6 Easy Tips for a Productive and Cozy Home Office

The past year and a half were hectic with many of us being forced to create a makeshift home office to work out of. No matter if you like this remote work arrangement or not, the reality is that many working people are considering creating more permanent and stylish home office solutions. If you’re one of them, don’t worry about the size of the remodeling project. With a few essential tricks up your sleeve, you’ll create a workplace at home that will boost your productivity and the quality of your work.

Designate some space

If you easily succumb to distractions, you need a separate space away from all the noise and business of the household to work efficiently. The best thing you can do for your work/life balance is to have a clearly defined office space in your home, preferably something with doors so you can unplug after 5 pm. Some people were very much inspired by the lockdown and came up with hybrid home office spaces like ‘shoffice’—office in a backyard shed, ‘cloffice’—office in a walk-in closet or ‘goffice’—office in a garage.

Place your desk properly

Once you have your space ready for furnishing and decoration, start creating your layout by putting your work desk in the right place. Choosing the wrong spot can ruin your productivity very quickly—a bad angle can create glare, your back to the door can trigger anxiety and facing a blank wall can kill your inspiration and motivation. The best spot for your desk is usually somewhere near a natural light source. Even facing a window can be great, but make sure to grab curtains for overly sunny days. If you’re hanging on Zoom calls all day, watch out for your background. You don’t want your clients or colleagues to see confidential documents or kids running behind you.

Provide plenty of storage

Filing cabinets are still very important, but most of us work in the digital world. To hide ugly printers, fax machines, shredders and other electronics yet keep them close, the best solution is to invest in a built-in bookshelf with cabinets. Place your desk in front, and you’ll not only manage to hide unsightly router boxes and office electronics and supplies but also create a gorgeous backdrop for your video calls, especially if you personalize open shelving properly.

Personalize your space

While we’re on the subject of personalization, one of the best parts of remote work is that you can create your home office from scratch and dictate how it looks and feels. To decorate your space, it’s important to think about things that inspire you—a particular art piece, your private collection of objects, your travel memorabilia, your family, etc. And make sure to add some nature to your space to boost mood and productivity. Greenery works great, but if you’re not into gardening, you can opt for an elegant everlasting rose in a jar to grace your shelf or desk. This simple yet gorgeous piece will serve as a focal point without demanding any maintenance on your side.

Don’t neglect the lighting

People all over the world mostly work during the day, so you want to use that free light and allow it to illuminate your workspace—open windows, grab light window treatment and cut greenery that blocks the light from the outside. If you don’t have enough sunlight, recessed lighting in the ceiling will create pleasant ambient illumination. Task lighting over the desk and seating areas is also crucial and a great way to additionally boost the personality in your space.

Create a seating area

You will naturally have your desk chair, but what about your clients or your kids who like to pop in to say hi? If you have some extra space, use it to create a relaxing seating area. For instance, a combination of two leather chairs and a plush ottoman will offer comfort and make your office look professional. Separate the space from the main work area with a rug and you’ll have a perfect space for meetings with clients, family chats and 5-minute breaks between tasks.

Creating a home office requires some planning, but if you follow these tips, you’ll get it right the first time. And who knows, you might grow to love remote work in case you’re not already in love with it!