As Americans move away from traditional office spaces, a good work-from-home setup is becoming more important than ever. Do you feel productive? Do you enjoy the atmosphere? And can you work in peace away from the rest of your live-ins? All of these things are important to consider if you’re spending hours of your workday in the house, here are some tips for better working at home (without breaking the bank).
Mood
When working in your home office, you should feel cheerful to start the day. Normally, a positive work environment is reliant on the people themselves but in the absence of colleagues, your furniture, lighting, and space have increased importance. If you’re unhappy sitting down and working in the current setup, it might be worth taking steps to change the mood and atmosphere of the room.
Much of what constitutes a good ‘mood’ is the right lighting, colors, and curvature. If you’re unsure of where to start, ask yourself where you normally feel most constructive and compare that to the current setup. For just the price of a new pot of paint or by rearranging furniture, you can completely alter your outlook and improve productivity as a result. Sunlight is often an important factor so, if you don’t have much access to it, consider changing the lights or bulbs within them to brighten up the space.
Comfort
From a physical standpoint, it’s very important that your desk, chair, cabinets, and other office items are contributory to good posture and healthy joints. You are, after all, spending in the region of 8 hours a day sitting, reaching, or leaning over. The first thing to do is to stand in the center of the room and think about which features are within arm’s distance, which are inconvenient, and which result in discomfort. A couple of minutes of planning now may save you accumulated hours in the future.
If you’re struggling for good posture, it might be worth investing in a standing desk. These, whilst initially uncomfortable, will in time help you to straighten up and improve your general physique. If you find yourself stationary on the chair, carry out some research into alternatives that might be beneficial for your back. Remember, this is your own space, not your company’s – the advantage being that you can decide how things look and feel.
Appearances
The appearance of your office might seem unimportant to you but if you’re entertaining clients or carrying out video conferences, a good background improves your professionalism. A nice-looking office also feeds into the ‘mood’ point made earlier. Luckily, improving the external appearance of a room can be cheap and easy – oftentimes, all you’ll need are a few houseplants, pictures, or some well-placed books.
Nothing ruins the mise-en-scene quite like some old, stained furniture. If you’re unable to clean an item by hand, it might be worth finding a furniture cleaner. Many companies will use professional equipment and are happy to explain the process if it’s an object of sentimental value. Remember, always read online reviews and insist on referrals before working with a cleaner – some will use all-in-one tools that can cause damage.
A couple of tweaks can really change the feel of a home office and bring out your best during the workweek. As a final tip, remember to keep an eye on buyer trends – with a couple of before-and-after photos, you might find you improve your property’s value as well your own productivity.