Creating the perfect home office

As our work lives become more flexible and the possibility or necessity to work from home increases, the need to find the space for a dedicated home office is elevated. 

If you work from home regularly, or even just occasionally, you know how important it is to design a home office that actually encourages you to get things done.

Countries around the world are either recommending or enforcing quarantine and self-isolation measures, with the possibility of Australia following suit. 

Having a separate, designated work space has been proven to increase productivity and make it easier to switch-off at the end of the word day, so here are out top-tips on how to create a home office, whether you have a little or a lot of space. 

Office furniture

You want your home office to be comfortable enough to work productively – but not too comfortable so as to encourage procrastination. 

Make sure your desk is at the right height for you, so your arms rest easily at right angles. To go with your desk, you'll need a well-designed ergonomic chair. Check out the great range at Corporate Chairs.

Alternately, you can buy a desk similar to this one from Officeworks so you can alternate between sitting and standing. Buy a wireless printer and run all other cords behind furniture and along the wall, so when you raise your desk to a standing position, you won’t get tangled up in cords.

Separate your work environment

When you work from home, it’s easier to get distracted by your personal life. If your study doesn’t have a door, use a standing divider so you can close it off at night. And use different artwork in your home office than you would use in other rooms. This way, when you step into the study you’ll feel like you’ve made a transition to work.

Organisation

It’ll be easier to get things done if you have everything stored in its rightful place. Add bread clips to your power cords so you know which one is which, clean up your drawer organisers and create ‘zones’. Separate the work zone (desk and the computer) from the reference zone (how-to manuals, reference books, binders, filing cabinets, etc) and the supply zone where the office supplies are kept.

If your home office is on the small side, however, go vertical. Think about floating shelves, hanging filing systems or a panel of wall-mounted caddies. Wall organisers are practical and convenient because your files are easily accessible and visible.

Lighting

The right kind of lighting doesn’t just affect your eyes, it can also affect your mood. Make sure you’re looking after both. Natural light is best, but if you don’t have enough access to it, or you’re a night owl, then invest in a good lamp. Use light bulbs with colour temperatures of 5000K or higher — often called ‘daylight’ bulbs, as they provide just about the same level of brightness as natural daylight.

Go green

A must is an indoor plant in your home office. Not only will it purify the air, but it’ll also improve your mood. Pretty indoor plants like Maidenhair ferns and Fiddle Leaf Figs will brighten up the space.

Read this article to find out how to can create an edible garden.