In 2020 many people have transitioned from working at the office to working from home. If you were one of them, check out some ideas to make your home office more productive and comfortable.
1- Lightning :
Natural light makes space feel bigger—which is always great for any space, especially small ones.
The character and quality of lighting in your workspace can help increase your productivity. Poor lighting can reduce your energy, dampen morale, produce eyestrain and headaches, and ultimately impair your ability to work effectively.
Look for ways to diffuse the ambient light that will illuminate your office space. Lampshades soften and scatter otherwise harsh light, while an upward-shining floor lamp bounces the light off of walls and ceilings. The goal is to illuminate the entire space without creating undue glare and contrast while avoiding casting shadows.
2- Office Chair:
You spend hours seating in your office chair; a beautiful, ergonomically correct, comfortable seat is worth every dime.
A good chair provides proper lumbar and pelvic support which results in your back muscles being less stressed. Unfortunately, many chairs do not offer adequate support, and that combined with long durations of sitting down at work, explains why people who sit all day have about as much lower back pain as people who spend most of their time in a standing position.
With lumbar and pelvic support comes better posture, better breathing, and less fatigue, so do yourself a favor and give your work chair a good hard look and see how it measures up.
3- View:
Position the desk where you can stare at something more interesting than a blank wall (even if you do love the color) when you glance up from the computer. A window’s natural light is ideal, but if you’re in a windowless space, hang a pretty picture above the desk, or position your chair to face the door.
Longer distance views, away from computer screens or written documents, allow the eyes to adjust and re-focus, which reduces fatigue, headaches, and the effects of eye strain in the long term. Views also have a positive impact on wellbeing, in part by providing a psychological connection with other groups of people while in a safe space.
4- Space:
Having enough space is key to being productive. Working in a clustered space causes you to be more stressed and does not allow you to think clearly.
One of the best ideas to create more space in a home office is to use the full height of your wall. Install shelving that goes high up, stack your drawers, and make use of the space below the desk. By building vertically instead of horizontally, you’re still using the same amount of floor space in your home while optimizing storage space, keeping everything you need nearby.
5- Wall color:
You need a color that gets your work motor humming. For some people, that’s a bright, cheery color like orange or lime green. Others need a calming shade like botanical green or sea foam blue to perform.
Here are some of the best office colors:
- Blue: The color blue stimulates the mind, leading to more productivity. The hues of the blue color palette are ideal for staying focused in repetitive industries. Accounting offices often use blue paint colors to increase productivity and keep their employees focused.
- Yellow: Yellow stimulates emotion, which makes it an ideal color for creative industries. It also evokes feelings of happiness and can brighten spirits.
- Green: We may think of green as the color of money, and in a way it is. Green is all about balance, calmness, and reassurance. So if you work in the financial industry, green works well at your office color.
- Gray: Gray falls between black and white which gives off a neutral mood. There are different hues and shades of gray which evoke different psyches.
- Off-White: White may have a clinical appearance, but a soft off-white, like Pointing by Farrow & Ball in an eggshell finish will soften the look of true white. It’s easy to decorate and design around, given its warmth yet clean appearance.
6-Plants:
According to a study conducted at Washington State University, the presence of plants in an office environment reduced workers’ blood pressure and increases task completion speeds by 12%. Workers also reported that they felt more attentive when plants were present.
Plants help with loneliness, anxiety, and depression. Caring for, or just being in the company of another living thing gives us purpose and it can be very rewarding—especially when you see your plants growing, thriving, and blooming.
Natural greenery triggers comfort in your brain. Much like going for a walk outside clears your mind, bringing houseplants into your work area creates a space that is soothing to be in and more comfortable overall.
7- Add a couch:
Having a comfortable couch in your home office makes your office feel cozier and more relaxing.
Couches are also great for work breaks- taking a quick nap or reading a book for a few minutes can be great a way to give you more energy for when you go back to work.
Ready to transform your home office? At TruLine Painting, we have transformed many home offices all over San Diego and we are here to help!
Email us at info@trulinepaintinginc.com or call us at 619.663.5878 for a free estimate!