A well-designed home office lets you stay focused and productive while working more comfortably. No matter the size of your space, you should ensure that it has clear, crisp lines, creative inspiration, and comfort to induce thought. Setting up a functional home office calls for a little more planning and strategizing to ensure maximum space utilization and better business agility and flexibility. In this post, we look at ten practical tips for designing a perfect home office.
Identify the Right Spot
Think about how you intend to use your home office space. Whether you will be making conference calls or receiving clients, it will be best to ensure you identify a quiet spot that will allow you to focus with minimal interruptions.
Ensure the working space is well-ventilated with adequate fresh air and temperature control. According to EPA’s indoor air quality recommendations, your home office’s indoor humidity should range between 30 and 50%.
Additionally, go for a space that receives plenty of natural daylight. Natural lighting will allow you to maintain the required vitamin D levels for better sleep and make you feel more energized and active. It will also help lower your energy consumption since you will be less likely to require artificial lighting during the day.
Invest in Ergonomic Furniture
Considering that you will spend more time in the office, you must invest in ergonomic furniture to enhance comfort and promote overall health and well-being. Choose a comfortable chair and a proper desk height. While at it, pay attention to thigh, back, and arm support as well as material and warranty options. Besides, consider buying a standing desk to exchange between sitting and standing. The good thing is that most standing desks have adjustable heights, allowing you to raise or lower the height as required.
Install Ambient Lighting
Although natural light is perfect, it will not be there if you need to work after dark. Try to fix some LED lights around the workspace to bathe the edges of your desk in soft lights. Consider adding a high-quality floor or desk lamp to the space. Go for a dash of design flair, like a brass lamp, to include personality, warmth, and functionality in the home office.
Incorporate Some Plants
A few green plants will add a dash of color to the office space while lowering stress and increasing your happiness. According to a study, a few plants in the office can boost happiness and productivity by as much as 15%.
When choosing your office plants, opt for easy-to-maintain options that help improve indoor air quality. Choose those plants that do not require a lot of sunlight and can survive in colder temperatures. Dracaenas, spider plants, and Boston ferns are among the best plants famous for their air-filtering qualities.
Get High-Speed Internet
You need a solid internet connection to stay productive and drive the best results. Slow internet can disrupt your workflows, dragging you behind. If you have an unstable internet connection, shift to an alternative internet provider or install a Wi-Fi router or extender.
For enhanced Wi-Fi signal strength, position the router high off the ground, somewhere at the center of the home. Ensure no furniture, clutter, or other appliances can disrupt the signal. Use online specialized services like Speedtest to check your internet speed. Do multiple tests to get accurate results before deciding to switch providers.
Check the network for unauthorized devices if the results range way less than what the provider advertises. Remember to do the tests when no one is video streaming or downloading files using the internet connection.
Settle for the Right Colors
Different colors elicit diverse emotional and physical responses from individuals. Thus, it is best to select your color palette wisely. Settle for a paint shade that provides the get-up-and-go needed for a home office area. Generally, airy and light colors work best for a home office. You can also use more neutral colors like greens, off-whites, blues, and other earthly tones. If you prefer a dramatic, darker color, lift the shade with a lighter-colored floor and a lot of interesting lighting.
Reduce Paperwork
Piles of documents can lead to home office clutter. Set up home office essentials, equipment, and systems for scanning and storing anything that should be scanned. A digital filing system on a hard drive or a secure site, such as Dropbox, will help you take into account space restrictions as well as create clear document categories. Besides, it will make it easy to search for files by simply feeding in a keyword or date.
Use Décor and Accessories to Add Warmth and Personality
Good office décor will make the space feel more inviting, making you enjoy staying there for long hours. The good thing with a home office is that you dictate its décor based on your taste and preferences. Consider grouping your decorative objects in multiples to show interest and reveal your personality. Mix decorative objects and books on the bookshelves, blended with vintage lamps and picture frames.
Have a Separate Computer for Work
You should have a separate computer for work because you can customize it to your business needs and remove distracting software and apps. Besides that, adding the work computer to your business expenses in your taxes becomes easy.
You may find it hard to hit your daily targets if you are using the same computer for watching Netflix or playing video games, as well as creating spreadsheets. Your brain will associate the work computer with work, increasing productivity. The lack of distracting apps on the work computer can also help you stay focused. Consider installing F.lux on your computer to automatically change the screen’s color temperature during the day for even more incredible work efficiency.
Exercise Proper Wire Management
Working in an office full of jumbled cords and cables can be disgusting. Basic wire management can play an essential role in enhancing your home office aesthetics. You can use an under-the-desk basket or cord box, plastic zip ties, and a few clamps to manage messy wires. Plug your computer into a surge protector and invest in an attractive, grounded extension cord.
With a well-designed home office, you will easily overcome any challenge that arises with working from home. It will also boost your productivity and help you stay focused. Check the available space and design a home office that matches your budget. Adhere to ergonomic rules during the designing process and source the right furniture and lighting fixtures.
