If you work from home, you’ll need a designated office space to perform your best. Separating your personal from your professional life helps with focus, engagement, and productivity.
Many homeowners, however, aren’t sure how to create a home office that keeps them focused and inspired. After all, a chair and table stuck in a spare corner hardly qualifies as a decent home office.
Making the right decisions about your home office can help you stay engaged and productive. In this article, we’ll discuss a few ways you can create a functional and aesthetic at-home workspace you’ll want to do double duty in.
1.Choose the Right Location
When designing your home office, remember that you’re going to spend a big part of your day here. So be sure to choose an area of your home that’s spacious and comfortable.
For instance, consider transforming your rarely-used guest room into your home office, especially if you prefer working in a quiet and solitary environment. Converting your loft into an office can also work well. In case you have usable space in your garden, you can try creating a garden office room as well.
If you have young kids at home and you’d like to keep an eye on them while you work, you might want to set up your office in your living room, dining room, or some other central space. The dining room might be a good option as it is usually an under-utilized area in most households.
You also need to think about traffic flow and distractions when deciding on a suitable home-office location. If your work involves meeting with clients, for example, consider a private space where you can arrange for ample seating.
2.Install Suitable Furniture Pieces
Don’t feel restricted if you have limited space at your disposal. Simply invest in custom furniture to make the most of the available area.
From built-in shelving and desks to custom cabinetry and cupboards, you can have everything made according to your specific needs, taste, and the requisites of your workspace. That way, your home office will reflect your personality in the best possible manner, while also meeting all your unique requirements.
3.Factor in Ample Storage
Don’t make the mistake of underestimating the storage factor when designing your home office. After all, it can affect your peace of mind and productivity. Start by considering how your work proceeds through the day. Ask yourself the following questions to figure out your storage needs.
- How much desktop space do I need?
- How much space do I need to accommodate office gadgets like printers and phones?
- Where will I store office files? How frequently will I need to access the documents kept in my office?
- If needed, is there scope for vertical storage?
- Is there a dedicated space for every item in my office for easy access and organization?
- Will I need extra space for miscellaneous items like a coffee machine or indoor plants/pots, and so on?
When planning your storage, make sure that your current work can be stored within arm’s reach to maximize your convenience. If you need certain files, books, or other material frequently, have a shelf installed near your work desk within easy reach.
4.Invest in a Comfortable Chair
Those working from their employer’s office space typically use whatever office chair they’re given, often in dark, solid colors. This style of the chair can look unattractive in a home-office setup. Fortunately, when working from home, you have the liberty of choosing your own chair.
You can go for a chair that matches the rest of the room’s furniture but bear in mind that you’ll be sitting for hours in the chair, so opt for one that’s comfortable and ergonomic. A swivel chair that can be adjusted to the preferred height is a good option.
In other words, a comfortable chair that supports your back is essential for anyone required to sit at a desk for several hours. Keep your long-term spinal health in mind and avoid skimping on this aspect in any way.
5.Block Out Distractions
It’s easy for any space to get cluttered, and your home office is no different. To maximize your productivity, you’ll need to keep it as neat and tidy as possible. Having ample storage can be most helpful in this regard, as can having small-size office storage accessories as these are functional yet stylish.
As mentioned, create a dedicated space for each office item, such as printers, scanners, paper shredders, and so on. Do you want them to be packed away after use or need them placed on an easy-to-reach worktop?
You’ll also need room for displaying items that add aesthetic value to your office. Having a proper place for your office supplies and other items will help you create a space you’ll want to spend time in rather than feeling forced to be in.
6.Light It Up
Good lighting is a must-have in any home office space. So, ensure you set up your office in a place that receives ample natural light and offers a view, if possible. Your desk should ideally face the window or be placed in an area where your computer screen will not be affected by unwanted reflections.
You can add blinds or translucent shades to reduce any glare in your room without darkening it. Further, having a mirror and painting your walls in lighter hues will enhance the effect of natural light.
You can also install overhead lighting and place a couple of open-top floor lamps in the corners of your home office to ensure that it is well-lit. A desk lamp may provide extra lighting when needed. Adding some daylight bulbs to your light fixtures will also boost the lighting effect.
7.Accessorize Intelligently
One of the best things about designing your home office is that you get to decide how it should look and feel. So, you need not sacrifice your personal style. Feel free to add items that inspire you. This could be a favorite painting, a work of art, a collection of objects, or a statement showpiece.
Incorporating meaningful items that you enjoy looking at in your home office will brighten up your day and deepen your connection with your space.
Holland’s Is Your Go-To Custom Storage Solutions Provider
With more and more people now embracing the work-from-home lifestyle, it’s become more important to create a functional, yet eye-pleasing home office. After all, a workspace should engender a productive environment.
Fortunately, you can get there by paying attention to certain details like choosing the right location, getting a cozy office chair, blocking out distractions, facilitating sufficient lighting, and investing in custom cabinets and storage solutions.
You can trust the team at Holland’s Custom Cabinets to create handcrafted cabinets and storage systems that will ensure you have a space that’s well-organized and gorgeous. We use only top-quality materials to create our storage systems and offer a plethora of colors and designs. For more information on our custom cabinetry solutions for your home office, call 619.443.6081 or fill out our online form.
