For many reasons, including rising office space costs, cost and environmental impact of travel, and the improvement of online connectivity and the ability to collaborate virtually, more and more people are working from home. It is becoming more common to have an office, or work space, within the home. In our last blog, we looked at how office design can affect your productivity. Home office layout and design is just as important – so below are some ideas to help you get the most out of your space.

Sound

Making sure your office space is separate from the rest of your home is essential. If it’s located in a space that you also relax in, it will impede your ability to work hard when at your desk, and to relax when not working, as your brain relates certain areas to specific states of mind. Make sure it’s as quiet as possible to shut out the noise from the world outside, and avoid potential distractions from family, housemates, pets, and the temptation to procrastinate. Tranquillity is important in reducing stress and allowing complete concentration on the work at hand.

Organisation

How easy the area is to work in will have a huge effect on how productive you are. Organisation and room layout are key elements to this. Organised folders, labelled files, and whiteboards are all useful tools to help assemble your work. Position your desk so that the main window(s) are not in front or behind you, but at the side. This will stop the light hitting you directly in eyes or creating a glare on your computer screen. Which side the light from the window comes from can be chosen based on which hand you write with. We’ve all heard that an organised room reflects an organised mind.

Comfort

You may think comfort is an element most important for the lounge or bedroom, but if you are uncomfortable in your office space you will be less productive. Your desk chair is a central component here. You need to strike the right balance between function and comfort, there is no one chair that is the best at this; each person will have individual requirements that must be catered to. Considering individual’s specific needs is also important in work office design. A good idea, if you have enough space, is to have a supportive desk chair, and a more comfortable chair, sofa, or beanbag in another part of the room, creating an area to relax separate from sitting in front of the TV in the living room. This is a good place to recharge whilst still thinking through work ideas. Plants are a great addition to any space, they are pleasing to look at and calming, not to mention they exert that all important oxygen to keep your brain working at its best!

Lighting

By far one of the most important elements in a home office, good illumination is essential to creating the work mood. Natural light is preferential, but artificial light is also important, as you can choose the angle and strength to suit your needs and the specifications of the room. A light and airy atmosphere will help to keep your energy levels up, and keep you motivated. A dark room is considered a poor working condition, and can impede your ability to be productive.

Feel inspired? If you want to learn more about new design ideas, check out some of our blogs below.