Whether you work from home or bring work home with you after a day at the office, creating an office space in your home is of utmost priority. It’s important that you can work in a space that nurtures your productivity instead of stifles it.
There are four main aspects to consider when designing and creating your home office space. Read on and discover what they are.
What you need for a home office
When maximising your home office space, it’s important to think about what you need in there. For most people, that will mean a desk, chair, and computer. Do you also need space to store documents, a printer, or storage space? Consider what you need to do your job efficiently, and what might just be taking up space. If you’re looking to create a small home office, see our guide containing the top tips on how to create a small home office.
Invest in storage smart storage
One of the best ways to maximise your home office space is to invest in smart storage solutions. From desks and shelves to filing cabinets, cupboards, dividers, and drawers, choosing the right storage will help to declutter your home office and increase the amount of useable space. Making the most of your floor to ceiling space can help to free up floor space and make the room feel bigger.
Declutter
If your home office is cluttered, it can have a huge impact on your productivity.
Decluttering your office will free up more space and help you focus. So sort through your stationery, documents, and files, and dispose of anything that you don’t need. If you’ve got equipment or furniture sitting gathering dust, it’s time to ditch it or find it a new home!
Invest in smaller office furniture
Oversized desks and furniture can quickly dominate an office space. With this in mind, opt for smaller office furniture that fits the room, while still meeting your needs. If space is limited, you should also look out for multi-functional pieces of furniture that will help you to maximise space. Think tables that double up as storage, desks with built-in shelves, etc.
Make use of office wall space
Not all storage solutions need to take up floor space. There are lots of effective storage options available that can be attached to your walls instead, such as cupboards, shelves, and wall hooks. Providing a great space for books, files, decorative items and more, is a great way to maximise space.
Remember mirrors on walls can also make a space feel a lot bigger too!
Decorate
Finally, your home office should be a space that you enjoy spending time in so make sure you fill it with all of your favourite things. Pictures, ornaments, and anything else that brings a smile to your face during your working day can make such a difference to your mood and focus.
A splash of colour can also brighten your office space. Opt for blue to create a calm working space or yellow to create a happy working environment.
How do I set up a home office in my bedroom
Maybe working in your living room or kitchen isn’t possible due to size or living in shared accommodation. It’s entirely possible to set up a home office in your bedroom, but it’s important to create those invisible borders and optimise your space.
When it comes to boundary setting, it doesn’t necessarily have to be physical. By setting rigid start and stop times for your working day and having specific outfits for work hours, you can create a routine that has a greater impact than furniture alone. If you don’t have space for a desk chair to be a permanent feature, moving this back to where it came from at the end of the day can become part of that all-important routine.
Of course, space may be sparing and having to move furniture daily may not be a possibility for some of us. In this instance, multi-purpose furniture is a great way of optimising your bedroom. Many products are on the market for this exact reason, including floating desks, bureaus, and fold out cupboards.
Creating a home office guide
Location
The room or part of your house where you choose to situate your home office is important. You’ll want to make sure that you are positioned in an area which doesn’t get too much ambient noise from the rest of the home, such as the noise of your family, pets or simply other neighbours. You will most likely also want a big enough space for a desk, possibly a bookshelf, or a filing cabinet for important documents. Therefore, a medium sized room, or a space to one side of a larger living room or lounge could be the most appropriate.
However, you may not want to feel isolated and shut away from the rest of the house, so it could be important that the area you choose is also connected to other main areas of your home. An office that is situated off the reception area of your home, with a door you can close against any noise, means that you won’t miss out on seeing anyone pass through your home and you can engage with them if you wish.
Lighting
There’s no use working in dim light, squinting at your computer screen and risking damage to your eyes. When planning your office, make sure there’s enough light, both natural and artificial. Using a room with large windows or a skylight can bring in natural light for the work-from-home types and can also help you to take breaks from the screen of your computer.
In terms of artificial lighting, for those who bring work home in the evenings, an overhead light can be the best way to maximise the illumination of the room. However, if you’re looking for more muted lighting, a desk lamp or a standing lamp can add a slightly lower light level to the space. This is especially effective if your office is situated in part of another room in the house and you want to avoid turning on all the lights in the room.
Furniture
Comfort is of utmost importance when working, since it can make a huge difference to your productivity when you aren’t wrestling with an uncomfortable chair or a desk that is too tall or short. Not only that but making sure you have appropriate furniture can save you from health problems in the future, such as bad backs and poor posture, sore necks, carpal tunnel and others.
Make sure that the chair you have places your eyeline at the top of your computer screen to promote good posture and that your desk is at the right height for your forearms to be at a 90° angle to your upper arms when you’re typing.
Accessories
While you may think that all you need for a home office is a desk, a chair, and a computer, adding some other touches can make it not only functional but also an enjoyable place to work.
Adding art to the walls of your study or home office can make a room seem brighter and more welcoming, while accents like desk tidies and organisational aids can also provide use and style to the space.
If you need to make space for a home office in your house, why not consider storing some items in self-storage? Not only will you be able to free up some space, you’ll also know that your belongings are safe and secure, and accessible whenever you need them. Click here to find out more.
Why choose Titan Storage?
Here at Titan Storage, we have a variety of flexible storage solutions that are helpful and convenient during any renovation project or house move. Whether you want immediate short-term storage or long-term storage for those items that don’t have a place in your home office at the moment, get in touch to see how we can help!
