With working from home now the new normal after the COVID19 pandemic, having somewhere suitable in your home to focus on your job throughout the day has never been more important. Whether you are working remotely full-time or have a hybrid approach to work where you spend a couple of days per week working in the office and the rest at home, a good home office space can make all the difference when it comes to your productivity levels, comfort, and even your stress levels. If you already have a home office space that you are looking to upgrade or are transforming a room in your home for this purpose, we’ve got some design tips that you might find useful.
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Measure First
First things first – make sure that you have got all the measurements for your home office space so that when it comes to buying furniture such as a desk for your workstation laptops or desktop PCs, you know exactly what is going to fit well and what might be a bit of a tight squeeze. Be sure that you measure the space that you have for things like a chair and shelves especially if your office space at home is quite tight, as the last thing that you want is to end up struggling to move for all the furniture. Thankfully there are lots of space-saving options you can consider and knowing exactly what’s going to fit where will help you pick the perfect options.
Colors
If you’re starting from scratch with your home office and plan to repaint the room, then it’s a good idea to consider color psychology a bit. If you’re going to be spending eight or so hours a day in your home office working, most if not all working days of the week, then you’ll want colors that are going to motivate you, without stressing you out. Blues and greens are excellent for keeping you calm even if you’re going through a stressful day at work. Consider light, airy colors that reflect the light well and boost your mood.
Lighting
Planning the lighting for your home office is key for your health, wellbeing and productivity. If the room is dark, then you might find yourself falling asleep after a couple of hours or even suffering from a headache as you try to see what you’re doing in the poor lighting. If you have a window, it’s worth putting your desk underneath it if you can, to make the most of the natural lighting. Strategically placed spotlights are also a great idea so that you have ample light in your workspace.
Storage
Finally, depending on how much paperwork your job involves and how many things you need to do it well, you might need to think about storage. If most of your work is done digitally then a small shelf or filing cabinet might be fine. If you need more, consider how you can save space and avoid cluttering your office. Wall shelves, for example, make the most of the vertical space in the room and keep your floor space free for moving around.
With working from home now a major part of life for many people, putting some time and effort into designing the perfect home office for you can significantly improve your professional life.