Avoiding the stress of the morning commute and traffic jam, eating more homemade meals, staying in your pajamas all day – working from home has hundreds of advantages. But, having the power to design your working space as you wish must be the greatest perk of them all. From wall colour and carpeting to stationery – it’s all up to you so here are a few ideas on how to set up your home office to be as stimulative and productive as possible.
Set clear boundaries
As in war, in creating a home office you need to divide in order to conquer. If possible, use a spare room as an office space and make sure that that’s its only purpose. Pulling out a home office/guest room combo might be the best solution since guest rooms are not frequently used. If you don’t have the luxury and your home office is actually a corner in your living room, bedroom, or hallway, then try to separate it as much as possible. Corners make the perfect spots but you can improvise by building walls out of shelves or even curtains.
Remove all distractions
Once you pick a spot for your home office, you need to think thoroughly about what you’re going to keep in it. A computer and other gadgets you use for work are fine, but avoid putting a big screen TV or game consoles in your working space. Even office clutter such as printers and files can be distracting so make sure you put them away, as well. Another good idea is to install a coffee making station somewhere in the room – so you won’t have to go to the kitchen for a refill and be tempted to procrastinate.
Take good care of your back
Working from home means sitting a lot so it’s a good idea to invest in a high-quality chair to support your back. You’ll want an ergonomic chair but make sure it suits your body dimensions and the tasks you’re performing each day, advise the guys behind Ideal Furniture. The optimal seat is about one-quarter of the body height, but that depends on your proportions. Your computer screen should be at eye level or a little bit below and your feet should rest firmly on the floor. Don’t take this for granted and your spine will be thankful.
Light it properly
Numerous studies showed that natural light has a huge impact on the worker’s productivity – it’s connected to our circadian rhythm and the fact that exposure to light turns on our internal clocks. If you’re lucky enough to have a spare room for your office then you’ll probably have a nice window where you can position your desk. Otherwise, investing in lamps is a must. Focused lighting can serve as an addition to daylight, or it can light up your whole office. Table or floor lamp – it’s up to you, just make sure it has a nice glow and an interesting design to keep you inspired.
Make it personal
After all, it is your working space so you’ll want it to have your name and taste written all over it. Use the colours you find soothing, but energizing, but don’t leave the walls empty. You’ll need some storage space so cabinets and shelves are a must. Besides, hanging motivational posters or photos of your friends and family can help you keep going, too. Greenery is always a nice addition and will help you breathe cleaner air while you work. Also, remove all excessive clutter since it can distract you. For starters, opt for a laptop instead of a big desktop computer to maximize your space.
Creating a home office can be a lot of fun as long as you’re not doing it as an excuse to procrastinate. Finish your tasks and then start tinkering – soon you’ll create a place where you’ll actually fall in love with your job.
