With more than 71% of Americans working from home, having an office setting or environment at home has become one of the top priorities. While working from home has its benefits, but it has its disadvantages too. If you’re not used to it, you might find yourself feeling unmotivated, less productive, and lacking boundaries between your work and home life.
Whether you’re a small business owner running your business from home or someone who needs a private space to focus and do work, consider these helpful tips to turn a space or spare room into the perfect office space.
Locate Your Spare Room
The first step is to look for an empty or unused room to convert into an office. Some of the more common areas that people convert into offices are bedrooms, attics, basements, and closets.
Bedroom
Bedrooms are spacious, let in a lot of light, and have closet space that you can use for storing any office supplies. This makes the bedroom the ideal space for your home office.
Attic
If you’re looking for a distraction-free office setup, the attic is a good choice to consider. The pitched roof of an attic provides a unique structure that can give your office more personality. Since attics are located on the top floor, looking out the window gives you a great view and lets in some natural light. You won’t have to worry about hearing footsteps and other noise disturbances either, as attics aren’t typically connected to other rooms in the house.
Basement
Families don’t usually pay much attention to basements and typically use them as a storage space. You might even think that the basement doesn’t seem like the ideal space for the office. However, with the right ideas, budget, and contractor, you can remodel your basement and make it a space you never want to leave.
Closet
If you don’t have an extra room but have a walk-in closet space similar to a small bedroom, you can convert it into an office space too. Instead of hanging clothes up, use the hanger space and drawers of your closet to store any supplies and appliances you might need in your office. However, if you run a small fashion store, then you can consider storing your pieces there.
Consider Your Office Needs
Before conceptualizing your office’s perfect design, consider what you need to make space as efficient and productive as possible.
Technology
You can’t run your business without the right technology. If you’re looking for the most basic setup, all you need is a computer, a printer, a scanner, a telephone, and just in case, a fax machine. Consider how many appliances you’ll be using in your day-to-day work setup because you’ll need a good number of electrical outlets to accommodate all these appliances.
Another thing to consider is how old your home is. The older the home, the less likely your space can handle the load of your electrical devices. Make sure to talk to your electrician and have them check on your circuit breakers and fuses to avoid any accidents.
Ergonomic Furniture
In an office setup, you’re likely to spend hours sitting at your desk. Consider investing in ergonomic furniture. While they can get a little pricey, the benefits are worth it. You’ll avoid bad posture, sit at your desk without feeling any discomfort, and improve productivity.
Internet Speed
When you work from home, internet speed and reliability are a priority. Without it, you won’t get any work done. Make sure that your Wi-Fi device is placed where your computer can reach it. Otherwise, use an Ethernet cable to get your connection directly from the source.
Design Accordingly
Lighting
Light is important in an office setting to keep you alert and to help protect your eyes from eye strain. During the day, try to let in as much natural light as possible. You also want to avoid the glare on your computer screen, so place your desk where you can see your screen no matter what time of the day it is.
While natural light is important, it’s also important to supplement your light source with artificial lighting for early morning or late evening work. Use indirect lighting like overhead fixtures or lamps that aren’t placed in your line of sight so that you don’t get distracted.
Decorating
When it comes to decorating your office, there are different styles you can consider based on your lifestyle. For example, if you want to maximize your productivity, consider a clutter-free minimalist space that can allow you to focus for long periods of time. If you work long hours, consider a more comfortable design with a comfortable chair, large desk, and soft colors to help you de-stress when you need it.
Working from home has many considerable benefits like more time to spend with your family, not worrying about the traffic, and the ability to work in your pajamas. However, having an office set up can greatly improve your work-life balance and give you privacy when you need to get down to business.
