During the COVID-19 pandemic, many employers helped their staff stay safe by encouraging them to work from home as much as possible. However, as any office employee can attest - working remotely came with a lot of struggles - efficiency, distractions, lack of motivation, and, most importantly (in our opinion), office camaraderie. After all, it can be hard to emulate the structure of an office environment if you’re working from your bedroom.
If you're still working from home despite COVID restrictions being lifted, it's important that you stay on task and focused, and what better way to do that than by upgrading and improving your home office set up?
If you're still working from home despite COVID restrictions being lifted, it's important that you stay on task and focused, and what better way to do that than by upgrading and improving your home office set up?
How To (Re) Design The Perfect Home Office
- To begin, your office should be in an area that is as private as possible. A finished basement, attic or spare bedroom are the obvious choices. If you have limited space, try to steer away from your bedroom as much as possible. After all, your bedroom is your sanctuary, a place to unwind and relax, not fret about work loads and deadlines. If your work area is in your bedroom (or any other shared space in your home for that matter), section it off from the rest of the room with a room divider or cubicle storage organizer.
  4 Panel Room Divider, White Or Natural, amazon.com |
  12 Cube Storage Organizer, Other Colors Available, amazon.com |
- Invest in a high quality desk chair. If you are going to be spending a lot of time behind a screen, it’s important that you receive the appropriate support from your chair as poor posture can lead to muscle strain and long-lasting damage to your neck, back and shoulders. Being able to adjust the height and backrest of your office chair is important, as is lumbar support. And while ergonomic chairs can be pricey, they are a worthwhile investment.
- While the furniture is no doubt the most important part of your work area, the way in which the entire space looks is important too. Add an area rug under your desk to anchor the space and create a sense of warmth and comfort. If there is a window in or near your work space, make the most of the natural light by swapping out heavy blinds or curtains with attractive, lightweight window treatments in a color and pattern that complement the area rug--and vice versa!
  Washable Area Rug, Assorted Colors And Sizes, amazon.com |
  Central Park Sheer Curtains, Assorted Colors And Sizes, amazon.com |
- Speaking of color and patterns, consider adding pops of color in shades that are conducive to an efficient work space. For example, green fosters concentration. Blue promotes creativity. Red increases productivity. Papering an accent wall in a color that speaks to you will add color and style to what might be an ordinary room. Check out this source to learn more about the different colors and styles of wallpaper available for your home office.
- Keep your office environment healthy with the use of an air purifier. In fact, you can purchase an air purifier system that will cover your whole home, keeping you safe from indoor air pollution no matter what room you're in. In the winter, lock moisture in with a humidifier, and in the summer, avoid mold and mildew with the use of a dehumidifier.
- While you might already have a desk lamp on your work surface, it may not be best suited for your needs. Invest in a high-quality desk lamp that is in proportion to your desk size and use an LED or halogen bulb for the clearest, brightest light. What style lamp is up to you: adjustable swing arms, banker's lamps and goose neck lamps are all popular styles for a home office.
  LED Desk Lamp With USB & Outlets, amazon.com |
  Flexible Gooseneck LED Clamp-On Lamp, amazon.com |
- If your work space has gotten tired and boring, you can add a few personal touches the same way you might when working in a commercial office space. We suggest you ditch the mismatched desk accessories and opt for a matching set instead. Place easy to care for potted plants (like pothos, jade and succulents) in attractive pots around your work space, which not only looks great but also improves the air quality around you as well. Including stylish photo frames of friends, family and pets and motivational wall prints of various sizes also adds a bit of personality as well.
  Rose Gold Desk Accessory Set, amazon.com |
  4 Pc. Desk Set, Other Colors Available, amazon.com |
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- If your office equipment has seen better days, reach out to your employer. They may be willing to provide you with new equipment or the funds to purchase new equipment. After all, a slow processor or a temperamental printer wastes valuable time. Don't hesitate to ask for upgrades to smaller items such as a new keyboard or mouse, too.
- An organized space is a productive space, so you should strive for a work area with adequate storage and organization--something you might be lacking after working from home for some time. Keeping organized with shelving, filing cabinets, bookshelves, storage bins and desk organizers will also help to keep your space neat and tidy.
  3 Tier Open Shelf Bookcase, Other Sizes & Colors Available, amazon.com |
  7 Cube Organizer, amazon.com |
- If you find that you are losing your cell phone or wifi signal more often than not, call your service providers to see if you can upgrade your services. For example, I recently had to add a signal booster to our cell service because we continued to experience drop calls and poor signals--our wireless provider offered it to us free of charge. Additionally, you can purchase an inexpensive wifi range extender to help strengthen the wifi signal in your home.
Have you done anything to redesign your office space? Personally, I used a peel and stick wallpaper to create an accent wall, and I love it! Let us know your thoughts in the comments below, we'd love to hear from you.
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