Working from home has grown to be increasingly popular over the last decade. The notion of working under your own supervision, and in your shaped environment is naturally attractive. Sometimes it is even seen as a dream goal to be achieved. Fast forward to 2021.
The global lockdown has made working from home the only choice for lots of people. Overall, this looks to be a great thing for companies as studies show that remote workers are more productive. It surely has its benefits for employees too, but can also bear new challenges. Especially for the people that haven’t gotten to creating a dedicated space for themselves, distractions can be a big hurdle to overcome.
A space that lets you focus is vital to excelling at working from home. For people who have kids or pets, this is an extremely important factor. A dedicated home office allows one to concentrate and delve deep into the daily tasks that need to be done without breaking momentum. Whether you are new to working from home, or you’ve been winging it with makeshift spaces amongst household products, we would like to take you through the steps of how to go about making a fully functional, comfortable home office that you can enjoy spending time in.
Pick a Space
First of all, you have to decide what place is best for your home office layout. Ideally, you will want a separate room if your living conditions allow for it. The door to your office can symbolically serve to make a distinction where work begins, and rest ends. As trivial as it may seem, this plays a big role when it comes to getting in the zone of productivity. The space for your office should be as far away from distractions as possible. If you do not have a separate room to spare, at least make sure you find where it is reasonably quiet.
Get the Right Equipment
Your home office furniture and equipment needs will differ from those of others, but some basics make up a good starting point. That includes a sturdy desk, a comfortable chair, lights, notebooks, pens, a cabinet, décor, a computer, as well as a mouse and keyboard. Home office extras like a chalkboard, or a writing board, are also great to jot down ideas on the fly. When choosing a table, consider a 2 in 1 standing desk option, as it can enhance your mobility and motivation.
Something about standing up while working inspires a different mental space, and thus it can help attain a new perspective on tasks you get stuck with. If you can, do not save money on your chair and desk. These will make up your day-to-day essentials, and their quality will present a big difference in the long term. After all, you will be using these items a lot, they should inspire you and set up a mood of excellence.
Set Up Your Ambiance
The beauty of setting up your own office is that you can make it whatever you like, so dare get creative with it. Your home office lighting is amongst the most crucial aspects that will impact the feel of your workspace. Avoid cold, fluorescent lights as they can be brash and uncomfortable. Warm, as well as the natural lighting, will work best. Other than that, you can get statues, a nice globe, posters, and even go so far as setting up a little home office garden if it tickles your fancy. Plants have loads of benefits, aside from looking pretty. Choose objects for your office that make you feel good and keep you inspired to strive.
Install Exercise Equipment
Working from home involves a whole lot of sitting, which can be straining on your back. To give your body a break, it is a great idea to have some exercise equipment nearby. A simple thing such as a hanging bar installed in your doorway can make a huge difference when it comes to back strain. Just a few minutes of hanging in between tasks will feel fantastic, you can take our word for it. Other than that, a yoga mat for some light stretching is also excellent to have.
Consider Noise Cancellation
Depending on where your office is, noise can be a distracting issue. Whether that be street noise, pets, or children playing in the background, it all adds up. To increase your focus, it is best to work in a calm environment.
There are methods to achieve this even in noisy locations. Noise-reducing curtains are one fantastic option, and noise-canceling headphones are another. Either one will be great, depending on your situation. You could even use both if you want to go the extra mile.
Make Space for Storage
Depending on your type of work, you may need to have space for documents and other tools. However, you should strive to have storage space for more than just work-related things. A home office bookshelf can be a great place to also stack up on snacks.
Running to the kitchen whenever you get a little hungry can break your work momentum, and it takes time. Shelves of various sorts can be a place to store things that you may need in your day-to-day routine. Thinking ahead will save you from having to run around and cut unnecessary distractions.
Conclusion
We hope that we have inspired you to create a beautiful home office for yourself. Do not be afraid to get unconventional in your approach to designing your workspace. The joy of working from home is that you can make it whatever you wish to be, without any restrictions. Remember, there are lots of great home office design ideas online which will help you gather additional information on what layout solutions you may like.
We would also love to hear your tips on what makes a great home office. Please leave your comments in the section down below!