DavidIn today’s world, more and more people are working from home. The global spread of COVID-19 has only accelerated the home office trend as people are encouraged to stay home. A well-designed home office can make all the difference between getting things done and not having any work done.
- Design Tips for your home office
A few simple design ideas can help you transform any room into a dream office which boost your productivity.
- Minimalism
Obviously, you want the space where you’ll be spending eight hours a day to look nice, but your main goal is for it to be functional. Therefore, a cluttered layout might not be an ideal choice. There is something in simplistic design with clear lights, white walls, basic furniture and minimal décor that quiets the racing mind. You want the design to work for you and help you stay on track.
- Make it energy-friendly
If you’re working from home, you’re probably already saving money on gasoline and therefore, reducing your carbon footprint. Why not keep up the good work by turning off electronic equipment when you aren’t using it and avoid phantom energy waste? Simply by using smart power strips, you can eliminate any standby power drain. Moreover, when you buy new equipment, look for the Energy Star label. Make sure to adopt other energy-friendly habits such as using recycled paper and making use of both sides.
If you can afford to invest, smart devices will increase your comfort while also bringing you budgetary benefits as they will significantly reduce your electricity bill. Considering you are saving time from your daily commute, you can do your research on energy providers as many such as Ambit Energy
offer competitive rates. After all, you will be using much more energy by spending more time at home so you want to avoid any unpleasant surprises showing up on your utility bill.
- Balance between comfortable and too comfy
This is a tricky but essential task. It does not mean that you should not add a comfy pillow for thinking breaks, but the color palette of your walls and decor can provide the feeling without inviting you for a nap.
- An attractive backdrop
Considering that video conferencing will be widely used in this era of social distancing, you need to consider what will the viewer see. There’s no need to overspend on expensive shelves as only color will do. A strong blue promotes clear thought while softer blues help calm the mind and aid concentration. On the other hand, yellow and orange are energetic and can spark creativity and energy, but they can also trigger nervousness. Darker colors might seem stylish but are far less stimulating and you don’t want to invite fatigue in your working surrounding. Most importantly, make sure there’s no clutter as a clean view speaks volumes.
- Bring nature into your home
Studies found that people who worked in places with ample natural light were 15% more creative. Bringing nature into your home can make all the difference in the world. It can be as simple as overlooking a tree as not everyone has a garden. If your environment is entirely urban, plants can give you that vibe.
- Working from home tips
Every office has its fair share of distractions and problems which is entirely common when people come together. However, when you work from home, you get to face your own weaknesses every day. While you may not be able to completely tune out distractions while working from home, you can create a supportive environment that will help you thrive.
- Craft your schedule to amplify your personal strengths
Remember, you now have the freedom to define things you had no influence upon. For example, you can adjust your working hours based on your personal productivity. You get to save time from your daily commute and daily chit-chat, you can use it for self-improvement to optimise your productivity such as having a yoga class.
- Divide, design and conquer
You are home but you need a space that you will use only for work. It can be even at your kitchen table but you need to separate your workspace form your relaxing space. Moreover, you also need a plan B if your hot spot backfires. For example, lunch at your desk might be appealing to save time, but a spill can damage important paperwork.
- Keep it clean
Too much clutter will only clutter your mind. If you need to keep many files, you do not need them all at your desk. Carve out space for them and make sure you label them right to avoid wasting time searching for them when they are needed. Most importantly, don’t forget to set time aside for a good deep-clean on a regular basis.
- Takeaway
A well-designed home office can make all the difference when it comes to your productivity. There is no-one-size-fits-all as what works for one person may not work for another. This is office but above all, your personal space. Unlocking the perfect combination of creativity and productivity might take several tries so don’t be scared to experiment until it feels right. Most importantly, go easy on yourself as you adapt to a new routine.