Setting up Your Home Office
Working from home can be a challenge for most of us. We are more prone to being distracted or unmotivated because we are no longer under supervision. We also associate home with relaxation and a place to relieve ourselves from the pressures we may experience at the office. So, when we have to bring our work life into this environment, it may cause imbalance and frustration.
But not to worry, our Interior Design Company Cape Town, are here to help! The trick to being productive at home is creating a space designated for doing your work. Setting up a home office will help you find the balance between being at home and being at ‘at work’. Here is our simple guide to setting up a home office with what you already have:
Tips From an Interior Design Company, in Cape Town:
1. Choose Your Workspace Wisely
You need to set up your workspace as far away from distractions as possible. Your lounge, your TV room and even your bedroom are no-go zones. You may think working on your bed is a good idea until you realise how easy it is to close your laptop and take a nap.
See which areas in your home would make for a functional working space. You ultimately want a space that offers good lighting, fresh air and neutral colours. There also needs to be electrical outlets close by to plug in your computer and other work equipment.
If you choose to set up in a corner, make sure there is at least one window nearby. It’s great having no distractions, but you’ll also go crazy staring at three walls all day. Allow fresh air to flow into your workspace to keep you relaxed yet focused.
2. Get Creative With Your Desk and Chair
You’ll have to get creative when it comes to setting up your work desk if you have limited space. Vanities are a popular option because they usually have enough space for a laptop and a notebook or two. If yours has a mirror attached, use it for pasting sticky notes or a planner, so you aren’t distracted by your reflection.
See what you have stored in the garage or in spare rooms that would make for a useful desk before rushing off to buy one. If you have no choice, however, thrift stores are your best bet.
Your desk chair should be comfortable because you’ll be sitting in it for most of the day. Make use of your favourite chair in the house or borrow a chair from the dining table and add a pillow for comfort.
3. Make Your Workspace Convenient
Make sure everything you need to do your work is in reach of your working space. You want to avoid having to get up to fetch something because this can cause you to feel unmotivated.
Make things easier for yourself by storing items like staplers, rulers and files in cabinets attached to your desk. If the desk doesn’t have cabinets, find a box (or a basket) to store your necessary materials. Place the box under your desk to allow for easier access.
Use an old cup to store your pens and highlighters in and place it on your desk where you can reach them. It will also help give you a sense of organisation in your home office.
4. Have Good Lighting
Working in a dull, dark space will leave you feeling unproductive and unmotivated. Make sure you set up your home office where there is at least one window available. Open up your curtains and allow natural daylight to fill your workspace. Set up your computer in such a way that light does not reflect off of the screen.
If you choose to work during the evenings, good lighting will be even more essential. Make use of an optimal desk lamp if possible as it allows you to adjust the lighting position and increases concentration.
If the artificial lighting in your chosen workspace is too dull and you do not have access to a lamp, consider changing the bulb. We suggest using an LED lightbulb because it’s the most commonly used lighting fixture in most office environments.
5. Stay Organised
Just because you’re working from home doesn’t mean your workspace should be in a mess. You still need to keep your home office neat and tidy. Practice treating it as if it were your real office to remain disciplined and organised.
File all paperwork according to the appropriate categories and make use of old boxes or containers to separate them. Write labels on the boxes to remember the difference between each. This method may seem a bit old school, but it’s effective.
Have a place for every item you’ll need and make a habit of putting things back when you’ve finished working for the day. Apply the disciplines you have at work, at your home office, and you’ll sustain an organised workspace.
6. Add a Personal Touch
Take advantage of the fact that your workspace is in your home. You can decorate it in whichever way you want, but remember to keep it distraction-free.
Personalise your home office with family photos, artwork and your favourite greenery. Instead of buying new decor, look around the house for decorative items that would complement your workspace.
Try to use neutral colours or colours that complement the rest of the house. Although this space is strictly for work, you can still make it yours and give it a casual feel. Make it an environment where you feel comfortable and focused.
It’s challenging to bring the pressures of work into a space that is often associated with relaxation. For the average person, work and home life are opposite to one another. It’s why most people will struggle with being productive at home. However, it is still possible to separate your work life from your home life while being at home.
Make sure you designate an appropriate space for completing tasks and staying focused. Do not use this space for anything else besides work. Remember to separate your home office from your main home activities, so it remains a functional workspace.
Interior Design Company Cape Town — we hope this brought you some sort of assurance and inspiration for when you find yourself in need of a home office. Contact us today for more on how we make your office design work for you.
