If you work from home or are starting your own business and currently use a dining table or a makeshift desk in the corner of your bedroom to work from, a home office could be a game-changer. A dedicated office space should make your day far more enjoyable and may help with concentration, focus, and organization. It will also make your setup seem far more professional – a must for any thriving business.
So, if you want to design a comfortable and welcoming space, and are looking for inspiration, look no further. Here are 6 ways to create a fabulous and functional home office.
1. Choose the right desks.
Before buying desks, you should consider how much space you will need long term. One desk may suffice in the short term, but what if you intend to take on employees? Do you need multiple areas for different tasks? Consider your longer-term requirements and plan it from there. As your business grows, your time will be precious and somewhat limited, so it’s better to have a long-term vision and design your room around it from the outset.
Desks come in all shapes and sizes, so shop around until you find those best suited to your needs. If your office space is on the small side, desks with lots of drawer storage are a good choice. If you can’t find anything suitable, you could always have something bespoke created so that it’s a perfect fit.
2. Good lighting is vital.
Lighting is vital for a good working environment to ensure that you don’t strain your eyes and reduce the risk of accidents. So, when choosing a room to work from, try to opt for a space that has a decent amount of natural light. If, for whatever reason, this is not possible, buy free-standing lighting and powerful bulbs to compensate. There are several types of desk lamps you can purchase these days which mimic the effect of natural light, so if your budget allows, they may be the perfect addition.
If too strong, direct sunlight can become an issue, so it’s worth adding blinds to any existing windows so you can close or open them depending on the weather.
3. Desk chairs.
Over time bad posture can lead to a host of medical problems and general aches and pains, so when choosing desk chairs, it’s important to buy products that are fit for purpose. You may be tempted to buy some cheap dining chairs or similar, but this could lead to many problems in the long run – particularly if you have a team of people working for you.
Instead, look at ergonomic office chairs, which will not only be comfortable to sit in but promote good posture and can minimize the risk of back pain and other muscle or joint issues. If you are looking for some guidance, check out this review of the best office chairs. It will help narrow things down and give you a good idea of the type of chairs to look for.
4. Use your wall space.
When setting up a home office, it’s easy to forget how functional wall space can be. If you need additional storage and your floor space is limited, shelving is a great way to use space that would otherwise be redundant. Floating shelves may look great, but if you intend to place anything heavy on your shelving, you are best to purchase something a little sturdier.
Another fabulous way to use wall space is to have a pegboard or pinboard fitted. You can typically buy an array of pegboard accessories for storing many items, such as paperclips, scissors, sticky notes, pens, and other stationery you use regularly. Pinboards come in a variety of materials and sizes and are a great place to keep reminders or other important documents that you may need to refer to regularly.
Wipe-clean boards are another great addition to any office wall space and have loads of uses. So, whether you want to use it to track sales targets, make presentations, or create eye-catching staff announcements, you won’t regret purchasing one.
5. Planning your decor.
If you haven’t yet decided upon a color scheme for your office décor, it’s worth creating a mood board before you begin. It will allow you to properly consider the space, the available lighting, and the texture and colors that you feel are most suited to your office space.
Bold and colorful might show off your personality, but staring at it for 8 hours a day could become annoying and off-putting in the long run. Muted lighter tones will make your office appear bigger and may also help promote concentration and focus. If you do love a bit of color, focus on one wall or add pops of color throughout using office furniture, accessories, and wall art.
Plants are a great way to add a finishing touch to your ofice space and are perfect for purifying the air and keeping it clean, so you might want to add a few here and there around your room.
6. Keep your office tidy.
A cluttered, disorganized, and untidy office can be detrimental to productivity, so when planning your space, make provision for adequate storage and accessories. Filing trays are handy if you generally have lots of paperwork to contend with daily, and basic stationery supplies such as paperclips, staplers, correction fluid, and sticky notes are a must for any desk.
Filing cabinets and drawers will help ensure that any paperwork can be put away efficiently and correctly and should help to keep your office space looking tidy. Many employers implement a tidy desk policy as they believe that it makes the work environment look more professional, which, in turn, will keep employees motivated and focused.
At the end of each day, have a look around and make sure that the office looks tidy and well presented. This will give a good impression to any clients who may visit and your office will look far more welcoming and appealing when you start work the next day.
