How to Design the Perfect
Home Office
If you work from home, there’s nothing more beneficial to your productivity—
and sense of style—than a well-designed office space. Here are some tips to
help you get the modern home office you’ve always wanted.
“You are a product of your environment. So choose the environment that will best develop you toward your objective.” —W. Clement Stone
Like it or not, sometimes we just have to buckle down and get some work done. But doing so doesn’t have to be a total drudgery. With proper planning, design strategy and furnishings, you’ll add more fuel to your concentration and energy tanks.
By investing a little time into improving the atmosphere of your workspace, you ensure better productivity and a better overall mindset and work ethic. Use these expert tips to assemble a home office that will charge and power your daily grind.
Start with the Right Location
Once you find the right location, everything else will fall into place. It’s one of the most important aspects in setting up a home office. Getting stuck with loud noises that leak through the walls or a thoroughly spacious, but unbearably muggy room can end up hindering your overall production. So, before you decide to set up shop, make sure the place you choose to work is as free from distractions as possible.
Plan the Layout of Your Space
Take a good look at the layout of the room and think about how best to use the space. The desk is typically the set piece where we spend most of our time in an office, so position it in the best possible coordinates. If clients will be coming and going, line it up neatly in view of the entrance. If there’s an inspirational view of your garden you want to take advantage of, put the desk square in front of the window.
Then, determine the strategic placement of additional equipment like printers and electrical components. If a major portion of your workload relies on technology, you’ll want to make certain that the space you’ve chosen can accommodate that kind of setup. If necessary, invest in a quality wireless hub.
Not a lot of space for a dedicated office? You can still create a functional workspace, just on a smaller scale: Choose a compact work surface for your laptop, a roll-away task chair and, of course, some nearby storage.
Go With Style that Works with You
There are a hundred different ways to style an office, but stick with a design that works with your needs. The type of furniture you place in the room should assist in creating the quality work you aim to produce. Think about the logistics of your furniture and how it should work to assist your workload.
Using a ton of smart devices? Choose a savvy desk that’s built to manage a variety of wires and charging ports. How about storage space? Keep all your supplies, paperwork and devices stored and organized in your desk’s drawers, as well as filing cabinets and credenzas.
Equally important is an ergonomic desk chair that will keep you postured and focused. Remember, a home office should be designed to promote good health, so try to make choices that will keep you alert and properly balanced.
Now comes the style. Sleek and sophisticated? Rustic? Industrial? The design style you go with should complement your personality and should create the kind of place where you actually want to spend time. If you’re more of a creative, then consider fun textiles or abstract wall art that will spur inspiration. For a more upright and professional theme, think about symmetry and functional pieces.
Lay on the Lighting
Before we get into the types of artificial lighting you need, we must acknowledge one simple truth: Nothing beats natural light. If you have the luxury of setting up near sunlight, you already have a better office than most. Natural light promotes good mental health, helps de-stress and reenergizes your mood. It’ll also save you money by letting you keep your own lights off until the evening falls. If you have the option of using sunlight, take it.
In general, a highly functional office should have ample lighting of all kinds. Don’t think that a simple table lamp is all that you’ll need; we’re not just looking for visibility, but also ambiance. A combination of ambient lighting and task lighting can help keep your office feeling productive during the later hours of the day. If you have dark corners, the mood will start to sag. So keep things vibrant with a mix of portable lighting, ceiling lights and wall sconces.
A flexible desk lamp is an absolute must and should keep you going without strain or glare. Give serious thought to LED lamps that can last for thousands of hours. And keep color temperatures cool. You’ll ward off depression with pools of white light, and can usually control their brightness with a dimmer.
Set Out With Clear Purpose and Intention
Now that you’re ready to break in your new office, be sure to set a clear distinction between your workspace and your home; no one should disturb you during your office hours. Apart from any clients coming in and going out, no one should be knocking on the door, asking for favors or distracting you in any way. Your office should be treated with the same respect as a commercial space. Take your office seriously, and you will get serious results.
