How to Create the Perfect Work from Home Office Space: 4 Important Factors you Need to Consider
The pandemic brought a shift in the way we work towards remote working, and the trend seems to be here to stay for many. However, not all homes were ready to accommodate full-time work and have left many wondering how to create the perfect work from home office space.
While individual needs vary, there are a few general factors that contribute overall to designing an office space in your home that keeps you motivated, productive, and able to separate your work life and home life in a remote working setting.
Here are 4 important factors you need to consider when creating the perfect work from home office space in your home.
- Lighting
- Organization
- Decoration
- Ergonomics
1. Lighting
The lighting in your work from home office is incredibly important for your mood, focus, and performance.
Natural lighting
If at all possible, make sure you position your office in a room or space with plenty of windows and natural light. Natural light is proven to improve your mood. It gives you access to sunshine and the vitamin D it produces and healthy hormone cycles it promotes. This will help reduce stress and improve your sleep/wake cycles, among other health benefits of sunshine.
Not only that, but it is also more energy-efficient. With enough natural light, you won’t need to use artificial light during the day to work. Also, when the weather is nice you can turn off your air conditioning and open the windows to stay comfortable and breezy while you work.
Task lighting
If you read a lot of documents and papers for work, you want to make sure your reading area is well-lit. Even if you have plenty of natural light or overhead lighting, you should also add a desk lamp to help illuminate your reading material. Alternatively, if you do your reading in a separate chair, add a tableside lamp or a focused floor lamp.
Video lighting
Do you attend a lot of Zoom meetings or other video chat calls? If so, prepare your space with a designated area you video chat from, complete with a ring light and other aesthetic-boosting lighting to make sure you look your best and are easy to see.
2. Organization
Keeping a tidy, well-organized workspace is incredibly important for your focus and productivity when creating the perfect work from home office.
Shelving and storage
You can only be as organized as your shelving and storage capabilities. If you have a smaller space, add some wall shelving to reduce furniture while keeping things off the floor. Create a productive and organized filing system for papers, and utilize your desk space as efficiently as possible.
Address your technology
Do you need lots of equipment for your job? If so, a jungle full of cords can be distracting, inefficient, dangerous, and just plain unattractive. If you require a lot of equipment to work, consider the position of outlets while laying out your office. Try to keep all of your equipment with cords together to isolate the cords. Where cords are exposed, condense, cover, or hide them as much as possible. Also, consider upgrading to as much cordless equipment as you can.
3. Decoration
One of the best parts of working from home is that you get to say goodbye to boring, uninspiring cubicles! Your work from home office should be your personal office paradise that is comfortable, focused, and motivating.
Paint color
The color of a room can have a major impact on your mood and ability to focus. Therefore, the paint color of your work from home office is highly important. Choose a color that best suits your needs. For instance, if you have a high-stress job, choose a color that is soothing and calming, such as anything within a neutral palette, a cool blue or gray, or soft green. Alternatively, if you have a creative job and need to be inspired, choose a color that helps spark creativity, such as a brighter yellow or orange. Find a color that doesn’t distract you, but helps you focus.
Make it personal
You don’t want your work from home office to be full of knick-knacks and distracting, but you don’t want it to be boring either! Make your home office homey with pictures of your family, reminding you of why you do what you do. Add some cheery houseplants to freshen the air and boost your mood, and artwork that inspires you. Create a vision board that keeps you motivated to achieve your goals. And if you have a few knick-knacks that bring you joy, keep them close at hand, too. This is your office, add in marks of your personality to make it yours!
Consider your background
We’ve already discussed the importance of lighting if you attend a lot of meetings over Zoom or other video conferencing technology. In addition to lighting, also consider your background. When selecting a well-lit space to dedicate for your video conferencing,make sure the background is neutral, tidy, and professional.
4. Ergonomics
One of the most important investments you can make for your work from home office is ergonomic furniture. When working from home, you might spend a lot of time sitting in your workspace. Make sure you have an ergonomic chair and other furniture that properly supports you and provides comfort during your long working hours. It is not just an investment for your home office, but into your health as well.
Are you considering moving into a new home that allows you to create the perfect work from home office space for your remote working job? Give Ruth Stultz a call to see how she can help! Ruth Stultz is a highly experienced realtor who understands Lake Conroe and Montgomery County better than anyone. When it comes to selling your current home or finding the perfect property with everything you want, Ruth knows exactly where to look. You can trust Ruth Stultz with buying and selling your home.
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