Thinking of having a new office to work from home? Here are a few ideas to inspire you and have a truly beautiful special spot at home…

Studies show that up to 70% of people will be working from home for at least five days a month by 2025. And since it’s continued to play out in the first half of 2021, the forecast appears to be realistic.

But why would companies choose to perpetuate the work-from-home model?

That’s because employees are as productive working at home as they are at the office. More than 70% of companies plan to shift at least some of their employees to permanent remote work as a result.

You might be among those ordered to set up a home office permanently.

With this in mind, let’s put some thought and effort into creating a pleasant work environment at home. The idea is to blend fun, comfort, and productivity while minimising distractions.

Achieving the perfect balance of the above can be challenging. But perhaps not as much after you check out the following tried and tested ideas for creating an inviting home office.

The Ideas

#1 - Bring Nature into Your Home

Nature makes your workspace much more healthy and pleasant. Think in terms of a home office that looks out to bodies of water, trees, or a verdant garden.

That’s the type of office that boosts cognitive functions and energy levels, in addition to reducing exhaustion, stress, and frustration.

Sounds great? But what if the only thing you can see is the neighbor’s wall?

If that’s the case, you can bring nature inside.

It shouldn’t be all that hard to create an herb garden in your office, for example. Adding a bonsai tree or a real desk plant can do the trick as well.

Whatever you do, stay away from fake plants in your office.

It’s the real plants that will grow, flower, and change with the season. There’s great satisfaction in seeing a new sprout on your palm tree or a busily flowering cactus.

One tip in this regard is to go with the live plants that don’t require too much TLC, at least not in the beginning.

#2 - Add Cosy Accessories

Minimalist offices with little to no accessories are all the rave. That’s perfectly fine if you’re into minimalism.

However, if you want some details to make the office more comfortable, adding accessories is the best way to go.

Things like cool pencil mugs, sticky notes, and desk mats can make a great deal of difference. They take away the utilitarian note of offices and help you personalize your workstation.

And if you wish to step things up a notch, you can install curtains over your bookshelves. Motivational prints and other artwork are also helpful for your productivity. These decorations can make your office feel immeasurably cozy besides.

#3 - Use Dividers if You Have a Smaller Space

If your home is a bit cramped, it’s possible to section off your living room to create a work area.

In that case, you don’t have to go with unsightly office dividers.

A much better idea could be decorative three-piece screens, room dividers, and mock walls. If you’re the DIY type, you can even create a custom divider. You only need three pieces of MDF, six hinges, and some wallpaper to whip something up.

Hinged dividers are probably the best option as you can collapse them whenever you need more room in your living room.

Functionally, you may want a divider that can give you some much-needed privacy in your home office. Even better if you can find something that can also buffer some of the ambient sounds.

#4 - Choose a Soothing Colour Palette

The office beige comes to mind whenever people think of offices. But will it really help you stay on top of your game?

Probably not.

Why not surround yourself with soothing colours that promote productivity and focus instead? There’s a whole range of calming oranges and blues that will work great.

Also, you can learn more about the science of colour to arrive at those that best suit your work and personal preferences. For example, lime green may make you feel more energetic.

Turquoise, on the other hand, imparts serenity, peace, and stability. And if you wish to inject a bit of fun, consider some shade of purple on your walls.

The colours to avoid are the ones that will make your home office darker or appear smaller.

When it comes to colour, the overall idea is to make the room well-lit, airier, and more welcoming.

#5 - Go with Layered Lighting

Your home office needs light and lots of it.

Ideally, you’ll have one big window that can let in a lot of natural light. You can then complement it with strategic placements of accent lights and desk lamps.

While many choose to have windows and natural light behind their back, this might not be the best idea. Unless you install drapes to diffuse some of the light, this could cause glare on your computer screen.

And although you can reduce some of the glare with a desk lamp, wouldn’t it be better to position your desk in front of the window in the first place?

This allows you to enjoy sunlight without affecting the visibility of your screen. Better yet, the sight of trees and greenery can help you to clear your mind and refocus.

As for the placement of lamps and accent lights, there aren’t any hard rules. The quantity and the type of lightbulb can be whatever best suits your eyes and sense of style.

If you wish, you can go with smart lights that can automatically change the lighting based on your preferences.

#6 - Consider Bespoke Furniture

A lot of the time, no furniture maximizes your office space like bespoke furniture.

Since the pieces are custom ordered to fit your room, you can make the best use of existing windows, doors, and sockets. You’ll be able to put awkward alcoves to good use, like installing some shelving impossible to find at regular furniture shops.

Although bespoke signifies more expensive, you can consider it as an investment. After all, you’ll be using your home office every day, or almost daily, so the initial outlay may not be all that much over time.

#7 - Get a Great Office Chair

Since you’ll be using the office chair quite a bit, it’s got to provide sufficient support and comfort.

Some office chairs may look amazing, but not so much in terms of comfort or support. It’s best to get one that can recline and features adjustable height and armrests.

That’s so you can always find your preferred position and keep fatigue at bay.

Additionally, the padding and upholstery shouldn’t be too soft or too stiff. A chair that can contour to your body will give you just the right amount of support without putting undue pressure on your upper legs and back.

Similar to bespoke furniture, an office chair is an investment. A good one can take away the pain and any discomfort caused by staring at your computer screen for too long or in an awkward position.

#8 - Make Sure There’s No Clutter

Office clutter is a distraction and can severely affect your productivity. As such, you might want to remove everything that you don’t need and keep the work area clean.

There are many home office storage options so it shouldn’t be hard to find something suitable. A small chest of drawers or a cupboard may prove to be indispensable.

You can also install some shelves for storing documents in a way that you can retrieve them without getting up. Locate your document shredder, printer, and other gear such that they don’t get in your way.

Create the Coolest Office in the World

By now, you’ve probably been dreaming about that perfect home office. That’s great, but how about one more tip towards that?

Before you start decorating, spend some time planning out your home office. Use a measuring tape to figure out how much space you have to play with.

Next up is all of your tech needs. For example, if you require a dual-monitor setup, now is the time to plan your desk purchase and placement.

If there’s room for it, you can even consider adding a small sofa.

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Eight Home Office Design Ideas to Make Your Work More Fun

Thinking of having a new office to work from home? Here are a few ideas to inspire you and have a truly beautiful special spot at home…