A well designed home office space will enable you to work faster and more efficiently. It will also reduce eye strain, repetitive stress and other pains associated with working in a seated position. Designing your home office with professional tips and ideas can help you to receive fresh inspiration and attract more profitable jobs from your clients. Even if your home office is simply a place where you work with your computer for a few hours a week, to surf the internet, do online shopping, and pay bills, the following design ideas will help you to create an excellent home office environment.
Use an Ergonomic Chair
If you spend many hours sitting down at your home office desk, you should strive to get the most comfortable seat you can find. Modern ergonomic chairs provide the greatest comfort and support for your lower back. They usually have a sturdy back rest and head rest to help you maintain good posture, which is critical for the health of your spinal cord. In addition, your seat should have an adjustable height, especially when different family members may use it. The adjustable height will enable you to sit with your knees at 90 degrees to the floor, thighs horizontally straight, and your feet flat on the floor. Seating with an ergonomic chair will also prevent back and neck pain and make it easier for you to work for longer hours when necessary.
Choose an Appropriate Location
Not all parts of your home will be suitable for work that demands maximum concentration and productivity. So you should use a room with a closed door and good ventilation instead of a small closet without a window. Make sure that while working, you will not be facing a direction with heavy flow of human or vehicular traffic. That means that if you have a window in your office space that is facing a busy street, you will have to use window blinds permanently during the day to avoid getting distracted by moving cars and pedestrians. Working in an enclosed space will also enhance your ability to communicate effectively with your clients whether they come to you in person, or you talk to them on the phone.
Make Efficient Use of Space
Most home offices are created in constrained spaces, particularly when they are not part of the original home design. So you must use every space you have in the most efficient manner. Put up some floating shelves so you can arrange papers and other office equipment like printers and scanners. This will free up your desk and give you a clean space to work more efficiently. If you want to keep your files within reach, you can use a vertical file tray that allows you arrange your files neatly. On the other hand, if you find it more convenient to stack documents and papers, get a good metal basket to put your mails, papers, note and memos. You can also add a separate set of drawers or a file cabinet and maintain a clean desktop by assigning each drawer to serve a specific purpose.
Light Up Your Office Space
Effective lighting will prevent eye-strain, increase concentration and make your work space look more attractive. In your home office, you should use different types of lighting to create a mood or atmosphere that fits into the design of the rest of your home and suits your personal preferences. The greatest amount of light should be focused on your reading space and the areas where your computer monitor is located.
To prevent glare while looking at your computer screen, let the light sources come from behind your head instead of fixing light directly above the screen. You should also take full advantage of natural lighting during the day. A combination of ambient lighting, such as sconces and ceiling mounted fixtures, and task lights, such as table lamps or standing lamps, can help to improve the lighting while working at the computer. Accent light fixtures may also be used to highlight artwork on the wall.
Create Inspiring and Refreshing Views
Use artwork or pictures to get inspired and refresh your brain after staring at a computer screen for a long time. Place your desk at a point where you will see a large picture of a waterfall, a majestic landscape or a window that gives a still picture of an external garden, or beautiful aerial view of your neighbourhood. You may also add pictures of your loved ones, family members, mentors, or people who inspire you to be at your best always. Finally, choose a wall paint colour that gives your mind a lift like sky blue, orange, or lime green.
Creating a well designed, organized and inspiring space for your home office is not a trivial task. But with the ideas and tips provided here, you can make your home office a place where you will always love to stay and work productively
