Home Office Ideas To Create The Perfect Workspace

With technology improving by leaps and bounds almost every year and internet speeds getting faster and faster, remote work is becoming more of a possibility for a lot of office workers. While technology companies are at the forefront of this remote work revolution, more corporate offices are starting to look into more flexible work arrangements. Of course, not every company is ready to jump on a full-time work from home arrangement, but many have discovered that remote workers are actually more productive than employees in the office.

Still, working from home comes with its own challenges. Some of the most common challenges that remote workers face include:

• Working too much - since your home is now the office, it’s all too easy to keep checking work emails and not take any breaks.

• Prioritizing work - on the other hand, it can be very easy to get caught up in all of the housework you need to do throughout the day including washing dishes, doing laundry, cooking food, etc. It’s important to set up blocks of time where you will focus on work or housework.

• Loneliness - while there might be one or two people who you dislike at work, chances are your office is one of the few places where you actually interact with people on a daily basis. When you work from home, it’s all too easy to forget to socialize with other people.

• Communication issues - at the office you can just go up to a colleague or your boss and ask for clarification. It’s a lot harder when you work remotely. In order to stay up-to-date make sure you take the initiative and reach out to someone if you have any questions either by phone or email.

• Technology issues - as good as technology is nowadays, you’ll likely run into issues whether it’s your video conferencing not working properly, losing internet connection, or more. For peace of mind,  make sure to have a backup plan. This might mean making your phone a mobile hotspot or having a backup phone number to call in case you can’t join a video conference. 

Whether you plan on working from home full or part-time one of the biggest aspects you need to consider is setting up your home office. If it’s not comfortable and inviting you won’t want to spend time there. Follow these six home office ideas to create a welcoming home workspace that will make you both happier and more productive.

Make the most of your space

Even if you don’t have a separate room for your home office, you can still carve out a little bit of space specifically for you. With that said, before you go crazy and buy a bunch of furniture you should first consider the type of work you’ll be doing. Will you be doing clerical tasks, taking calls, or sketching?

Once you figure out what tasks you’ll be doing, you can then think about what you actually need. When purchasing items, don’t just buy something just because it looks nice, consider whether its functionality. For example, if you plan on sitting at your modern desk for 8+ hours a day, you’ll want to invest in a comfortable office chair. For the more creative professions like video editors and graphic designers, you might want to invest in dual monitors that offer excellent color accuracy. You might still want to get two monitors even if you do standard office work to keep one screen open on your emails and the other available for drafting presentations or creating spreadsheets. 

When writing up your list, make sure to keep your actual workspace size in mind. If you only have a little corner of a room, one of the best ways to maximize space is to add wall shelves and cabinets. That way you can keep your floor space clear while still having enough space to store your documents.

Add your personal touch

At a regular office, you don’t have as much control over your work area. Sure, you can add in some decorations and keep your modern desk tidy, but other than that you can’t really make the space your own. Luckily, you can arrange your home office however you want. Look for inspiration on Pinterest or Instagram for home office setups that inspire you. Just make sure you don’t go too overboard as you still have to work within the confines of your workspace. 

One of the best ways to brighten up any home office is to add some personal touches. That might mean having a small potted plant on your desk, framed objects, or even just changing the color of your office walls to something more relaxing. The more you enjoy spending time there, the more productive you’ll be. With that said, you want to avoid too much decoration as it can have the opposite effect and distract you. The best rule of thumb is to keep it simple and stick with a color scheme or general ‘theme’ that makes you happy.

Embrace Natural Light

There’s a reason that the highest-ranking people in the office tend to have offices with large windows and great views. Studies have shown that natural light in offices provides health and productivity benefits to employees such as:

• Better sleep

• Reduced eye strain

• Fewer headaches

• Improved mood

• Fewer mistakes

• Greater alertness

While you might not be able to choose your modern desk location at a traditional office, you have free reign to set up your home workspace however and wherever you like so give yourself that corner office treatment. Set yourself up so that you’re taking full advantage of natural light. Not only will it help improve your overall health and productivity, but it also will reduce your electricity bill since you won’t have to use artificial lights during the day.

Still, even with great natural lighting, you’ll still need extra lights once it gets darker. Most overhead lights aren’t great for work. Instead, invest in some table lamps as these can provide a nice, warm glow.

Get Creative with Storage

Keeping your workspace clean and uncluttered means you need to stay organized. Typical office storage generally consists of filing cabinets. While definitely convenient, they might not be exactly what you need, especially if you don’t plan on having a lot of paper documents on hand. Instead, consider your needs and pare down to the essentials first. Reserve your desk space for everyday supplies like a stapler and notebook. Instead of leaving your pens and pencils scattered about on your desk, invest in a cute pencil holder. You don’t have to spend much money on these items. In fact, you can convert any used soup can into a holder. Just make sure to rinse the can out properly.

