A well-designed home office can be a sanctuary ‒ a place where you accomplish some of your most profound thinking and meaningful work! And with more of us working from home these days, many productivity experts are massive proponents of moving your desk out of the living room and into a purpose-built home office.
However, a home office isn’t something you should just slap together on a whim, at least not in the long term.
Sure, you might’ve had to move your work home on short notice earlier this year…but if you’re still working away from home today, it’s time to get serious!
Designing the ideal home office requires a bit of strategy and forethought. Below, we’ve gathered a few easy home office design tips that’ll help you get the most out of your home office space ‒ whether you’re converting a room in your current house or planning your future custom home.
Tip #1: Find Your Safe Haven
First, consider where the bulk of activity occurs in your home.
If your abode is regularly packed with kids or grandkids running around your living room, avoid the main floor! You’ll likely prefer a quiet corner in your home, nestled away from the hustle and bustle.
This way, you’ll be able to minimize interruptions and think clearly while you go about generating meaningful, high-quality work.
Tip #2: Lighting is Everything!
Lighting plays an astonishingly impactful role in your ability to concentrate and work efficiently! When it comes to designing a home office, a room abundant with natural light is the most ideal for your mood and energy level.
Provided the above option isn’t available, cool light bulbs are a suggested fixture for your home office. Cool bulbs are between 3100K and 4500K, beginning with a bright and neutral white light that shades into blue as it gets more powerful.
You might also consider adding blue-enriched light bulbs that are 17,000K, which are proven to boost your productivity. One study found that workers report feeling, “happier, more alert, and less eye strain” after only two months of using blue light in the workplace.
Tip #3: Don’t Sleep on Storage Space
Clutter is productivity’s number one nemesis. But it’s a cruel reality when you don’t have the necessary storage space for your multitudes of paper, books, and miscellaneous office supplies!
Of course, that doesn’t mean you should pack your office filled with storage items. The form is equally essential to function. While it’s hard to get work done in the middle of a mess, it’s just as challenging to focus and get work done in a soulless space packed only with filing cabinets!
Think about your workflow before purchasing your desk, shelves, and other storage units. Then, pinpoint the items you’ll need readily available. With those factors in mind, it’s time to look for design-forward and function-friendly items and decor!
Tip #4: Plants Will Help You Produce
Who doesn’t enjoy a bit of greenery? According to a study by researchers at the University of Exeter, having plants in your office can give you a measurable productivity boost. Such positive results stemmed from these ‘green’ offices succeeding in the following ways:
- Increasing work engagement
- Improving physical states
- Boosting cognitive functions
- Heightening emotional investment
We live in a world where the numbers tell the story, and the stats back up the study’s claims. So, be sure to design your home office to have adequate space and sunlight for a few plants ‒ it’ll help you grow and flourish, too!
Tip #5: Don’t Always Focus on Work
These days, it often feels like you’re expected to work like a machine every moment of the workday. But we all deserve to have a bit of “me time” or extended breaks to recover from all that time spent plugging away at the keyboard.
What’s more, staring endlessly at a screen can result in harmful eye strain, which is why health and safety experts recommend taking breaks throughout the day.
During these breaks, it helps if you can allow your eyes to rest on something other than your workplace tasks. Position your desk toward a beautiful painting or window that diverts you from your latest project, so you can rest your eyes, calm your mind, and catch a little spark of inspiration!
It’s Time to Build the Home Office of Your Dreams
At the end of the day, your home office should be a space that’s built and designed for you ‒ nobody else! We all have different ways of getting down to work, so trust your judgement. After all, you’re the only one who’ll be spending their time in this inspiring workspace!
Ready to learn more about designing the perfect home office? Reach out to our Design Specialists today and start planning the custom home of your dreams!