The recent coronavirus pandemic has forced most of us to stay quarantined inside our homes, struggling to continue our usual jobs while working remotely. Others have also chosen to find freelance jobs or even start their own businesses, using this opportunity to find a new career they could pursue from the comfort of their home.
But regardless of the nature of your job, the truth is that no work can be done quickly and efficiently at home without a designated workspace, as it’s the only way to ensure proper focus and productivity necessary for any business. To that end, here are some ideas that will help you construct, organize, and decorate a home office including backyard home office perfectly suited to your needs:
Find the perfect spot
Even if you live in a smaller home and there’s no separate room that you can turn into your home office, it’s still possible to carve out a well-designed work hub. One spot that can work perfectly well is the often unutilized space under your bedroom window. With a simple wooden desktop stretching along the width of your window, you can have a great low-cost workspace that takes up minimal square footage.
You could also consider installing a pull-out desk in your living room or kitchen, or you could even opt for a hidden work spot in a closet. The latter can be an ideal solution, as it’s neatly hidden away behind closed doors when you’re not working, and there’s plenty of room for various shelves to store your essential office supplies.
Create a full home office room
If you do have a separate space in your home that can be turned into a designated home office, then you might also have more freedom in designing it to accommodate all your business needs, including the technical equipment and the necessary furniture.
Professional designers recommend minimum dimensions of 150cm by 210cm for a workspace, but as your home office could also be your production space, you might consider a larger area. It can be a spare room in your house, but you could also consider a finished basement, heated garage or a hobby shed. Another practical option is converting a guest bedroom into an office, especially during this time of social distancing when you’re most likely not entertaining.
Design the layout
When deciding on office wall decor ideas, bear in mind your basic needs. You’ll most likely use the space for various activities, such as meetings, writing, creative thinking, product packing and possibly even production. Having different sections can help in maintaining focus and avoiding clutter.
You can also rely on Feng Shui principles to help you opt for the best location of your home office, choose the appropriate layout, and perfectly arrange the furniture and decor. According to that philosophy, the proper arrangement of space has a positive impact on health, wealth, success, and happiness. You can also use Canvas Photo Prints for a budget-friendly option to display your photos with a professional appearance.
Keep it safe
Regardless of the type of work you’ll be doing in your home office, it will most likely contain a number of important documents, products, and technical equipment, such as your computer, printer, multiple computer screens, noise-canceling headphones, etc.
As all of these supplies are essential to your business, and keeping the home and them safe should be a priority. For that reason, it might be wise to invest in a good, comprehensive home insurance policy, which will not only cover the structure of your home from any damages and break-ins but also add protection to those precious business contents inside. This will allow you to keep your home office safe and secure no matter what happens.
Be smart about storage and organization
When you’re setting up your home office, ample storage and good organization is crucial. There are many practical ways to make the most of your space, such as buying convertible furniture, making use of vertical space, incorporating your products into the room design, or renting a storage unit outside of your home.
When it comes to good organization, various mobile apps can be quite helpful, along with other smart habits to help keep you focused and on track. For instance, you can make a large physical wall calendar to mark major upcoming events and goals, keep clear in/out a system on your shelves for all the papers, invoices and mail, and you can even keep your tools, materials, and products neatly organized on wall shelves within easy reach.
Invest in high-quality office furniture
Working in poor conditions can have a detrimental effect on your mind and body, which is why it pays to invest in high-quality furniture. Whatever money you might save in room design, you can spend on a great ergonomic chair and an adjustable desk that can be customized to your needs. This way, you can avoid common problems such as back and neck pain, fatigue, and reduced heart efficiency.
As a remote worker, chances are you’ll be spending most of your time at your desk, endeavoring to improve your career or even develop and run your own business. For that reason, investing in a comfortable and productive home office is essential for success.
