If you work from home or bring a portion of your work home with you, you’re probably considering building your own home office. Even if you already have a good design idea in mind, there are some things you might want to consider in turning your dream into reality. by taking a few suggestions, you can ensure you home office is both efficient and can also be a relaxing sanctuary that’s needed.
Choose the Best Location
This will be different for everyone and it will depend on whether you live alone or have a family. You may want a room that’s secluded and free from distractions, or, if you have young children, you may need to be easily accessible for emergencies. Also consider whether you want plenty of natural light, or will too many windows create greater distractions?
Choose Your Chair
This item is just as important as your location. If you’re not comfortable, you won’t be able to do your best work. For that reason, it’s important to get an office chair that will let you feel comfortable, but won’t relax you too much. remember, you still have to be productive. The best way to find the ideal office chair is to visit stores where you can sit in display chairs to get a feel for them. This can help you determine if it’s a good fit before you buy it.
There Should Also Be Room to Kick Back
Your home office won’t always be used for work and, if you’re telling yourself otherwise, you’re just lying to yourself. Whether you unwind by listening to the SDA bible commentary online or by playing your favorite video game, your office should also be a place to relax. You might want to include a small stereo system or iPod dock and a comfortable sofa or chair. Your home office should be a place where your work and home lives meet.
Do You Need New Tech?
This may also be a good opportunity to upgrade your technology. That may mean new hardware, like a new desktop computer and wifi router, or it may mean upgrading your internet and phone options. Most providers offer the option of bundling services to help you get what you need for the whole household at a discounted price. The key here is to recognize that you can’t be as efficient as you want, if your equipment and service isn’t up to the task.
Add Adequate Lighting
Even if you have plenty of windows in your home office, you’ll also want artificial light sources to supplement the sunlight. You may find yourself working in your home office after dark, as well. Supplying the room with additional lamps can help you provide a more productive environment, no matter what time of the day you choose to do some work.
Storage is as Important as Your Desk
Certainly, you want to select the right desk for your office, too. It should be large enough to hold your electronic equipment, important documents, storage devices, and other items you need to keep on hand. For everything else, you’ll want to make sure you have extra storage space. Bookshelves and filing cabinets work great, as do any spare closets that may be in the room. Looking for inventive ways to add storage can help to keep your office neat and orderly.
Personalize Your Space
Once you move all of the big stuff in and get it all setup, it’s time to think about the decor. That may involve adding some potted plants or hanging family photos on the wall. Feel free to add anything that makes you feel at home in your new office. This is your space and it should reflect your personality.
There is no right and wrong to creating your home office. If you want a mural depicting a scene from your favorite movie, that’s your choice. This is someplace where you’ll be working and, from time to time, relaxing, so it should be welcoming to you. By designing it according to your own tastes, you can create a space in which you’ll feel more productive and less stressed.
