For the last year and a half, many of us have been forced to work from makeshift home offices (read our beds or even closets) but since the situation is not getting better, people have started to think about creating something more permanent and stylish. If you also need a proper home office, here are a few essential design elements you have to consider if you want to constantly deliver great work:
A good desk and chair
It’s truly essential to have a good desk and chair in your home office because you will spend hours at a time at and on them. When choosing your desk, opt for something wide and deep enough to accommodate your computer and important papers (at least 120x50cm). If you only need your laptop for work, you can get away with less, but ensure you’re surrounded by plenty of shelving. Your chair should be adjustable and comfortable. Give it a try at the store and consider the hand rests (it’s important they are adjustable too so you can tuck your chair away when you’re not using it).
Storage and shelves
Storage is placed very high on this list and for a good reason. Clutter is a destroyer of productivity and creator of stress—guess which one you need at your home office. Shelving, filing cabinets and storage cupboards will boost your workflow and allow you to control what comes in, stays in and where does it go after you’re finished using it. Your current work should be placed near (in your inbox) but the rest should be filed neatly away from your desk. In case you need to use reference materials like catalogs, manuals and other documents, a shelf next to your desk is a great place for those.
Decoration
The best thing about working from home is that you can be in control of your aesthetics and choose how your office will look and feel. You can either match your office to your home design or go a completely different route to create a more obvious divide between your professional and private life. Add a few pieces that inspire you and provide you with positive feelings. Greenery and flowers are always a great route, but if you don’t want to take care of plants, you can reach for a beautiful everlasting rose in a crystal dome that requires zero maintenance. Place it on your desk or as a backdrop to your Zoom calls—it will impress both you and everyone who sees it.
Lighting
If you want to improve health and productivity, you need good lighting. Bad lighting will not only ruin your focus but also result in eye strain, headaches and sitting in uncomfortable positions. Don’t just rely on lighting you already have or, even worse, use your computer screen for lighting. Proper task lighting is affordable and makes you look great on Zoom calls, yet it allows you to move your light source and manage its intensity.
Technology
Wires hanging out and electronics scattered all over your home office will make your space feel and look very cluttered. Luckily, it’s easy to hide your cords and rein your technology in with a few simple solutions. For instance, you can invest in wireless tech that will half your amount of wires (wireless routers, printers, mouse and keyboard). Next, add a grommet to your desk to neatly lead the wires away from your workspace and underneath your desk, and employ a simple cord tamer to gather anything that’s left loose.
A seating place
No matter if you see clients, have many Zoom calls or often host your curious kids in your office, you will benefit from a small meeting area or some additional seating in your home office. All you need are two chairs, a small table and some comfy lighting.
Safety features
Office safety is very important, especially when it comes to your confidential information like hard drive backups, financial records and tax information. When you’re working from home, you have to protect them yourself. Also, while fires and floods are not common, they happen. You can protect your important documents with a strongbox that will keep all your possessions safe from burglars, fires and floods.
A home office with these aforementioned elements will be a joy to work in. You will not only enjoy your time there but also impress every client and employee with your professionalism and dedication.
