With so many of us now working from home, a home office has never been more important. If you want to remain productive while working from home, you need the right environment to work in. Here’s what you need to know to create the perfect home office.
Consider Ergonomics
It’s hard to remain productive when you are physically uncomfortable. Ergonomics are essential to any home office design. For example, keeping your computer screen either at eye level or just below will prevent you from becoming fatigued after spending several hours looking at your screen.
It’s also impossible to overstate the importance of a good chair. If there is one aspect of your home office that you don’t want to skimp on, it’s this. It is well worth spending money on a decent
ergonomic chair, something that you can comfortably sit in for as long as you need. An ergonomic chair provides excellent lumbar support so back pain will be a thing of the past.
Choose The Right Lighting
Choosing the right lighting for your office is very important. Not only do you need to be able to see properly, but the type of lighting you choose will determine how comfortable you are working there for extended periods.
The more natural light you can let in, the better. But you will inevitably need some artificial lighting as well (your laptop screen doesn’t count). LED lights are an excellent choice for any home office. Not only are they cheaper to run than conventional lightbulbs, but they produce just as much light in a smaller profile.
These LED capsule bulbs from any-lamp.co.uk are a great example of the versatility of LED bulbs. Any Lamp stocks a variety of LED lights, bulbs, and fixtures. They also provide fluorescent tubes and halogen bulbs. We would recommend LED lights for most home offices, but some people prefer to utilise multiple types of lighting in their offices.
Eliminate Distractions
The key to remaining productive while working in a home office is eliminating distractions. You need to make this a space specifically for working and nothing else. If your home office also contains a TV and games console, you are going to be continually fighting the urge to procrastinate.
It’s better to step out of your office when you want to unwind so you can maintain the separation between your workspace and your recreational space.
Gadgets aren’t the only things that may distract you from work. Mess such as cluttered papers, office supplies, unclean dishes, and pieces of trash make it hard for you to stay focused. Cleaning and decluttering regularly will solve that problem.
If you have many items in your office and on your desk, use organizers, such as paper trays, folders, and magazine holders, to clear up your working area and make it easier for you to concentrate. A clean and organized space helps reduce mental clutter so that you can give your 100 per cent at work during office hours.
Brighten The Place Up
A bland and boring home office is not a very inspiring environment in which to do your best work. You don’t need to go overboard with your decorating. But it is worth hanging a few pictures, framing a couple of nice photos, and adding some plants or flowers to your perfect home office. These little touches will make the space more welcoming and more enjoyable for you to be in.
Designing a home office isn’t rocket science, but many people get it wrong. The worst mistake you can make is to plonk a desk down somewhere and call it a day. If you don’t have a room in your home to dedicate to a home office, try to set up an area that you can easily tidy away at the end of the day.