Top Tips For Decorating Your Home Office

While many people believe that working from home was a trend that would fade away at the end of the pandemic, a reported “36.2 million Americans will be working in remote positions by 2025.” This is likely due to the fact that there are many benefits associated with working from home, such as:

• Improved work-life balance for employees, who are able to better manage their social calendar and work.
  
• Improved workplace productivity and satisfaction.
  
• Reduced costs and overheads when running a business.
  

However, if you are going to be remotely long-term, you need to set up the perfect work-from-home space. After all, you may otherwise find yourself prone to distractions, making it difficult to stay on top of your work.

Photo by Windows on Unsplash

With that in mind, here are some top tips for decorating and designing your home office!

1. Don’t work from your bedroom.

If you don’t have a spare room, you’ll have to set up an office within a pre-existing space within your home. In doing so, you may feel tempted to use your bedroom. However, studies have shown that “if you work in your bedroom, your brain may start to associate your bedroom with working. This can make it harder to get to sleep at night. “ As your bedroom needs to be a relaxing space, it is far better to set up your office elsewhere, such as in your dining room or living room. You could even renovate unused spaces such as your attic or basement.

2. Embrace natural light.

Various studies have explored the benefits of natural light in the workplace. For example, it is often found that natural light promotes productivity and heightened focus, whereas artificial lighting can leave us feeling sleepy and distracted. As such, you should position your desk in a place where you’ll get plenty of natural light while also protecting your screen from the glare of the sun.

For example, you could install custom window treatments, such as wooden blinds or plantation shutters, so that you’re able to better control the amount of light filtering into the room.

3. Think about the color scheme.

The majority of offices or workspaces are painted white. This is because neutral colors tend to be associated with professionalism, meaning they serve as the perfect backdrop to a working environment. However, you can afford to be more experimental with color schemes when decorating your own office.

For example, studies have found that “blues and greens create a sense of balance and serenity to help you concentrate on the task at hand,” which means they could be an excellent choice for a home office.

4. Invest in high-quality furniture.

Working from often gives you control over your work schedule. However, if you’re working a standard 42 hours a week, that’s a lot of time to sit at your desk, which means that you need to invest in your comfort. For example, you should purchase an ergonomic chair so that you receive the appropriate neck, back, and shoulder support.

5. Ask your employer for financial support.

It is the responsibility of your employer to provide you with access to the tools and materials you need to do your job - even when working from home. This means that many companies have set aside funds to help employees cover the cost of WFH tools. For example, this could include second screens, keyboards, and ergonomic mouse pads. As such, before you start shopping for supplies, reach out to your employer.

Otherwise, you can save a great deal of money when decorating your home office by shopping for these items second hand. For example, many people who are required to return to the office full-time are selling office equipment they purchased during lockdown on online groups such as Facebook marketplace. Some online sleuthing may even help you to find these items for free of charge, though you may have to pay for them to be delivered to your home.

6. Surround yourself with inspiration.

If you struggle to maintain high levels of motivation when working and worry that you may be more prone to distractions when working from home (especially if you are at arm's length of your TV), try to surround yourself with inspiration.

For example, you could hang up some posters that feature your favorite motivational quotes and sayings. This way, you only need to look up from your screen to find a source of inspiration. Alternatively, many people find that being surrounded by pictures of friends and family can give them a boost of productivity!