Digital technology has made it possible for more professionals to fulfill their job responsibilities and pursue a thriving career from their home offices. Perhaps you have had the chance to adopt the same work setup, and it’s also an option for you to turn one of the nooks or rooms in your home into an office. Creating a well-designed home office environment that prioritises comfort and productivity will help you thrive in your professional pursuit and enable you to be in your best form while you’re working from home. Here’s how you can design such a space.
Choose the Right Location
Selecting the optimal location for your home office sets the foundation for a productive and comfortable workspace. Choose a quiet and dedicated space away from distractions, ideally one that has access to natural light and ventilation. If you have a spare bedroom or an unused corner in your living room, you can convert it into a home office area. Position your desk near a window to maximise natural light exposure, which can help boost your mood and energy levels and contribute to keeping you productive throughout the day.
Invest in Ergonomic Furniture
Just like in a regular office, you’ll want to reduce your risk for strain or discomfort when you’re working from home. Achieving this goal means investing in ergonomic furniture that can help you maintain good posture. Get a comfortable desk chair with adjustable height, lumbar support, and armrests to provide your body proper support during long hours of work. Opt for a spacious desk with ample room for your computer, paperwork, and other essentials, too. This will allow you to work efficiently without feeling cramped or confined.
Optimise Layout and Flow
The layout and flow of your home office can significantly impact your productivity and comfort level. Arrange furniture in a way that maximises space and promotes efficiency, and make it a point to place the items you need to do your job within easy reach. Account for potential sources of distraction as well and minimise their impact. For example, position your desk facing the door for a sense of control and security, and create distinct zones for different activities, such as a dedicated workstation, a reading corner, and a relaxation area. This layout can help you maintain focus and organisation.
Prioritise Proper Lighting
Lighting plays a crucial role in creating a comfortable and productive home office environment. Proper lighting not only reduces eye strain and fatigue but also enhances mood and concentration, ultimately boosting productivity. Aside from placing your work area near a source of natural light, make use of task lighting such as a desk lamp or overhead lighting, which can ensure adequate illumination for work activities. At the same time, consider adjustable lighting options that allow you to control brightness and bring about the right ambience for different tasks throughout the day.
Declutter and Organise
Maintaining a clutter-free and organised workspace minimises distractions and maximises productivity and focus. To keep your workspace looking neat and tidy while placing your tools within easy reach, invest in storage solutions like shelves, cabinets, and desk organisers. Floating shelves, for instance, can be used to display books and decorative items. Filing cabinets or drawer organisers, on the other hand, can be used to store paperwork and office supplies.
Incorporate Sound Management
Minimising noise disturbances is essential for maintaining focus and productivity in your home office. Incorporate sound-absorbing materials like rugs, curtains, or acoustic panels to reduce echo and outside noise and achieve a peaceful and focused environment. In addition, you can consider using noise-cancelling headphones or a white noise machine to further minimise distractions.
Personalise the Decor
On top of being conducive to productivity, your home office space should also showcase a bit of your personality and perspective. Once you’ve put your items in their respective places, consider how you’re going to use the white spaces in your workspace to express yourself. DROOL, our art store which specialises in cool art prints and posters, offers a wide range of contemporary art pieces that you can use to decorate, personalise, and set the mood in your home office.
Explore our website today to find art prints that can complement the atmosphere that you want your workspace to evoke. We have prints that exude a calm and relaxed vibe, which can offer a bit of respite when you’re working on demanding tasks. Our collection of energetic and frantic contemporary posters, on the other hand, can help you feel refreshed and energised as you go about your day. Aside from organising our art print collection by mood, colour, and size, you can also narrow down your search by looking for specific art mediums such as graphic design, illustration, painting, and photography. Livening up your workspace with unique art prints and posters from DROOL will help you achieve the right mood to fuel your productivity while also injecting a bit of your personality into the space.
Following these basic tips will allow you to create a workspace that supports your professional goals and enhances your overall well-being. With a bit of experimentation and exploration, you’ll be able to come up with an office design that is perfectly matched to your needs and goals as a professional who’s working from home.