How to Design Your Home Office — 10 Easy Tips
January 29, 2008
Monday-blues are now matters of past as numerous people opt for working from home. No more hurry to grab your breakfast and rush through traffic or bad weather to make it to the office on time. You can work in your pajamas!
 — Design a creative, productive home office.
- If you're a freelancer, you'll have to get your own health insurance.
- You're more likely to procrastinate while working from home — and run the risk of being tagged a "lazy bum" by friends and family.
 — A well designed home office will boost your creativity.
1. Design your office according to the nature of your work.
An interior designer needs a good amount of desk space to spread plans out as opposed to a programmer. If your work involves meeting up with clients, it probably won't be professional if you meet them at your house. It's better to have the meetings arranged in a café or rent a conference room for a day.
 — Based on your work you might not need a lot of desk space.
2. Go for the right corner.
If you have an extra room, you can use it as your work space. In case you don't have one, then go for a room which is used on rare occasions. Basements are a good option — notwithstanding the problem of humidity. Get a dehumidifier or install pick floorings, like stone or tile which acts against humidity to protect your electronic equipments and files.
 — Even a small corner is great if planned properly.
3. Choose the right furniture.
Get ergonomic furniture. Your desk and chair should be comfortable — so you don't end up with an aching back and throbbing neck. Your monitor should be below or at eye-level and you should be seated 24-36 inches away from it.
 — Get a chair that properly supports your back.
4. Install proper lighting.
A well-lit workstation is a required both for productivity and your health. Natural sunlight does wonders for you — so try to use a room which has plenty of windows. Light the space above and behind your computer to reduce strain on your eyes. One good option is to have warm fluorescents in your ceiling fixtures. They are easy on the eyes. You'll also need a desk lamp for task lighting. You'll find good lighting and lamp ideas at stores like Target and Home Depot.
 — Proper lighting can change your mood and creativity.
5. Pick the right colors.
Choose simulating colors for your work space. Red and yellow are said to have a positive bearing on our mind. Avoid using dull colors like gray. White and Blue are also good color options.
 — Add flavor to your home office.
6. Design the floor plan.
Once you're done with the basics, the next step is to work out the general layout. What are your storage needs? How much surface area do you need for your office tools and daily work? Once you've got that down — plan out the floor plan on paper. You should be able to look out the window while sitting at your desk — this will be easy on your eyes and mind.
It's great if you can afford a designer or an architect to plan your office. But a tighter budget should not necessarily mean a poor design. If your pocket is tight, then retailers like IKEA are good alternative. Browse an IKEA catalog for some great ideas.
 — Plan out the architecture on paper first.
7. Keep a tidy and organized look.
Having wires run around your home office will give it a messy look. One way to conceal the wires is to have them all behind your table. You can also stick the wires under your desk. It's amazing how fast junk can pile up on your desk — so take a moment each day to clean up the mess.
 — A clutter-free desk will brighten up your mood.
8. Separate phone lines.
A must to avoid distractions which can eat up your time — get a separate phone line for your business. During your office hours only answer your business line — let the voicemail handle your personal landline.
9. Give it a personal touch.
Boost your productivity by adding some personalized finishes. Use pleasant art for your walls. Put some family photographs on your desk. Fresh flowers from your garden are also great.
 — Personalize your workspace.
10. Reduce noise.
Choose an area which is away from possible sources of noise. A peaceful environment is what you need to unleash your creativity. Putting on noise cancellation headphone can also do the trick.
 — Choose a room away from noise.
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