With more and more businesses allowing employees to work from home, and more people embracing freelancing, creating the perfect home office is a must for many. Here are a few tips to remember to ensure you create one that focuses on productivity and comfort.
Know Your Needs
The first thing you need to do is establish your needs. Do you need a quiet space, a creative space, somewhere to do crafts, or something in between? Once you know your needs, it becomes easier to create the space and get the right furniture and equipment in.
Think bigger as well; maybe you should be browsing small business coffee machines, or maybe a much bigger desk for multiple monitors?
Choose the Right Area
The next thing you need to do is to choose the right area for your office. If you already have a separate room, this is much easier as it will be the best choice to ensure you can limit distractions and not be disturbed.
However, if you don’t have this luxury, choose an area that sees the least amount of foot traffic. In most homes, this could be the spare bedroom or dining room. Whichever room you choose, if it has a door you can close, it will most likely be a good spot.
Choose the Right Colors
While you may not think about it, the colors you choose for your home office do make a difference. For instance, warm colors like reds and oranges can make you feel full of energy; they can also raise your anxiety levels.
On the other hand, lighter colors keep the mind calm and allow you to focus better. This doesn’t mean you have to choose white, but pastels, light blues, greens, etc, will all work.
Lighting
When it comes to lighting, natural light is king. Not only does it make you feel more energetic and awake, but it will also improve your mood and get you out of any “funk” you may be feeling.
If you need lights, opt for yellow lightbulbs, as white can induce stress and anxiety. Don’t let the room get too dark, as this can lead to you feeling lethargic, and your productivity will slow down to a halt.
Ergonomic Furniture
When it comes to choosing furniture, in particular your desk and chair, you need to focus on ergonomics. Whether you are working from home or not, a workday is long, and ensuring you are comfortable throughout the day will keep you focused and productive.
If you can, a desk that you can raise and lower is best, as standing up for part of your day is not only a great way to stretch your muscles and readjust, but it also means you don’t have to stop working.
Creature Comforts
Don’t forget about any creature comforts you may want. Considering this is your home office, there are no office rules to follow, so if you want a cushion, blanket, or something similar, that is perfectly fine.
In addition, an air conditioner or air purifier is also a brilliant addition to an office space. While we know what an air conditioner does, an air purifier cleans the air and keeps the room fresh, which keeps your mind clear and keeps you focused.
Comfort/Productivity-Focussed Tech
There are also some pieces of tech that will simply make you work better. For example, a walking mat under your desk allows you to not only exercise, but it also keeps your blood flowing, stretches your muscles, and keeps your joints healthy and comfortable.
Noise-canceling headphones are another small and brilliant addition that can help keep you focused if there are loud noises and distractions around. These are particularly useful for those with children, or those that live in a busy and loud city center.
Have Enough Storage
No matter what work you do, storage is a must to ensure you keep your workspace neat and tidy. There are multiple options here, but the best and easiest is a set of shelves that you can label and are big enough to store everything you need.
Don’t just think about books, files, or paperwork either. Make sure there is somewhere to store your cables and tech, your pens, and everything in between. Almost everyone can agree: a tidy space will lead to a tidy mind.
Production Distractions
Finally, if you need a few distractions for when you take a break or need five minutes of downtime, choose productive distractions. While this sounds like a contradiction, it is based on human nature.
For example. If your distraction is scrolling on your phone, an hour can disappear in an instant, and you lose your motivation and focus. But if the distraction is a Rubik’s Cube, for example, it takes you away from work, but it keeps your mind in the same productive space, allowing you to get back to work and back in the groove almost instantly.
In conclusion, creating a productive and stylish workspace is most definitely not difficult when you know where to start. While there are other aspects to consider, this list is filled with the basics that will put you on the right path from the start.