If you regularly work from home or need a place to study in privacy, you could benefit from setting up an office inside of your home. It will provide you with the focus and quiet you need to complete a task with ease, as you will not be distracted by your loved ones, the TV or chores within the home.

If you have a spare room waiting to be transformed, here are ten tips for creating a stylish and functional home office.

Select the Right Location Within the Home

It is imperative to pick the right location for your office within the home. If you have a number of spaces to choose from, you should position your office in the quietest area of the home, so you can avoid loud, irritating noises that could distract your mind. For example, avoid creating a home office near a child’s playroom or a busy kitchen.

Welcome Natural Light to Support Your Performance

Natural lighting cannot only make your home office appear more inviting and attractive, but recent research has found that it can improve a person’s performance, as it can lead to a better sleep pattern and greater vitality. For this reason, you should position your office desk near a window, if possible, which could make you feel more relaxed and focused.

Improve Your Comfort

If you are studying or remote working, you will need to improve your home office’s comfort levels, which can make you more productive.

For example, you can increase your comfort levels by:

Buying an ergonomic chair

Positioning your desk away from a radiator to avoid overheating

Adding an anti-glare screen onto your computer

Incorporating a reading chair or sofa

So, rather than being distracted by your discomfort, you can focus on completing an important task on your to-do list.

Consider Your Work Requirements

Before you start designing your home office, you must consider your work requirements. For example, if you are embarking on a degree with Exeter Online (online.exeter.ac.uk), you will not only require a reliable computer and a comfortable chair, but you may need a printer, scanner, and an external hard drive to back up your essays and research.

If you plan to use many textbooks for your studies, you may also need to invest in a sturdy bookcase to maintain a clean, organised office space. It might also be necessary to install additional power outlets if you plan to use much technology in your home office.

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Enhance Your Interior Design

As you will work in your home office every day, you will want it to appear stylish and welcoming. For example, nothing can drain your energy quite like bare, white walls, which can make a room appear cold and clinical.

To add warmth, comfort and style into your home office, you should:

Hang colourful works of art to suit your personality

Paint your room in a neutral colour scheme (avoid bright hues that can be harsh and distracting)

Add personality with decorative finishes (sculptures, photo frames, candles, etc.)

You also must seriously consider your home office flooring. For example, hardwood flooring can make a room appear stylish and spacious, while carpet can add softness and warmth into a space. You also can inject both colour and texture into your office by adding a fashionable rug.

Incorporate Houseplants to Lower Your Stress Levels

Houseplants cannot only add a splash of colour into your home office’s interior, but it could support your productivity and performance. It has been reported that houseplants can purify a room’s air while helping to lower a person’s stress levels.

You should, therefore, incorporate different plants to remove toxins and clean the air, such as:

English ivy

Aloe plant

Snake plant

Philodendron

Spider plants

The above options cannot only increase oxygen within your home office, but they are easy to maintain and can create a more relaxing environment.

Invest in Storage Solutions

Loose papers, stationery and books cannot only impact your interior design, but it can also lead to disorganisation, which can slow you down when you are trying to work or study. Rather than filling your home office with unsightly filing cabinets, you should invest in stylish storage solutions. For example, you should hang shelving, utilise under-desk storage and add storage baskets into your space to reduce clutter.

Add Good Task Lighting

If your room lacks natural sunlight or you need to work or study late at night, you should add good task lighting into your office space. For example, purchase an angled desk lamp, which you can tilt towards your computer, textbook, or notebook. Efficient lighting will ensure you don’t need to squint your eyes to read a paragraph in a book or complete an important business presentation.

Create an Inspiring Office Space

It can sometimes feel like a chore to drag yourself into your office to work on a project or revise for an upcoming exam. If your motivation is decreasing, you must create an environment that sparks a passion inside of you every day.

For example, you could hang photos of destinations that inspire you, create a mood board that pushes you towards reaching your personal or professional goals, or add awards or frame certificates that can prove what you can do when you set your mind to it. However, don’t go overboard, or you could create a cluttered environment that you might be eager to avoid.

Routinely Stand Up to Boost Your Energy Levels

Sitting down for long periods of time can make a person feel tired and lethargic. To increase your energy levels, avoid backaches and burn more calories, you should regularly stand up while working.

For example, you could buy a height-adjustable desk, which will allow you to sit down and stand up at different points throughout the day. It could re-focus your mind and increase your energy levels, which could help you to reach your goals with ease.

Author

Northern girl Laura is the epitome of a true entrepreneur. Laura’s spirit for adventure and passion for people blaze through House of Coco. She founded House of Coco in 2014 and has grown it in to an internationally recognised brand whilst having a lot of fun along the way. Travel is in her DNA and she is a true visionary and a global citizen.

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