Home Office Hacks: How To Design A More Functional Workplace

Working from home has become increasingly common in the last five years. Studies show that more than 22 million Americans now work from home. If you’ve set up your own business or changed working arrangements, this guide is for you. In this article, we’ll provide some simple hacks to help you create a functional workplace at home.

Create a dedicated work area

The most important step to take when you start working from home is to create a dedicated area. Whether you have a room you can use as an office, or you’re exploring alternatives, it’s crucial to have a place where you can focus solely on work-related tasks. If you have a study, this is brilliant news, but you don’t need to panic if your home doesn’t have a purpose-built office. You could use a dining room, a guest room or part of a larger, open-plan living space. Use versatile furniture to design multipurpose spaces, for example, tables that double up as desks and swapping larger beds for sofa beds and daybeds in bedrooms. For versatile reception rooms, add screens or physical structures to create separate zones in living rooms and kitchens.

If you’re planning to work from home in the long term, and you’re open to renovation projects to add more space, it’s worth considering ideas like converting an attic or basement or adding a garden room.

Add a professional touch

Working from home offers plenty of perks, but it can be more difficult to focus, especially if your office or workspace doesn’t feel like a place of work. Add a professional touch. Focus on aesthetics and functionality. You need to be comfortable, but it’s also beneficial to enjoy the look and feel of your office. Browse furniture options, try out different desks and chairs and opt for adjustable furniture that will help you maintain good posture. Explore solutions like the Clearly Innovative Glass Chair Mat and invest in storage to keep clutter at bay. Tidy your desk, file papers and arrange devices to streamline the way you work. You can use storage, such as shelving units, boxes and trays to hide stuff, but you can also make a feature of floating shelves, cabinets and corner units.

Maximize natural light

Have you ever noticed that you feel more energetic and motivated when it’s bright outside? Natural light has an uplifting effect and it can help us to be more productive and efficient. Research shows that over 65% of US employees feel that a healthy work environment boosts their productivity levels. When you’re designing your home office, try to maximize exposure to natural light. Open the curtains wide, opt for light colors on the walls and floor and use mirrors to bounce light around the room. Angle your desk to take advantage of natural light. Facing windows and doors is beneficial for light exposure and it usually means you get a better view too.

Tailor the design to suit your needs

People with all kinds of jobs now work from home. The design of your office should reflect your needs and preferences. Think about the look of the room, but also the vibe you want to create. Do you need to concentrate at all times? Does your job require meticulous attention to detail? Are you talking to customers or colleagues throughout the day? Do you need to be able to move around? Is your role creative? Do you need to feel inspired every time you walk through the door?

Tailor the design to suit the job and your personality. If you have a creative job, for example, think about your use of color and add features or furniture that energize and inspire you. If you have a more practical job, consider the setup and layout and how you’re going to use tools, machinery or furniture to optimize efficiency and output. If you need to focus on figures or analyze data, for example, prioritize peace and comfort and avoid bright, clashing colors and prints. Neutral shades and colors like green, blue and purple can be calming while tones of orange and yellow are energizing. If you don’t want to go crazy with color, but you want to inject personality, use accessories such as plant pots, vases, storage pots, cushions and wall art.

Working from home offers more flexibility and control, but it can pose challenges, especially if you haven’t got a purpose-built workspace. If you’re switching to a home office, it’s critical to find a suitable work area and customize it to suit your needs. Design a quiet space where you can focus on work-related activities, prioritize comfort as well as style, and maximize natural light. Add a professional touch and use practical furniture and storage solutions to streamline the way you work.