Covid-19 has changed the landscape of the modern office in many ways. One of the biggest changes is location. The home office used to be a rare thing to see, usually reserved for higher-level managers or CEOs.
Now, you can find home offices in most houses across the United States. Whether you are a call center technician, customer service representative, or teacher, you have likely spent time working from home over the past year. Do you plan to continue this, or at least keep your new home office? Some find working from home invigorating and freeing. Others find it lonely struggling to stay focused throughout the day. No matter where you find yourself on that spectrum, one thing is certain – home offices are here to stay. Today, we review several layouts that you can implement to turn this room into a comfortable and efficient space.
The Homey-Home Office
The “homey” office may be the style you find yourself currently using – especially if your home office days were unexpected and you don’t have a ton of room. This home office setup is usually thrown into an existing room like a dining room, living room, or den. A few staple items may be all you need to make this more inviting and workable for longer-term assignments.
A comfortable desk in the corner, or against a wall, paired with natural lighting is a great place to start! A chair that you can sit in and move easily will be a great benefit for sitting long hours. Consider comfort a high priority when selecting a home office chair. Next, you can add shelves or filing cabinets to make sure that work doesn’t get left in other areas of the house. Treating your home office as an actual office with help you stay more organized. No matter how ‘homey’ your office feels, do your best to keep these areas as their own space.
Room with A View
If your home office is in a room that gets lots of natural light, like a sunroom or home library, be sure to make the most of it. Exposure to direct or indirect sunlight throughout the day can help you stay motivated throughout your workday.
Make sure your desk is placed in a way that the natural light is not directly in your eyes or glaring onto your computer screen. This will help prevent eye strain. If your job is one that has guests or clients in your office, make sure to have comfortable seating to make the space feel more easy-going. In this type of office, maximize your space with vertical storage so it doesn’t feel cluttered or perhaps block out the natural light.
Botanical Home Office
Not everyone is lucky enough to have a view of the mountains or forest from their home office. In that case, consider bringing the forest inside by adding vibrant plants to your room. Plants are known to make people feel happier. You can fill your home office with fresh oxygen that will help your productivity stay consistent during busy days.
If you spend tons of time on the computer, or on the phone, colorful plants are a nice distraction to look at during slower times throughout the workday. Over time, you can watch the flower bloom and the plants grow. It adds a calming and serene ambiance to the room that you might usually think of as ‘boring’ or ‘dull’. Engage your senses by adding a botanical layout to your home office.
No matter what kind of work you do, or the reason you find yourself working from home, the key things to remember are comfort and keeping your work and home separate. If your work and home become mingled it can feel claustrophobic and stressful, like you can never leave work behind. Make the most of the space you have and finding ways to make your workspace more efficient will help your productivity grow.
Alex Capozzolo is a partner of Cash Offer Kentucky, a home buyer based in Louisville, KY. He has been writing for the real estate industry for several years. Cash Offer Kentucky focuses on single-family and small multi-family houses.