A functional home office is one you’ll want to sit down to work at. It’s a place where you can be comfortable, efficient, and productive—and it can be the corner of your living room or office (even if it’s just in your mind). While every space has its own unique challenges, there are some tried-and-true design tricks that will help make any office more functional:
Have a desk that faces a door
One of the best things you can do for your home office is to have a desk that faces a door. This will make it easier to see who is coming in, so if you have an open-plan office and share it with other people, they will know when someone is approaching. You can also position yourself so that you can see the door from your desk while working, which will help avoid distraction.
Hide your inbox
One of the most common areas for home offices is a desk that’s attached to a wall. If this is the case, you can hide your inbox from view by placing it inside a cabinet or wall unit. You might also consider having it closed up and hidden away in your desk itself if you find that having an inbox on full display stresses you out.
In addition to hiding your email when others are around, keep in mind that there may be times when even closing up your inbox won’t work—especially if there are constant distractions happening outside of the office (like kids running around). In these cases, try putting up blinds between yourself and the family room so that you don’t have someone looking over while they ask their questions or check their social media feeds.
Invest in good storage
Home office storage is a must. It’s not enough to just have a lot of things; you need to be able to easily access and organize your stuff so that you can find what you need when the time comes.
The first thing to consider when looking for home office storage is how much space you have. If there is plenty, then it’s probably easier for you to just start throwing things in there willy-nilly and hope everything works out. However, if space is limited or it seems like items are piling up faster than they can be put away again, it might be time to get more serious about creating some order in your home office!
Keep supplies within reach
- You’ll want to keep your pens and pencils within reach. Keep scissors, rulers and tape handy as well.
- Have a tidy desk that you can easily pick up and put down if needed.
- Place paper clips, staples, and paperclips within reach as well.
- Get a file drawer for important documents ready to go in case they are needed at any point during the day.
Have a place for everything
- Have a place for everything
- Place your computer, printer, and other office equipment in an organized manner so that you can easily access them.
- Use containers to keep things organized. This will help you to easily find what you need when needed.
- Keep things within reach but not cluttered together because this will cause distractions when working on projects or calls with clients. An example is having your phone within reach but not on top of your desk where clients or customers can see it over the phone during a conversation with them about business matters instead of focusing on what needs to be done at hand–working with them directly through their questions or requests before moving onto another call from another client who may have similar questions/requests regarding their businesses as well.
Add some greenery
Choosing the right type of plant is important because you need to be sure that it will thrive in the conditions of your space. There are many options out there, including succulents and air purifying plants like spider plants or peace lilies. When selecting a plant for your space, make sure it gets enough light (at least six hours per day), but no direct sunlight as this could cause fading or discoloration over time. If you’re unsure about what would work best for your needs, talk with someone at the local garden center who will help guide you in making an informed choice based on your particular circumstance.
Hang some art
One of the most important ways you can personalize your space is by hanging a few pieces of art or nice poster frame. It doesn’t have to be expensive or elaborate: think about what kind of artwork you like, and make sure it reflects who you are and what you do. If you’re into writing, hang some paintings with words on them; if you’re into gardening, hang one from your recent trip to the botanical gardens; if you’re into knitting, try printing out a picture from Pinterest that shows someone knitting! The options are endless—just make sure it’s something that makes sense for your interests and tastes.
Choose furniture with the right height and fit
The right height and fit of your furniture is important for your posture and comfort. If you have a desk that’s too low, it will be difficult to maintain good posture as you sit for long periods, which can result in back pain, neck pain, or headaches.
If the desk is too high, you may find yourself slouching forward as you work at the computer screen.
Consider your lighting
Lighting is one of the most important parts of any home office. The best lighting is when it’s natural; if you can get it—but if not, consider using task lighting to reduce eye strain and improve productivity. A desk or standing lamp may just be what you need to help you focus on your work. If possible, place them so that they illuminate the area where you are doing your primary task (reading a document or working on a project). You may also want to use a dimmer switch for controlling brightness levels depending on whether it’s day or night in your space.
You can also choose from many different types of lamps, such as floor lamps and table lamps—or even repurpose an old piece by adding some new fabric!
Don’t go overboard matching furniture styles
As you’re choosing your furniture, consider what kind of look you want to go for. If a home office is a place to get work done and not show off your style, then matching furniture styles might be too busy or too corporate for your needs. A good rule of thumb is to choose one dominant piece—that could be a desk or chair that also doubles as an accent piece when guests come over—and then let everything else complement it in neutral tones or colors that are similar but not exact matches.
We hope these tips have given you some new ideas for your home office. If you’re still not sure where to start, don’t worry! We knew this would be a tricky challenge when we set out on our journey in the first place. But if there’s one thing we’ve learned from our research and experience, there are so many ways to make your space functional—and even fun!