Working from Home – How to Make it Work for You

Working from home is quickly moving from a luxury to an essential. As more people start and continue to work remotely – something that shows no sign of changing any time soon – setting up a space that is not only functional but comfortable as well, is key.

A home office allows you to create a space that is designated for work, which helps increase productivity by cutting down on distractions. But your home office should be one that not only serves as a functional workspace, but one that makes you want to work. 

You deserve more than a straight-backed chair and a bland desk in the middle of an empty room. Here are a few tips to creating a home office that is sure to be as relaxing as it is productive:

1.    Light – Everywhere! 

You’re going to spend a good part of the day in your home office, so the last thing you want is for it to be dull and dark.

Choose a location in your home that receives ample natural light – the more the better! Natural light has been proven to have a myriad of health benefits and really makes the working day that much more enjoyable.

If you cannot create your home office in a space with loads of natural light, try some tricks for maximizing what natural light you do get, like choosing a lighter colour palette for the room.

2.    Furniture Built for Comfort

Spending hours in uncomfortable furniture doesn’t exactly sound appealing, does it?

 When creating a home office, make sure to choose furniture that you’re comfortable in. This can range from a sit/stand workstation, an ergonomic chair tailored to you, or even a beanbag. If it’s something that works for you, it works for your home office. 

 This guideline should extend to the rest of the furniture in your office, especially your desk – just like your chair, it will be a key part of your workday. 

3.    Personality, Personality, Personality

A drab, dull office is not only simply lacking in motivation, it can actually be actively demotivating. Transform your home office by bringing in some of your own personality to the room.

This can be by choosing décor elements that are personal to you – for example, if you’re a music fan, an instrument can double as wall decoration. 

This can also be done by choosing the interiors to match your likes. Ditch the boring wall colours and bring in a light shade that brings cheer to the room. Learning more about colour theory can help you decide which is right for you.   

4.    Get Everything Sorted

 Make sure that everything in your workspace is organized. This not only means keeping a tidy desk a but allowing for ample storage.

 An effective way to do this is to create shelf space in the room. Not only does it allows you to neaten up the room, it also allows you space to add personal touches. These can include small plants, family photographs, or travel mementos.

Our workspaces have dramatically changed in recent months, but with a few tips and tricks you can make the best of this new situation. The last, and possibly the most important element to be aware of is your background . With zoom meetings the new norm, make sure your background is representative of the professional you and not a pile of dirty laundry!