Thinking of working from home? More of us than ever – especially young women – are making the move, so making sure your home is a productive and comforting space is integral to a happy, balanced life. With this in mind here are 5 tips for creating your ideal home office.
CREATE YOUR OWN SPACE
Setting up an office in one of the busiest rooms in your home is a recipe for disaster, and you will find yourself repeatedly distracted by the general activities of your home. Because of this, creating your own space is vital. Think about converting your spare room into your office.with the help of Entire Houze. If you don’t have a spare room, then get creative and carve out a designated area to work from using a folding screen or some curtains. You could even consider renting a portable cabin, or using an outbuilding such as a shed or garage. If you’re really stuck for space, specifically designed home office spaces available from sites like GardenSpaces.co.uk are worth checking out.
MAKE IT COMFORTABLE
This is your office space, so furnish and decorate it as you like. Remember that the decor should be relaxing, but not too laid back (you are working after all). Hanging personal pictures is the perfect way to remind you that you are a person not a machine. It’s also a good idea to put your desk in front of a window as plenty of natural light is the holy grail of happiness; it significantly increases energy, creativity and productivity. Also, think about adding some greenery as it’s been proven that plants in the workplace can reduce stress levels and increase productivity.
INVEST IN A QUALITY CHAIR
Did you know that the average office worker will spend almost 1,700 hours a year in front of their computer – that’s a lot hours sitting down. Your choice of chair can affect your concentration, comfort and wellbeing. Therefore investing in a quality chair will make the time you spend at the desk more pleasant and will help you avoid any aches and pains. These ergonomic office chairs are designed to promote posture, comfort & movement – what’s not to like.
GET CRAFTY
It doesn’t have to cost the earth to redecorate your office. Charity shops and car boot sales are perfect hunting grounds for quirky, vintage pieces and secondhand office furniture. Or why not indulge in some DIY creativity? Cover plain cardboard box files with wallpaper or fabric for a fabulous, bespoke look. A pinboard made from a wooden picture frame, foam and fabric is a great way to display photos, to-do lists or any other information you want to see at a glance. It also brings with it a great sense of satisfaction at having done things cheaply and with your own hands.
CONSIDER A SERVICED OFFICE
If your start up business is becoming too big for your spare room, don’t be afraid of expanding and getting yourself a nice office, such as a Loc8 Commercial office. Remember that renting an office space will significantly increase your outgoings. It’s not just the rent you have to worry about. It’s also the heating, lighting and insurance bills, not to mention the business rates and price of wifi and your commute.
However, on the plus side, a serviced office space is fully furnished and ready for a quick set up. Not only do you get a designated desk space and use of meetings rooms and conference rooms – many come with other perks like fully equipped kitchens, administrative assistants and even showers. Serviced spaces are usually the home of small corporate companies and established, but smaller teams. A lot of large businesses such as Disney or Pizza Express use them so you may be sharing an office with a big firm that could become a future client!
