Are you making the move to join the more than 40 percent of the nation’s workforce who work from home? Well, then it is time to clean out the clutter and begin designing your new home office. Unlike a traditional office environment which can be sterile and boring, look to put your own personality into your work space.
First, identify the best room in your home that will suit your work style. Do you like quiet, closed off spaces so you can concentrate on the task at hand? Or do you prefer a more centralized location so you can occasionally turn on the TV to see what is happening in the world? Whatever environment works best for you, make sure you will be comfortable and productive in the space.
Once the location of your home office has been identified, it is time to move onto selecting the perfect paint color for your style personality and one that spurs productivity. Maybe you have a high-stress job, so a soft blue or green will provide a calm and serene workspace. Not crazy about color? Consider just painting an accent wall and then adding splashes of the same color through fabrics, area rugs and accent pieces.
Lighting is another great way to round out your style and set the mood of your work space. Maybe you selected a space that has a lot of natural light throughout the day and therefore only need task lighting for those late-night projects. If you prefer a dark, cave-like atmosphere, task lighting can add just enough light during the day to reduce errors and relieve eye strain.
Lastly, and probably the most important contributing factor to how productive you will be in your home office, is the furniture. Comfortable seating and an adequate work space is the key to success! If you are afraid to invest in home office furnishings in case the new career move doesn’t pan out, consider renting office furniture from companies like CORT so you can test out what pieces are the most comfortable and determine the type of desk that provides just what you need.
Whether you are designing a work space to finish up a project when you return from the office or setting up a primary workspace where you spend a better part of the day, define your work environment style, then pick up the paint brush and get started.
