Since the dawn of the information technology revolution, many changes in the workplace have gradually appeared. Many people who work online choose to abandon traditional offices. The alternative seems pretty tempting: work from within the comforts of your own house. More and more individuals have this option, and they are taking it up with gusto.

Bundling an office in your own home may sound like an easy task, but it can be challenging as well, with a fair bit of planning.

There are a lot of advantages that working at home can bring. Aside from the fact that you can escape the traffic in daily commute to work (2 or more hours a day for some), you will have more quality time with your family. Turning your home into your office requires time and effort to set up. It may sound overwhelming - from the planning, redesigning, and re-decorating but the result will be worth doing.

How to Create an Ideal Home Office

Depending on the type of home office you are planning to set up, you might spend a lot of hours on it. Below are some helpful tips you can consider to achieve an ideal home office many would be ecstatic about:

Pay extra attention to the ergonomics of your working space. If you'll need a computer (most of us do), you must make sure that your screen is at your eye level for improved visibility and to limit long term neck strain. You must consider that the keyboard has to be easily accessible, helping your arms and wrists to relax while typing. The latest version of a sit stand desk would be very convenient for your daily work since it helps you keep a standing posture and maintain your good health (as they say, “sitting is the new smoking”). Floor anti-fatigue mats and special monitor mounts could also be used to enhance ergonomics while working.

Give your office decoration a more personal touch. You don’t have to follow all the current trends in office decorating that you see on social media. Just respect YOUR DESIRES to create a workplace that you will love and give you a conducive working environment. After all, it is you who are going to spend most of your working hours in there. Make it as cozy as possible (for you).

Make sure you have plenty of storage space. Although modern workplace uses electronic files to store documents, you can’t totally avoid paper and other materials in the office, at least not anybody we know yet (don’t tell Greta Thunberg). Traditional filing cabinets might be too bulky, plus they require too much space that is necessary for other vital functions. A viable alternative could be the use of large bookcases that have more than enough space to fit all your books and paperwork, leaving you free space to move in the home office.

Artificial and natural light balance should be a top priority. You may have different working times based on the nature of your job, and where your team is located. Natural light is the perfect companion for the morning shift at the home office. A good idea would be to place your standing desk close to the window where you can benefit from the sunlight and have a moment of relaxing watching the scenery outside. On the other hand, you have to always prepare for the nighttime work shifts. Choosing the right desk lamps will make working in dark conditions a lot easier.

Personally select your furniture for your home office. You want to work in a comfortable, stress-free environment, so equip your home office with comfortable furniture to take a break or even a quick nap (many geniuses swear by this habit). This may include a sofa or a comfy chair together with a small coffee table that will transform your office in your secret paradise. Taking short breaks from work now and then refresh your brain and help you to concentrate more efficiently to the work you are doing.

Switch to a green office. Indoor plants are ideal for home offices, too. Place them close to the window to absorb sunlight. Plants help you feel relaxed during stress and anxiety. Looking at their calming colors can help you calm your mind when stress is burning you out. The green colour helps you relax and provides nature with an imprint to your home office.

Create your stock of useful office resources. Create a list of all the materials and supplies in your office. Or, make sure that all of them are properly organized. Check which of your old office resources can still be used so you don't need to buy new, and save that money for future expenses.

Find smart places to hide hardware that you are not fond of looking at. To make the most of your office space, make sure to get rid of unnecessary items. For other items at home that you do not need to be inside the office, you can just hide them in a safe place for future purposes.

Make your office look like the natural sequel to your house. Favourite gifts from your children or even old pictures with schoolmates that can give you inspiration and give a personal style to your home office. You will find it pretty amazing that these little details can refresh your mind and give you the extra boost each day.

What is the goal of the modern home office?

Ultimately, productivity is one of the top goals of every working individual. Since you are spending the day all alone, you can organize your home office according to your particular needs. That doesn’t mean that you can hang out in a lounger all day and expect to deliver proper results. A successful home office is cozy, but organized and conducive to productivity (not chaos).

Other Factors to Consider when Setting up your Ideal Home Office

The comfort level in your home office can be affected by many environmental factors. One of them could be the temperature. You can’t work in a cold room thinking that your feet are getting frozen. Neither can you work in a hot place during the summertime without proper air conditioning (or at least a fan), right? A home office should be adequately air-conditioned to ensure the high productivity of home workers.

Since you are not leaving home, the brain has to receive a specific stimulus to get into “work” mode. However, you can think of having something that can aid you to put yourself into that motivated mode. These stimuli may be settling yourself into position at your standing desk that equips your home office or could be sitting in your special ergonomic office chair to get you into the working mood.

Sometimes home offices cannot avoid distractions. TV sets and radios are the number one distraction that can keep you away from your productivity goals. Do not place equipment or appliances in your home office.

Finally, psychologists suggest you put some colour in your life. Home offices could easily be painted in energetic colours like green or orange. These colours can stimulate your brain to work more efficiently and focus on data you need to process during your daily tasks. It'll be worth it when you see the final results of your home office. It's just a matter of choosing the best design and a boost of creativity to come up with those plans.

It seems like creating a modern home office could be a daunting task. Stick to the advice of the experts and try to put your personal touch to feel satisfied while working. After all, a home office should be as lovable as your own home.

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