Since everyone is spending a bit more time at home, this is the perfect time to upgrade the spaces where you and your family spend the most time. While your kitchen or living room may immediately come to mind, your home office could probably use some love, too.
A home office that makes you feel comfortable will lead to more focused days and relaxed evenings. Here are some tips for designing a better home office for a happier and more productive you:
1. Give Your Workspace Boundaries
When your workspace is your living space, it’s key to create some boundaries for yourself. Doing this makes it easier for your brain and body, as well as anyone you live with, to understand when you’re working and when you’re not.
These boundaries don’t need to be fancy. While having a separate office with a door you can close is great, you can achieve a similar boundary through design elements. A simple “free/busy” sign can go a long way in making sure your spouse or children know when you can and can’t talk.
Communicate to your family that when you’re at your desk, you’re working and can’t be disrupted, but when you’re on the couch, you’re free to chat. Making this distinction can help you create some distance between your work and your personal life. Plus, it will help you be more productive at work so you feel less stressed once your hours are finished.
2. Keep It Minimal
Lots of decorations can quickly overwhelm a small space and make it feel cluttered. A messy environment can be a huge distraction when you’re trying to get in the zone when working on a big project.
To keep your workspace feeling clean and productive, avoid overdecorating or adding extra pieces of furniture. Keeping your space tidy and free of clutter will make you feel organized and confident. When your workstation is open and distraction-free, it will be so much easier for you to focus and do what you need to do.
A minimal, modern workspace can also be beautiful and trendy — perfect if you’re hoping to share your home office on Instagram.
3. Make It Personal
Keeping your workspace minimal and modern doesn’t mean it needs to be impersonal. While clutter can be distracting, adding a few personal touches to your area can lend your home office a more positive vibe. After all, you spend a lot of time here, so it should be a place you feel comfortable in.
Adding a family photo to your desk, choosing a rug in your favorite color or styling your shelves with books you love can make your home office a happier, more welcoming space. You shouldn’t dread going to your office every day. Making your workspace a place you look forward to spending time in will positively impact your productivity and focus. It can put you in a better mood, leading to fulfilling and fruitful workdays.
4. Go for Comfort
It’s hard to focus on the task at hand when you’re battling aches and pains. Be sure to keep comfort in mind when designing your workspace, especially if you’ll be putting in long hours.
Selecting a comfy chair, choosing an ergonomic keyboard or even making sure your desk is positioned so the sun doesn’t get in your eyes may seem like small details. However, in the grand design scheme, these changes make a world of difference in your day-to-day workflow. When you’re not constantly fidgeting or counting the minutes until you can get up and walk around, you’ll be much happier and way more productive in your space.
Design a Workspace That Works for You
Whether you typically work from home or you’re in the early stages of designing a home office, this is the perfect time to spruce up your workspace. The tips we’ve outlined here will definitely set you up for many productive and positive days to come.
Holly Welles is a freelance writer and the editor of The Estate Update, a home décor blog for new homeowners. Her work has been published in Today’s Homeowner, Homes.com and other web magazines.
