Having your own dedicated workspace is essential if you work from home. The interior design of your workplace or office is completely up to you and should be centred around what helps you focus. For some of us, this can result in a clutter-laden desk, full of old Post-its, old pens and used coffee cups. For others, an organised space that is clean and tidy is the only way that we can work more efficiently.
People who work from home are more likely to benefit from a relaxing and calm environment, which inspires and motivates them to work. With that in mind, here are 5 ideas for your home office to help you make the most out of your space.
Make Your Office Space A “Work-Only” Zone
For a lot of us, a home office can quickly become a place which accumulates non-work related items. Your office space should be used for business and writing work only. Laundry piles, storage and general junk shouldn’t be taking up space in your office. Before you start looking for new things to add to your workspace or setting up your own home office, be sure to clear away anything which doesn’t have a place in your office and that doesn’t help you to achieve your professional goals.
Use Your Senses
Your sense of smell is a wonderful tool which helps boost creativity and productivity. Making use of essential oils or relaxing scents in your workplace can help you to feel more focused and rejuvenated whilst working.
Rosemary has been proven to help promote concentration and help to get creativity flowing, whilst bergamot provides an uplifting aroma. To use scents in your office, purchase a diffuser or invest in a designer candle which should only be used during the time you spend in your office.
Streamline Your Lighting
This is something which is often overlooked, but ensuring that your lighting is right is extremely important, especially when it comes to your home office. Windows and natural light are prized possessions in any office, so you should make the most of it if you have one in your home office, or if your limit by your windows, investing professional lighting services can also help the space.
Natural light has a huge effect on our mood and behaviour, in a positive way, which artificial light cannot. You should also look at investing in curtains and blinds for when the sunshine is especially bright. Certain kinds of blinds, such as INTU blinds, don’t need to be screwed in or drilled into the window frame, so are quick and easy to install.
Bright White
If you tend to change your style more regularly than your computer screensaver, then you should look to keep your home office space all white. This way, you can change the accessories as and when you see fit and can add in new pillows, fun colours or trendy accessories whenever you desire.
You will also be inspired to keep your space cleaner when the walls are white, as they reflect light and make the room look and feel airier. This is a particularly good idea if you have a window which lets in a lot of natural light.
Mix The Old With New
Just because you are wanting to create a space which is more motivating and welcoming to work in doesn’t mean that you should stray away from the idea of using decor and items which are already in other rooms of your home. A mixture of modern and older pieces can make a room feel personal and warm, rather than like a clinical showroom. A beautiful older rug paired with new chairs can create a sense of means and style which means that the room won’t look or feel overwhelming.