Working from home has become quite popular in recent years. It allows employees to stick to their own schedules and work from the comfort of their homes. But productivity can become an issue when working from home. It’s too easy to turn on the TV and watch some Netflix or procrastinate by cleaning or cooking. That’s why it’s an excellent idea to turn an empty room into a home office to create a separate space that will make you feel like you’re at work.
You can create a perfect office environment that will motivate you and boost productivity. Here are some great tips on how to create a cozy home office that will inspire you to work more efficiently.
Create Mood Boards for Inspiration
Mood boards are a great way to visualize the layout and the color story of your home office. Finding inspiration is essential. It makes an individual even more excited about decorating and organizing. Also, it’s always smart to think ahead and know what you want. So you’d avoid wandering through the aisles and wasting time trying to figure out the design on the spot. Pinterest is an excellent platform for finding amazing interior office design ideas, so you can always start there.
Ergonomics is Essential
There’s nothing more annoying than having back or neck pain when trying to work and be productive. Always look for comfortable ergonomic furniture and follow simple rules such as:
- The top of your desktop monitor should be at your eye level, or a bit below
- Position the keyboard in such a way that your forearms are parallel with the floor
- Find something to rest your feet on
- Find a comfortable chair that has great back and neck support
Keep a Clean and Tidy Space
Having a clean space is crucial for productivity. When you clutter your home office with papers, pens, dozens of figurines, etc., your mind tends to wander, which harms your focus. That doesn’t mean that your desk should be empty, though. You can always use a stylish pen holder, folders, and sticky notes where appropriate. But don’t go overboard with sticky notes because that might have an opposite effect.
Add Stylish Accents and Plants to Liven Up the Room
As discussed, your home office environment should be clean and tidy. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t add some stylish decor or incorporate some plants to make the space livelier. Make sure that all the details are cohesive so it would look pleasant to the eye.
Moreover, try to use as much natural light as possible. Artificial lighting can cause some strain on your eyes. Moderation is the key. You could also include some scent diffusers to make the environment more soothing and relaxing.
Your Digital Home Office is Also Important
When talking about home offices, people usually only think about the room itself. However, your computer is also a massive part of your office, so you should treat it with care too.
Having a clean and neat desktop is integral because too many icons and shortcuts can be quite distracting. Moreover, it will take longer to locate the application you need if your desktop background is full of random icons. Remove all unused shortcuts from your desktop and leave only the ones you use the most often.
Another thing to consider is your digital environment. A clean computer means that, besides looking good, it should be secure as well. Invest in security solutions such as NordVPN (to protect data in transfer) and antivirus (to keep malware away). It ensures both a clean and healthy system.
Hide Cables, Routers, and Other Unattractive Items
Be creative with storage space. You can always use boxes to store away papers and other items that are cluttering the space. Try finding some stylish boxes that you can use to hide eye-sore items such as cables, routers, extension cords, and so on. Your mind will be at ease, knowing that you won’t risk tripping on a wire or ripping it. Plus, it looks much, much more appealing and soothing.
Use Tools and Objects to Maximize Productivity
If you don’t like having sticky notes all over the place, incorporate one or two whiteboards where you can write down all your tasks and to-do lists. That way, you waste much less paper and other materials and still maintain a clean environment. You can also use project management software to eradicate the need for both boards and sticky notes.
As you can see, you don’t have to compromise on style and coziness to create the ultimate home office and retain your productivity levels. Try to have fun with the design because you will be spending a lot of time there. Make sure that your home office is stylish and inviting, but still clean and decluttered. Working will become a pleasure instead of an obligation.
