Having the flexibility to work from home comes with many perks – your commute is a simple as rolling out of bed, you don’t have to make yourself look smart in the morning, you’ve got a fully stocked fridge at your fingertips, and you have sole control of what music is played, if any at all. But, most importantly, you get to conduct your business from the comfort of your own personal space.
To stay focused and motivated, however, it’s important that you have a dedicated work area that will inspire and stimulate you, even if it’s just a desk in the corner of your living room. Because, let’s face it, while curling up on the sofa in front of the TV with a laptop perched in front of you is ultra-comfortable, it’s unlikely that much will be achieved in this way.
We want you to get the most out of your home-working set up, so we’ve compiled a few of our most valuable bits of advice for creating your dream home office.
Choose a calming colour-scheme
You may think that interior design is merely a case of personal preference, but the colour-scheme of a room can have a surprising impact on your mood and energy.
Occupational health specialist, Gail Kinman explains that “colour can impact on people’s arousal in terms of their level of activity and feelings of calmness”.
Opt for green to inspire, relax and promote creativity. Not only does it make you feel at ease, being the colour of nature and balance, but it also signifies money and success. Red, on the other hand, is a good choice for staying alert, though it’s known to invoke feelings of hunger and could have you fleeing for the fridge in half hour intervals.
Let there be light
Lighting can make all the difference when it comes to mood and motivation. If possible, position your home workspace near a window and allow the natural daylight to flood in. If your desk is positioned directly beside the window, a venetian blind is ideal, as you can angle the slats to avoid screen glare or the sun in your eyes, while still allowing the light to shine through into the room.
Your choice of artificial lighting is also crucial for the evenings and darker months. Start with an overhead pendant light fixture or set of spotlights to illuminate the whole room and then add task lighting, such as an angled lamp for more focused lighting at your desk.
Remember, less is more
There’s nothing more distracting than being surrounded by clutter when you’re trying to get work done – for a focused mind, you need a distraction free zone. And while we can’t promise a tidy workspace will prevent the dog from wiggling around next to you in a bid to get another walk, it’s certainly a start to removing unnecessary disruptions.
Invest in some smart storage solutions and organise your paperwork, stationery and other bits and bobs, to free up desk space and keep clutter at bay.
Interior designer Cathy Phillips says “if you can’t find what you need, or you can’t reach that all important file, your mood is bound to be affected, after all!”
You can add a bit of character to your room by thinking beyond traditional storage options and decking your workspace out with some stylish boxes, drawer units or custom shelving.
Add some personal touches
It’s your home, so it’s important that the décor reflects your personality and individual style. While we’re a firm believer that a cluttered desk equals a cluttered mind, this doesn’t mean you have to eradicate any personal touches from your space. Choose a nice frame and prop up a picture of your loved ones to keep it feeling like home or hang paintings by your favourite artist to give the room a bit of pizzazz.
Cathy suggests that when picking out accessories, you should consider ideas that are useful as well as decorative. Stylish pen pots, printed mouse mats, coloured pin boards and contemporary magazine racks can all add to design of the room, while serving a purpose at the same time.
Bring nature indoors
Houseplants offer more than simply aesthetic appeal. Research has found that a bit of greenery can offer major benefits for your personal health, mental wellbeing and productivity.
Introduce a small pot plant to your desk or the window sill, and reap benefits such as improved air quality, reduced stress, better concentration and a boost in creativity.
Plants such as Spider Plants, Bromeliads, Aloe Vera and succulents all require minimal care and daylight, making them the perfect choice for your home office.
Achieving your very own home office heaven needn’t be a chore. By taking these simple interior tips on board, you’ll create a workspace that makes you feel inspired and will send your productivity levels soaring. For even more handy pieces of advice just like these, check out this article today.