For paper filing, you should figure out a system that works for you. If you need to see something as a reminder to complete a task, like paying the bills, set up some wall storage like magazine type racks or display shelves to organize your paperwork. For more important paper items like tax documents, pay stubs, etc. opt for some stylish baskets or boxes. Make sure to label them all properly so you can easily locate a document when you need it. 

If you need more space, consider using a bookcase instead of a filing cabinet. You can find cute storage boxes that will fit perfectly on the shelves and it will keep your other items out of site. LIke your paper documents, make sure to organize and label your boxes. Keep a box for tech items like cords, another for extra desk supplies, and so on. The more organized you are, the faster you can find everything you need.

Add Greenery

Houseplants are good for your health. Not only do they add a nice pop of color to your office they also help freshen the air by removing 87 percent of air toxins. Having better air quality leads to better concentration and productivity. It also helps reduce stress levels and boosts your mood. Even if plants didn’t reduce air toxins, just seeing greenery can make people feel more relaxed and calm.

You don’t need to have dozens of plants to reap the benefits of indoor greenery. Plus, much like decorations, too many plants cluttered in your home office space can be distracting. Instead, find some plants that suit your lifestyle and office location. If you don’t get a lot of direct sunlight, you should choose plants that thrive in the shade. It’s okay if you don’t have a green thumb. There are many plants that don’t require a lot of attention and can survive without being watered for days. 

Make it comfortable

There’s nothing worse than working in an uncomfortable environment. Since you have complete control over your home workspace, why not make it as comfortable as possible? If you have the space for it, consider creating a ‘comfort zone’ in your workspace where you can step away from the computer for a while and relax. It can be as simple as a cozy chair and coffee table. A nice area rug can also act as a nice accent piece for the room while also providing cushioning for your feet. 

Even if you don’t have space for an extra chair, you should absolutely invest in an ergonomic desk chair. You might have to spend more money on these than a regular foldable chair, but your back and shoulders will thank you. While you’re at it, consider investing in a standing desk or a bean bag chair. Studies have shown that sitting for long periods of time can wreak havoc on your body. Not only can it increase your risk of weight gain, but it can also lead to an increased risk of heart disease. It might take some getting used to, but try to stand up for at least 15 minutes every hour and increase the time you’re standing as much as you can. 

Keep everything you need within reach

When you’re in the zone, you don’t want anything to distract you, and that includes having to get up and grab something that you might need. Every time you step away from your home office has the possibility to distract you. Household tasks, family, pets, you name it, it can draw your attention away from what you’re trying to do. In order to reduce the number of distractions, you might encounter, keep everything you might need in your office space. Did your pen run out of ink? No worries, you can just reach into that storage bin next to you and grab a new one. Hungry for a snack? Keep a snack stash next to your desk so you don’t have to run into the kitchen to grab one.

With that said, don’t forget to take breaks from time to time as it can help restore your motivation and improve productivity by preventing decision fatigue. Don’t forget about movement breaks either. These can help reduce your risk of developing diabetes, depression, heart disease, and obesity. Get out of your office chair and stretch, do yoga, or walk. It doesn’t matter what you do, the point is to move your body. Not only will this make you healthier it also helps clear your mind so that when you get back to work you feel more refreshed.

The Perfect Home Office Workspace For Improved Productivity

Creating the perfect home office workspace requires a little bit of planning and some money, but it’s definitely worth the investment once you are able to create a relaxing space. Whether you’re temporarily working for him or making the move permanent you’ll want to make sure you have an environment that is relaxing and comfortable. Make sure to pay attention to small details. Even using certain colors can help enhance your experience. If you work in a job that requires attention to detail, pick some red accessories or decoration. If you want to boost creativity go for green.

Your home workspace doesn’t have to mimic the same environment like the ones you find in a corporate environment. In fact, it shouldn’t! You have the control to mold your home office any way you like, so make sure that the one you create makes you happy. After all, the happier you are, the more you’ll look forward to working every day.

Lisa Czachowski is a professional social blogger and has worked on several online publications including Citrus Sleep. Lisa is an experienced content writer and copyeditor. You will find many of her works throughout CitrusSleep.com that cover a wide array of subjects including sustainability, natural, sleep products, health, fashion and many more. She is passionate about what providing as much information as possible on products you bring in your home and what we wear.

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