You will need an office if you work from home in any form, whether it is as a blogger, freelance writer, or establishing your own small business. Many of us make the mistake of attempting to work from home or on the couch, which, although not impossible, makes productivity extremely difficult to achieve. It is so much easier to be sidetracked by what's on the TV, or by simply doing the dishes or tidying that corner of the living room. You are far more likely to work faster and better if you are tucked away in an office away from these types of distractions, giving you more time to relax. Here, we will look at some of the things you will need in your workplace, as well as some of the things you might want to add to make it a place you want to work in every day.
By Team Savant
Image: Mikey Harris
The advantage of having a home office is that it does not have to be dull. It is not like working in a conventional workplace with drab walls, uninteresting workstations, and terrible chairs. It is fully your territory, and you are free to design and adorn it however you want.
A Decent Desk
You can't have an office without a desk these days. Choose thoughtfully because it is the most essential piece of furniture in the room. The type of your desk is entirely dependent on the style of the room you are considering — plain white worktops work well in a modern and minimalist area, while something a little more olde-worlde style begs for something a bit more dramatic.
The most important thing is to ensure that the desk is at a comfortable working height and that it includes any storage space you may require.
A Well-designed Chair
While it may be tempting to choose the largest, most comfortable-looking chair, this is not always the best option in terms of ergonomics. When seated, make sure your feet are flat on the floor and your thighs are parallel to it.
A good office chair should give adequate back support as well as support the spine's natural curve. Your desk should be around the same height as your elbows, allowing your forearms to rest parallel to the ground. This will keep you working comfortably for longer by reducing muscle and joint fatigue.
Storage and Organisation
One of the most important tasks of your home office space is to keep you organised, so keep this in mind as you prepare. There is no management crew roaming around and issuing orders and emails about the appearance of desks, so home offices can get quite untidy very quickly.
It can be tempting to spend a small fortune on various baskets and boxes to keep the heaps of paperwork and clutter at bay. However, while they all seem beautiful, if you don't use them properly, they are rather useless.
Before you go out and buy storage systems, think about how you will actually organise your belongings. Consider what you like in the rest of your home. If you are the kind to file bills into folders as soon as they are opened, you might want to extend that organisation to your home office by investing in and using a filing cabinet.
If you are the type of person who snaps photos of invoices and important documents and stores them electronically, keep doing so and do not waste money on a filing cabinet. Do not get caught up in the organisation hype; instead, focus on what works best for you.
Art
When it comes to workplace space, you want to keep the colour scheme simple and neutral. This will help to reduce distractions and keep your workspace peaceful and productive. Whatever style you are going for, off-whites, soft greys, and light blues seem to work pretty well.
Look for interesting pieces of artwork to break up the solid blocks of colour and bring your own individuality into the space. It's up to you whether you want a large, bold painting or some motivating prints — and do not forget a few personal pictures of the people you care about and who motivate you to work hard. Choose some attractive frames from frames.co.uk to coordinate the photos.
Tidy Up the Wires
You can have the cleanest and simplest office space in the world, but if there are cords strewn around, the place will appear chaotic and cluttered. We now have computers, printers, mobile phone chargers, and all of the other technology that we use on a daily basis, in addition to lamps with cords.
You may need them to work, but that does not mean you must look at them all day. Install power strips under your desk or in the rear to keep the mess to a minimum. Use command hooks and cable ties to connect and feed any wires that go into the power strip beneath or behind the furniture so they are hidden. You will be astonished at how much of a difference such a small change can make.
Simple Snack Set Up and Stereo Systems
You obviously do not need create a full kitchen in your office, but a small snack bar stocked with some of your favourite healthy snacks can be a good idea. Nuts, protein bars, fresh fruit and an emergency bar of chocolate can all be useful alongside a coffee machine. Keep your favourite tunes on hand to lift your spirits or aid concentration.
Make Sure That It Is Well Lit
Lighting is one of the most significant flaws in most offices. They are frequently either too bright and stark, or not bright enough. The latter can create headaches by making the environment feel cold and clinical, while the former can cause eye strain and make you tired.
Natural light is always the best option; a workstation near a large window will always help you be more productive and will lower your risk of seasonal affective disorder (SADs) because you will be getting an injection of sunlight. However, this is not always practicable, especially since many individuals work from home in small box rooms, loft conversions, or old garages.
Artificial lighting that simulates natural light is the next best option if this is the case. A brightly illuminated office is always more productive.
Make It Feel Comfortable and Cozy
While you do not want your workplace to be overly relaxing — after all, you go there to work, not to relax - it does need to feel warm and welcome, as if it were an extension of your home. Continue the themes from the rest of your home and integrate personal touches and artefacts. Add succulents and greenery to your desk, bookcases, and windowsills if you are a plant lover.
Have a wonderful soft rug to lay your feet on and a warm throw over the back of your desk chair if you are into hygge. Just because it is your office does not mean it has to be cold and uninviting. A space that makes you happy will also make you productive!
Working from home should never be a hassle. Your office should seem welcoming, engaging, and inspiring, evoking creativity and ideas and inspiring you to put your greatest ideas into action. A drab and uninspiring room will not make you feel that way. Spend some time carefully arranging the room and making it something you want to spend time, and keep an eye on it.