Working from home can be a challenge for most of us. We are more prone to being distracted or unmotivated because we are no longer under supervision. We also associate home with relaxation and a place to relieve ourselves from the pressures we may experience at the office. So, when we have to bring our work life into this environment, it may cause imbalance and frustration.
But not to worry, our Interior Design Company Cape Town, are here to help! The trick to being productive at home is creating a space designated for doing your work. Setting up a home office will help you find the balance between being at home and being at ‘at work’. Here is our simple guide to setting up a home office with what you already have:
Tips From an Interior Design Company, in Cape Town:
1. Choose Your Workspace Wisely
You need to set up your workspace as far away from distractions as possible. Your lounge, your TV room and even your bedroom are no-go zones. You may think working on your bed is a good idea until you realise how easy it is to close your laptop and take a nap.
See which areas in your home would make for a functional working space. You ultimately want a space that offers good lighting, fresh air and neutral colours. There also needs to be electrical outlets close by to plug in your computer and other work equipment.
If you choose to set up in a corner, make sure there is at least one window nearby. It’s great having no distractions, but you’ll also go crazy staring at three walls all day. Allow fresh air to flow into your workspace to keep you relaxed yet focused.
2. Get Creative With Your Desk and Chair
You’ll have to get creative when it comes to setting up your work desk if you have limited space. Vanities are a popular option because they usually have enough space for a laptop and a notebook or two. If yours has a mirror attached, use it for pasting sticky notes or a planner, so you aren’t distracted by your reflection.
See what you have stored in the garage or in spare rooms that would make for a useful desk before rushing off to buy one. If you have no choice, however, thrift stores are your best bet.
Your desk chair should be comfortable because you’ll be sitting in it for most of the day. Make use of your favourite chair in the house or borrow a chair from the dining table and add a pillow for comfort.
3. Make Your Workspace Convenient
Make sure everything you need to do your work is in reach of your working space. You want to avoid having to get up to fetch something because this can cause you to feel unmotivated.
Make things easier for yourself by storing items like staplers, rulers and files in cabinets attached to your desk. If the desk doesn’t have cabinets, find a box (or a basket) to store your necessary materials. Place the box under your desk to allow for easier access.
Use an old cup to store your pens and highlighters in and place it on your desk where you can reach them. It will also help give you a sense of organisation in your home office.
4. Have Good Lighting
Working in a dull, dark space will leave you feeling unproductive and unmotivated. Make sure you set up your home office where there is at least one window available. Open up your curtains and allow natural daylight to fill your workspace. Set up your computer in such a way that light does not reflect off of the screen.
If you choose to work during the evenings, good lighting will be even more essential. Make use of an optimal desk lamp if possible as it allows you to adjust the lighting position and increases concentration.
If the artificial lighting in your chosen workspace is too dull and you do not have access to a lamp, consider changing the bulb. We suggest using an LED lightbulb because it’s the most commonly used lighting fixture in most office environments.
5. Stay Organised
Just because you’re working from home doesn’t mean your workspace should be in a mess. You still need to keep your home office neat and tidy. Practice treating it as if it were your real office to remain disciplined and organised.
File all paperwork according to the appropriate categories and make use of old boxes or containers to separate them. Write labels on the boxes to remember the difference between each. This method may seem a bit old school, but it’s effective.
Have a place for every item you’ll need and make a habit of putting things back when you’ve finished working for the day. Apply the disciplines you have at work, at your home office, and you’ll sustain an organised workspace.
6. Add a Personal Touch
Take advantage of the fact that your workspace is in your home. You can decorate it in whichever way you want, but remember to keep it distraction-free.
Personalise your home office with family photos, artwork and your favourite greenery. Instead of buying new decor, look around the house for decorative items that would complement your workspace.
Try to use neutral colours or colours that complement the rest of the house. Although this space is strictly for work, you can still make it yours and give it a casual feel. Make it an environment where you feel comfortable and focused.
It’s challenging to bring the pressures of work into a space that is often associated with relaxation. For the average person, work and home life are opposite to one another. It’s why most people will struggle with being productive at home. However, it is still possible to separate your work life from your home life while being at home.
Make sure you designate an appropriate space for completing tasks and staying focused. Do not use this space for anything else besides work. Remember to separate your home office from your main home activities, so it remains a functional workspace.
Interior Design Company Cape Town — we hope this brought you some sort of assurance and inspiration for when you find yourself in need of a home office. Contact us today for more on how we make your office design work for you.