With a worldwide pandemic forcing many companies to shift into a work from the home format, many employees find that their house isn’t exactly the best place to work at. There are too many distractions, or they can’t get into the mood to work. This is where having a home office can be helpful. It’s a dedicated place to focus your energies and be productive. If you plan on creating your home office, here are a few tips to help you out.
Set Up Your Room
Your home office should be a place that’s comfortable enough for working, but not too comfortable that it makes you want to fall asleep. The temperature should be correct, too, since you’ll be spending most of the day there. Get your AC repaired, repair and repaint the walls, and clear out unnecessary stuff. Your home office will be your workplace, so you want to make it inviting to yourself.
Make It Convenient for Yourself
What’s great about working from home is the comfort and convenience it provides. You’re right within a space that you are most familiar with, so go ahead and take advantage of the fact. Set up your home office in a strategic place that allows you to zone in on your work and not get distracted by many external factors.
With limited space, you can utilize furniture as a divider and create a bit of privacy. For example, putting a bookshelf to separate your work table from your kitchen/dining area is a great way to create a nook. This way, too, it won’t completely isolate you from the rest of the house, and a quick trip to the fridge or the bathroom wouldn’t be a hassle.
Pick the Right Colors
Colors are essential in setting the mood for anything. Warm colors are often more utilized in spaces where you want to relax, so try not to have warm lighting in your work area. In contrast, green or blue can help with eye strain, so you might want to have either of those colors as a background. You don’t have to paint your walls, of course. Just a piece of cloth taped to the wall, or even just changing your window curtains if your right by it, will do.
Choose the Right Furniture
Sitting for hours on end is terrible for your body. You can get posture problems if you sit wrong for too long. That’s why many offices often use ergonomic desks and chairs so that their employees won’t develop debilitating back and leg problems. When choosing furniture for your home office, make sure that the size of your desk is just right for you. A deep desk that allows you to extend your legs can be beneficial. Your chair matters as well too, having one that can be easily adjusted to your height will feel like a treasure after hours of sitting in one.
Use Vertical Space for Organization
Because your home office is likely to be a bit tight, it’s wise to use vertical space for storage and organization. If your work table doesn’t have enough drawers (or if not at all), utilize shelving for your office supply needs like your printer or documents. Remember to make space for a good background, though, for those frequent Zoom meetings.
Get the Lighting Right
Bad lighting can put a damper on your mood. If it’s too bright, you might be distracted. If it’s too dim, it’s easy to get sleepy. That’s why getting the lighting just right is a necessary step in designing your home office. Make sure that there’s both natural and artificial light available. A good desk lamp can help you through the night, while a window that lets the sunlight in can help you feel energized in the middle of the day.
Add Some Stress Relievers
It’s inevitable to feel tired halfway through your workday. You’re in your own house, so you can walk out of the room and go somewhere else, but when you need a few minutes of rest, staying feels like a more practical choice. That’s why it’s also essential to keep the things that help relieve your stress nearby. Near enough that you can pick it up easily, but not too near that it can cause distractions. If you have a portable video game console, put it on a shelf where you need to stand up to get it. This can also work for other stress relievers, like comic books or snacks.
With these ideas in mind, you can create a workspace at home conducive to remote work. Working at home shouldn’t affect your productivity, primarily if you aim to be productive like you’re in the office.
Meta title: How Can You Design Your Home Office Effectively?
Meta desc: Many companies have shifted to a work-from-home format, and employees find it difficult to work at home. Learn how you can design a workspace at home.
