2020 was the year of the home office as companies shifted to a work from home setup for their employees. However, the majority of workers were not prepared for a home office setup, and may still be using a makeshift home office through 2021.
It looks like working from home will be a norm for some time to come, so it is essential that you have a working home office that is conducive to a productive and focused work environment. Home is where we typically go to for a stress-free and cozy environment, but the work from home setup has blurred the line between work and home life.
By now, you may have bought all the home office essentials like a desktop computer, printer, and other office equipment, but if you’re having difficulty focusing on your work, it’s time to redecorate! Making a few small adjustments into your home office can help you get your productivity back, and be more efficient at work and at home!
1. Open the curtains to let natural light in.
Natural light helps a great deal to brighten up your office, keep a warm tone that encourages productivity, and keeps your mind alert throughout the day. Our natural circadian rhythms are aligned with the sun day in and day out, so keeping a bright office makes us more focused on the task at hand.
For north-facing windows, open up the curtains to let in all that natural lighting, or open up your skylight if you have one above your office. You can artificially mimic natural lighting using daylight bulbs, but avoid deep orange hues that give off a cozier vibe than a productive one.
2. Clean up your home office.
After a year of working from home, cleaning up your office helps to keep your documents organized, your office equipment dusted, and your devices in good working order. Much like in your corporate office, the dust that flies around your home office can cause allergies, rhinitis, and skin asthma when improperly cleaned.
Maintain a weekly cleaning schedule for your home office by tracking down all the items that need to be wiped or dusted within the week. Keep a cleaning board posted to keep track of your cleaning chores, and have all-purpose sanitizing solutions on hand for impromptu cleaning throughout the day!
Similarly, as your company shifts back to corporate offices, you will need to keep your workplace cleaned to prevent the spread of germs and diseases. Click here to find out how office cleaning can greatly help keep your business operations running smoothly with proper sanitizing and disinfection!
3. Add plants for liveliness.
Got a green thumb around your garden? Bring that sense of life indoors by adding a few desktop and lowlight plants around your office! Work can be particularly stressful when you have to finish your tasks remotely, but having an office buddy can help you focus better. Even a small desktop plant such as a succulent can decrease your work stress and add liveliness indoors.
If you’re not keen on caring for indoor plants, artificial plants work just as well. You will need to dust and wipe down your artificial plants, however, as these can collect dust easily. Otherwise, plants are low maintenance beings that help keep up the morale in your office while providing a brightening, natural aesthetic!
4. Stick to neutral and minimalist furniture.
Have you decorated your office yet? In commercial spaces, office furniture tends to lean towards a neutral side to keep from distracting patterns and fabrics. In your home, you may have an affinity for cozy furniture like soft couches, weighted blankets, and bean bag chairs that actually calm you down more than they do keep you productive.
Invest in your home office, and stick to neutral, minimalist furniture like solid-colored office chairs, tables with hidden compartments, and space-saving foldable furniture to keep your workspace neat while still functioning as a home office while you work from home.
5. Accent your home office.
Although you should keep your office space minimalistic, accenting your workplace with fun rugs, small decorations, and motivational framed art can personalize your home office to make the room seem less detached from the rest of your home. After all, your office is a part of your home, so personalizing this room makes as much sense as decorating the rest of your home.
Keep accents to a minimum, and choose colors that will bring out the brightness of your home office. Rugs can be used for a soft underfoot in the office without the sleepy coziness of a carpet, while framed art can be aesthetically pleasing to the eye.