Home offices are becoming more and more popular as people have more flexible working terms with employers and more people are working for themselves. Below are some suggestions as to what you could consider when creating the perfect home office space.
Choose your room
It’s important to segregate certain areas of the home to ensure where you work aids you in productivity and mind-set. Avoid communal areas where you usually relax and unwind, as the human brain will often go on auto-pilot upon entering a living room or bedroom as it associates the area with relaxation and rest – two states which are not conducive to a productive workday.
Let there be light
Thanks to its natural ability to break down serotonin in the skin, the human body feels much more awake and energised in a room with plenty of natural light. Those who place their desk in front of a window report higher levels of concentration throughout the day, as well as a delayed onset of fatigue. Those working in poorly lit rooms often suffer from headaches, as well as bouts of emotional depression.
Get painting
Did you know the way that you decorate can adversely affect your focus? In a study by the University of Texas, a boring beige, grey or white office leads to negative emotions in women whereas men experience the same feelings when faced with surroundings coloured primarily in purple and orange. Low-frequency colours however offer great benefits to both sexes. For example pale blues are known to be stable and calming, whereas green can be helpful for those who work longer hours as it prevents eye-fatigue. If you work in a creative industry, yellow can not only stimulate creativity, but also help a worker feel more optimistic thanks to its brightness. If your job involves a little more physical activity however, then the colour red has been known increase heart rate and blood flow while also promoting emotion and passion, helping a worker feel more energised.
Work upwards
For many who work from home, space is often an issue. In fact many small offices are no bigger than a few square metres. Luckily, thanks to some excellent design concepts, there are plenty of ways to maximise your workspace by using the available vertical space. A stylish selection of floating shelves are great home office ideas, with vertical filing systems a great help for those with little desk space.
Keep it tidy
A jumbled workspace leads to a jumbled mind, so try to keep your desk as clear as possible. Storage solutions such as an Ottoman or even vintage wooden boxes to store additional paperwork can help you keep a clear head so you can focus on your itinerary.
Make the best of what you have
Whilst the above suggestions are always helpful – for many of us, having a spare room available is not an easy thing to accomplish. If you have to use a room which already has another application, there are a few things you can try:
- Use partitions where possible – curtains, dressing screens and fold-out wooden dividers can often fool the brain into believing you’re in a different room.
- Use two complimentary colour schemes to help you mentally divide up a room without drastically re-modelling the property.
- If you live in a house rather than flat, and are enjoying a relative amount of success, it may be worth considering in a room-in-roof conversion if there’s enough headroom. Not only will it provide you with a separate room for work – it’ll also add a lot of value to the property if you ever find yourself wanting to move.
The professional route
If you have available space and can’t find an optimal design yourself, why not hire a professional? Professional designers have made plans for offices of every conceivable size and location – and best of all, they can tailor all their home office ideas to your needs and budget.