When designing your home office, you need to choose a location that fits your working style, the nature of your work, and the needs of the people you live with. 

Generally speaking, if you want to focus while working from your home, you might need to find a quiet space for your home office. A room with less traffic flow, and one that will encourage concentration and productivity. If you don’t have a spare room, don’t worry. A corner of your bedroom or living room can do the trick if well planned. You can do a quick Pinterest search on small office ideas for inspiration.  

Paint the walls

Did you know that color affects our mood? According to experts, color influences your emotions. In essence, color can make us feel happy or sad. It can also make us feel hungry or relaxed. For example, the color yellow is said associated with optimism because it activates our memory and promotes creativity. Turquoise is said to promote stability and peace, while lime green gives a burst of energy. When it comes to color, the goal is to paint the color of your choice. You want to stare at a wall that will get your work motor humming. However, if you don’t know which color to paint you can do some research on colors and mood. Pick a color that will elevate your mood. 

Tip: Well, light and airy colors are preferred for home office design. You can also use more “natural” colors, such as greens, blues, off-whites, and other earthy tones

Spruce up walls!

Now, you might have painted your walls and closed the chapter. It doesn’t need to end at that. You can take things a notch higher by investing in good canvases to spruce up your home office. Adding an artistic canvas will not only bring life to your walls, will help you stay inspired, creative and productive at work. You can also have some nice notice boards on the wall to help you visualize your goals and achievements. Remember to keep them neat and organized.  

Use smart storage solutions

There is nothing that screams distracting as clutter. It is almost impossible to focus when everything is everywhere. Clutter is not only distractive; it makes you less efficient. It’s an office, it is expected that there will be so much going on from paperwork, files and many other office equipment. However, this does not mean that you work in a place that looks like a dumpster. 

Keep your office space as tidy as possible. Invest in home office storage solutions such as shelving and storage accessories to help you stay organized. 

Good lighting

Think about those tough business days. Now, imagine trying to get through it in a place that feels like exile. When designing your home office, you seriously need to think about lighting. In fact, if you can get natural lighting the better. It helps you stay organized, focused, and active throughout the day. Other than the health benefits, natural lighting helps you to save energy that you would use on artificial lighting. 

Tips on home office lighting

  • Invest in enough lighting; it saves you from constant headaches and eye strain
  • Ensure there is no glare from a window, or overhead light on your computer
  • Put small lamps on the desk to help with task lighting. 

Invest In a good chair

If you are going to spend hours trying to make money in your home office, then spending all or most of it treating back pains is not worth it. Sadly, even though many people spend more time in their office chairs than beds, they skimp on the need of investing in this important piece of furniture, unaware of how it contributes to their health and energy. You need a chair that is ergonomically correct and comfortable. Luckily, there are good home office chairs that are aesthetically pleasing and offer great back support.  

Tip: Opt for a chair that swivels easily. Go for one that offers multiple settings for seat height, arm height, tilt, and lumbar support. 

Personalize

To stay motivated and inspired you can choose to personalize your desk. Add a few of your cherished knickknacks, which can be inspirational quotes or cherished photographs. Small things that remind you of the reason for work will keep you focused. You will get inspired to work better.

Final thoughts

Taking the step to set up a good home office, is inarguably a smart move. The right workspace translates into greater comfort, increased creativity, and productivity; all essential aspects of growth. Luckily, with a little planning and adoption of the aforementioned tips, you can create a home office that invisibly supports your everyday work efforts.