Designing a Home Office That You Will Work From

Working from home, especially doing something you love, can be a very rewarding experience in many respects. Having to work in your pajamas, not having to share the toilet (that’s my favorite), no getting stuck in traffic and having your own work schedule are just a few of the reasons that people prefer to, or wish to, work at home.

Working from home has its challenges though; the most common being separation of work life from home life and creating a workspace that will eliminate distractions that reduce productivity.  The most important thing to do when preparing to work at home is to create an office.  Here are the three top principles for designing a home office to enhance your productivity.

Create a workspace that you will enjoy working in

Some people make the gravely mistake of assuming that because they will be working from home, they do not need to have a dedicated space because they can work lying face down on the bed, stretched out on the couch or even seated in front of the TV.  No serious work could ever go on in such situations.  A good office space should first be a workspace you will enjoy working in.  This means a comfortable seat, a good table, a neat area that reflects your line of work and everything you need to work within an arm’s reach.  A good workspace helps you feel confident and calm; it boosts your work morale and helps in concentration as well.

Emphasize on what the space is for

Having a workspace or a room dedicated to work is not enough, you have to ensure that the space available, the arrangement, the colors and everything in it complements your work’s attention.  Since the computer is the primary working tool, it will be the focal point of the room.  Do not include non-job related artifacts and items in the room or workspace, for example the TV or gaming consoles because they will cause a lot of distractions.  A minimalist office design is often the best environment to work in.

Set a tone for the space or room

Setting a tone in a room in designer jargon means scaling the room to ensure that the relationship of the objects in it positively affect how you feel when you work at home.  You can still set a tone even when you have just a space at a corner for work, you just need to have a mental border where your space starts and ends.  Creating a tone also involves keeping clutter to a minimum within the room or space, eliminating ‘negative space’ and streamlining the workspace to free up more space.

Utilize these basic design principles to create a home office or workspace that is both inspiring and productive.