Get the best out of your Home Office – Top Tips!

Working from home can be both a stress-relieving and problematic way to work. On the one hand, many of us feel more relaxed within the comforts of our own home, away from the noise and interruptions of a busy office space, and are therefore more productive. However, if you run your own business from your home, it can be hard to switch off and separate your job from your home-life. Either way, if you work from home, then it’s important to make sure that your home office suits you, your personality and working style.

So here are a few tips for designing your space to get the most out of your home office:

1. The Essentials for your Home Office

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Over and above anything else, your home office will likely need a few key things: a desk for your computer etc, shelves and a good, comfortable chair to work from. The desk should be a comfortable height and big enough to accommodate your tech whilst leaving adequate space to work. And getting the right chair is absolutely key – if you have to sit in it for approx. 8 hours a day, it should be comfortable, but it should also suit the design scheme of the room, and make a statement about how much you value the work you’re doing.

2. Lighting

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This could be considered part of the ‘essential’ section, but I feel lighting should be given some extra, individual attention as getting the lighting right is so important. You may find a desk lamp works best, or just some good ceiling lighting, but either way it should provide enough light to your work area without giving off a harsh glare that’s liable to do little more than give you a headache. And if you have a window that provides good natural light, that’s even better.

3. Comfortable

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You have to be in this room all day when you’re working, so you want it to be a room you are happy to spend time in. This is where your design scheme comes in. You want to think about a wall colour or wallpaper that can help keep you in a good mood without being overwhelming and distracting, then you can start adding the finishing touches to the room. Give some consideration to accessories such as a rug, wall hangings, plants – items you enjoy and that can help keep you inspired, just be wary that you don’t over clutter it.

4. Functional

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Naturally this space has got to work for you. You want to keep it organised and tidy, so you can find things and have a clear space to work in, but if you’re more of an ‘organised chaos’ person, go with that. But some things that can really help are cable tidy’s (it won’t do to have an office that’s a health hazard!). And really think about exactly how you work when considering your layout for the room. Organise things so that the items you need most are closest to hand and easy to find/get at.

5. Inspiration

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Last but certainly not least, to truly get the best out of your office, it needs to be a place where you can get the best out of yourself and your work. If you have room put in a sofa, a comfy armchair or even a chaise lounge, so you’ve got somewhere to mull over ideas and take power naps (to increase your productivity). You might also want to consider putting up a pinboard or whiteboard to keep track of your ideas, or just put things straight onto your wall if you like. And, again, if you have a window, particularly one with a good view, place your desk underneath it if you can.

So if you’re home office could do with a little rethink, give these tips and try, they could help you to bring out the best in this ever-increasingly important room.

Post written by Julie Fisher.