Do you have a home office space that you use regularly? Was it meant to be a temporary space when you first set it up and now it’s not living up to your needs? Maybe you put the time and effort into the design but that was many years ago. It’s quite normal for your needs to have changed over time and the office design to become tired and obsolete.
Whatever the reason for needing to redesign your home office space, the fact is that it needs to be done, and it should be done thoughtfully. While other areas of your home may focus on current trends, décor pieces and highlighting architectural details, your office space is quite different. This space is all about functionality and productivity, which is why these tips are so necessary.
Maximize the Space You Have
The first tip sounds simple but it’s one that many homeowners fail to accomplish. If you’ve ever felt that your home office space was too small, crowded and not well organized then you probably haven’t maximized the space properly. Even a small office can be incredibly functional if the layout is well thought out. Maximizing the space should include using the full height of the walls as it can be great for shelving that acts as storage.
Don’t Have a Self-Contained Space – Create Privacy
So, what happens if you don’t have a self-contained office? Not everyone has a spare room in the house, so instead your office may be in a common room. If that’s the case, the redesign should include how to make the area more private and free of distractions. Nothing is worse than trying to work and be professional when you can hear all the goings-on of the household around you.
Some of the ways you can create a sense of privacy are using large bookshelves, a privacy screen, filing cabinets, a storage unit, and so forth. While this won’t block out the noise it will create the sense of walls. To block out noise, try using a white noise machine or have music softly playing in your office space. This should help to neutralize the household sounds.
Give the Office a Fresh Coat of Paint
If you want dramatic results that are quick and easy to come by, then a fresh coat of paint is the answer. Any time you change the color palette in a room, it will transform the vibe. For an office, you want to pick a color that is calming, soothing and yet also sparks creativity and focus. There’s no need for it to work with the rest of your home if it’s a self-contained space.
Some of the more popular paint colors that professional designers recommend for a home office include:
- Light blue
- Teal
- Green
- Light yellow
- Pastel peach
- Purple
- Off-white
- Gray
Each of these colors will feel professional, which may be important if you ever have clients/customers or co-workers visit your home office space.
Invest In High-Quality Comfortable Office Furniture
Perhaps the most important part of the redesign project is your office furniture, in particular, your desk and chair. You may be spending hours at a time at your desk, so it needs to be comfortable and provide you with enough workspace. If you’ve never looked into the concept of ergonomics and what it means, now is the time. Ergonomics itself looks at how people work in terms of the furniture and what it does to their bodies. The aim is to find ways to reduce the amount of physical discomfort and stress so you can also prevent work-related injuries.
To help determine if you’re following the right steps, follow this ergonomics 101 guide from Branch Furniture. Their Ergonomics guide takes you through many questions while at your desk and then provides you with helpful insight and tips. Ergonomics is something people need to make a conscious effort to achieve, and the tips contained on this site such as proper posture, proper positioning at your desk, the furniture you invest in and how important breaks are, will all help.
If you’re going to splurge on any items in your home office space, it’s best to make those items your desk and chair. This will be the best way to ensure you’re comfortable and productive.
Ample Lighting Is Essential
The final tip in your redesign project is to install ample lighting. This typically means a combination of overhead and task lighting. Having adequate lighting means you’ll be preventing eyestrain, which makes working very uncomfortable. A simple table or floor lamp may be all the additional lighting you need. Look for lamps that can be angled so you can position them perfectly.
Creating an office space that you want to spend time in and that fosters productivity and creativity should be top of the list. All of these tips will help you to achieve those goals.
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