4/6/2020

Making Your Home Office Work For You

Working from home may be new to you, but it doesn't mean you have to be less productive!

Now that many of us are working from home, you may be struggling to adjust to your new temporary normal, especially if you don’t regularly work remotely. Luckily, there are a couple things that you can do with your home office to make sure that you actually want to buckle down and get some work done!

Your Workspace

Choose a room with enough windows to brighten your day with sunlight and make sure you set up in a space where there’s not a lot of traffic. Avoid common spaces like the kitchen or living room. You won’t want the distraction of people walking around you or talking while you’re trying to get some work done.

If you don’t have a room to spare in your home because it’s already occupied or there’s no space, move some things around in the room you think is best for your productivity. If that means putting your desk in the corner of your bedroom or den, so be it! Remember, you can always move if it doesn’t work out for you.

Your Ambiance

Decoration

Obviously, decoration is something that’s up to each person’s preference and style. The most important thing to note is to decorate according to whatever makes you motivated, inspired and happy. Consider decorating your walls with posters or pictures or your bookshelves with plants or other little trinkets. If you’re a minimalist and don’t like having distractions, that’s okay too!

Furniture

No one is saying to move a whole reclining sofa in your office, but you may be able to put in a chair or two for a family guest or pet, or for whenever you take a break and need to be away from your desk. A side table and bookshelf can also work well as functional decoration for your office!

Color

Adding splashes of color around your home office can make a huge difference in your mood. Whether you adhere to a specific color scheme or add random colors everywhere, make sure the hues make you happy! If that means changing it up after a week or two because you find it doesn’t work out, then do so.

If you’re looking for suggestions, blues and greens (the colors of Mother Nature) have actually been proven to increase productivity, focus and efficiency. Duller colors such as gray, beige and white can induce feelings of sadness and gloom. So, make sure you add as much color as you can!

Desk Space

You may be a person who doesn’t like as much clutter on your desk or someone who loves decorating your desk with smaller distractions like figures, daily calendars or organizers. No matter what you decide to do, don’t muddle it with too many things. Your space can affect your state of mind, so remember to keep your desk clean and organized.

Some Pro Tips

Here’s some advice you may not have thought about for your home office:

  • Air quality: Try opening a window whenever you can or invest in an air purifier. Make sure your vents are clean and your filters have recently been changed.
  • Lighting: If you’re unable to set up in a room with windows that allow a lot of natural sunlight, add a lamp or two that offer cool tones.
  • Cleanliness: Keep your desk and surrounding area clutter-free. Even if you have a lot of décor, it helps to organize your chaos!
  • Comfort: Make sure you have a comfortable chair, you’re sitting properly and you can type well at your desk.

The most important thing to keep in mind when setting up and decorating your workspace is to make sure everything you do works for your individual needs. There’s never a one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to your office or desk. If you have to play around to get the feng shui just right, it’s worth it when you start becoming more productive!