A home office should be a space that is pleasant, yet encourage productivity. It should represent your personal style, though must also be an environment that will support positive and efficient work habits. Here are the various elements of office design that should be kept in mind when you create your workspace:
Space
A large amount of your time will be spent in your office, so don’t skimp when it comes to space. Make sure you set up your workstation in a room that will provide the necessary square footage for all your furniture, ample storage space and allow easy traffic flow. The room should be located in a quieter area of the house, ideally away from the kitchen or the family room.
Furniture
Invest in furniture that will support you in your work endeavors, rather than hinder them. Consider what your workflow will look like and how your desk, shelves and storage will aid it. If your work is more design-related, like architecture or printed graphic design, it will require a large surface area. Invest in a large desk that can accommodate all the large contact sheets and copy posters that will be in use. Form should not be sacrificed for function — come up with a design plan for your office before you shop for furniture, so it has a well-curated, cohesive look. For a more modern vibe, incorporate sleek and polished metal brackets that support dark-stained wood shelving. For a classic, industrial feel use heavier materials like wrought-iron and substantial slabs of lightly-treated oak.
Light
A lack of light can make you feel lethargic and challenge the sustainability of your focus. Your office should have plenty of windows to provide plenty of natural light. Purchase blinds or shades, made of a light fabric, that can lowered halfway down. This will block out any outside distractions, though will still permit the beneficial and beautiful sunlight into the room. Blinds.com offers many varieties of well-designed shades that can match the tone and decor of your office space. For rooms that do not have many windows, invest in lamps or light fixtures for an amplified level of luminosity. Experiment with various types of bulbs at the hardware or lighting store, so you can determine which wattage or style of bulb you prefer.
Chair
You will spend hours in your office chairs make sure you find the perfect one for you. Ergonomic office chairs will affect your health and productivity, so you must make sure your chair will provide maximum support. When you sit in your chair, your feet should be flat on the floor with your thighs parallel to the ground and forearms parallel to the work surface. If the position of the chair is too high it will cause pressure behind your knee, limit blood circulation and cause back pain.
Decor
Your workspace should provide you with inspirations. Personalized decor is a key element you should include when you design your office. Decor can include art, plants and a few standout pieces of furniture. Give your office some life with a weekly delivery of fresh flowers. Your office should have a theme, which could range from a multi-tone color scheme, a certain time period or a specific realm of cultural design.
Organization
You must use your office space efficiently, and organize both vertically and horizontally. Shelving units are very useful for the storage of office supplies, reference books and decor. Cube storage or salvaged lockers can be used in place of the classic bookshelf, for a fun and modern twist. There are office-specific storage products, like a vertical folder file, that will keep your desk and its drawers less cluttered.
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