Creating a Functional Home Office: 8 Essential Furnishings and Layout Tips
The quarantine definitely made it more acceptable for people to work from home. Setting up a home office has become standard, allowing employees to take care of work more effectively, especially on their own time. But it can be a little distracting having all of the comforts of home, even more so if you don’t have a dedicated space to think and work. Thankfully, there are some design ideas you can implement to create a working environment that helps to concentrate on the task at hand. Here are eight great furnishing and layout tips to help you get started.
1. Adding Personal Touches
You can really make a home office really feel like yours if it matches your personal tastes. You can get some ideas at the studio mcgee shop to find some items that meet your aesthetics. Add pieces of artwork, pick out a specific lamp, or find some chachkies that reflect your personality. Having your choices in the room with you can help you to stay motivated and even inspire your creativity in your work. The most important thing is that your decorations are also kept organized so that your home office doesn’t start to feel cluttered.
2. Choosing the Right Location
Before you can start designing and decorating your home office, it’s important that you first choose the best location. You should choose an area or room in your home that is quiet and remote, away from the majority of distractions that exist. It could be anything from a room in the basement to a spare bedroom that you’re not currently using. If you’re limited on space, you can choose a corner of your living room as your home office. You can use a room divider or screen to provide you with some privacy while you work.
If there are no quiet areas in your home, you could consider investing in a few soundproof blocks to add to your walls. These work well at both insulating you from the noises outside your room, as well as keeping your calls private.
3. Bringing Some Nature Into the Room
The downside to working at the office is that you’re stuck in unnatural lighting that isn’t good for your mental health. But at home, you have more access to natural lighting and you can accessorize it to meet your needs. Choose a room with a window or two so that you can get some natural lighting during the day, meaning you’re relying less on overhead lighting.
Don’t be afraid to add some plants to the space as well. Invest in plants that are good at improving air quality, such as succulents and snake plants. Having them in your workspace will also mean that you do not forget to water them.
4. Investing in Reliable Technology
You might have been spoiled by the high-speed Internet provided at work, but you can get the same reliability at home if you’re able to budget for better technology than you already have. Look at dependable Internet service providers and consider fast computers that are equipped to help you complete your tasks. You can choose to go for a laptop or a desktop, whichever is more convenient for you. The benefit of a laptop is that you can work in bed if you’re feeling a sudden bout of inspiration.
If you want to increase your multitasking speeds, you could consider investing in a second monitor for more screen space so that you don’t have to switch between all your programs and windows.
5. Investing in a Supportive Desk and Chair
You’re going to be spending a lot of time sitting in your home office, so why not be comfortable while you’re at it. An ergonomic chair and desk can provide you with lumbar support so that you’re not constantly in pain for hours on end. A good ergonomic chair should also be adjustable to accommodate different body sizes and shapes, as well as have a steady base so that it doesn’t tip over easily.
When looking at a good work desk, look at ones that are large enough for your computer, some paperwork, and the other essentials you need to complete tasks. One of the more popular choices is an L-shaped desk, as it provides you with a lot of workspace that you can compartmentalize for different tasks. L-shaped desks also fit well in the corners of rooms so that they’re kept out of the way and make the room more spacious.
6. Don’t Be Afraid to Use Colours and Patterns
The use of specific colors and patterns can actually help to boost your mood and productivity. Blues, greens, and neutrals promote focus and calmness so that you can get your work done. A few pops of color can help to brighten things up as well if you don’t want to paint the walls of your office.
Patterns can be used to break up a monotonous space, as long as you don’t overdo it and create a visual nightmare that you won’t want to work in.
7. Keep Everything Organized
There’s no point in having a home office if you’re also going to use it for storage. Clutter can reduce how well you work, so consider adding means of storage so that everything has its place. File cabinets, desk organizers, and shelves can keep your paperwork out of the way so that you know where everything is. A bulletin board can be added to remind you of deadlines and create to-do lists.
8. Remember to Take Breaks
Prolonged sitting is detrimental to your health, so be sure to get up and move around occasionally. Not moving around can also make it difficult for you to concentrate, reducing your work productivity. For every twenty minutes of work, you should get up and take a brisk walk or do a few minutes of yoga to limber up your limbs.
Creating your own home office can be quite a fun experience when you have the right tools to start with. If you’re still stuck looking for ideas, consider contacting an interior designer to help you figure things out.
