Many people have been forced to retreat from the office and work from home thanks to the global COVID-19 pandemic. While this has been a challenging adjustment, there is the possibility that mobile work will become the norm, at the very least, for a little while longer. With businesses deciding whether or not to bring people back to the office full-time, there is no time like the present to fully invest in creating a home office to work from. Having a separate space to work will help you concentrate much better than working from your kitchen table, and at the very least, it can be used as a study if you do end up returning to your company’s offices. Here are some tips on how you should design your home office for the best working environment.
Natural Light
Working under harsh overhead lighting might be OK for short periods, but studies have shown that working in natural light promotes productivity and happiness amongst employees. If possible, select a room in your house that has plenty of natural light as your home office so you can reap the benefits of this throughout the day. If you’re lucky enough to have a gorgeous view from the windows as well, this will help boost your mood.
Cabinets and Shelving
Any office needs to be well organized, and your home office should be no different. Invest in filing cabinets to keep your paperwork and other important things safely stored away. If you don’t have a great deal of floor space, you could always hang shelves on the walls as a storage solution. This might require some DIY work or the services of a handyman but it will be worth it. If you are hanging shelves yourself, remember to use angled brackets as they will be stronger. This is important if you’re going to be keeping a lot of files, books, and other items stored on the shelves.
Get a Quality Desk and Chair
If you work at a computer all day, you will already know the importance of having a good desk and a supportive chair. Many people who work in an office can end up with back pain because their office chair doesn’t support them properly, or their desk isn’t lined up with them properly. This is why you should take the time to search for the right desk and computer chair for your home office, especially if it seems as though you will be working from home for the foreseeable future.
Color Scheme
If you don’t want to work in a colorless room while you work then consider giving it a coat of paint before you move in. Certain colour schemes help to promote positivity and productivity that you might want to consider for your home office décor.
Accessories
Finally, add some personality to your home office to make it more cheerful. A few plants will be a good idea, and some nice artwork on the walls would also help to brighten up the office and make it feel more comfortable.
If you have recently found yourself working from home and are yet to have a home office space in your house, consider the tips above to create a better working environment during the pandemic.
