Working from home is quickly becoming the new expectation between employers and employees alike. Some of us have already been working from home for quite a long time, but many are new to the idea. If you are new to working from home, we hope our tips for improving your home office space.
Tip #1: Pick a Dedicated Work From Home Office Space
Our top tip is that you pick a space and dedicate it to becoming your work from home area. Typically this is best done (and WAY easier) if you’ve got a spare room you can turn into an office, but even finding yourself a little nook in a place with as few distractions as possible is a win.
Wherever you pick for your space to go, we recommend avoiding the bedroom and kitchen, if possible. The kitchen can be high traffic and multi-purpose, making it a prime region of your home for distractions. And, avoiding the bedroom as your work from home space will allow you to separate “the office” and the place where are supposed to unwind and comfortably sleep.
Tip #2: Staple Home Office Items
Make sure you’ve got enough room for all your home office equipment. We like Wirecutter’s example work from home starter kit, which includes:
- Computer (laptop or desktop) – You’ll need one of these. The stationary nature of a desktop computer can be good for maintaining work in one area, but we prefer laptops for the added benefit of being able to “take a break” from your “office” and work from outside or the couch for a bit.
- Docking Station or USB Hub – You may not realize it, but a lot of devices charge or receive power via USB ports. Grab a powered USB Hub for charging and supplying power to any of your many devices you may suddenly find yourself using outside of the office. Nothing kills productivity like dead devices!
- Headphones or earbuds – Wirecutter recommends noise-cancelling headphones or USB headsets for virtual conferencing events.
These are all great things to have in your work from home space. To add a flair, try using cheap fake plants or small shelf décor to dress up your desk and make it a space you want to be in.
Tip #3: Creating a Welcoming and Productive Environment
To build on tip #2, making sure you have ample space for storage will help you make space to create a work from home environment that you actually want to go to. Think about what’s on your desk at work…maybe pictures of you and your friends, pets, family. Perhaps that cute pencil holder you found at Target recently on clearance. The point is, spend some time picking objects that mean something to you or make you feel comfortable or productive.
Tip #4: Call a Professional
Okay okay, so this isn’t really a tip. But, when you need help dressing up your work from home space, consider an office design consultation from an experienced professional like Diane Rosen. Diane Rosen Interiors has been helping redesign St. Louis and St. Charles interiors for many years, and has plenty of experience with project management. Call 314.359.0890 or fill out our online form to discuss your project with us and we’ll reach out to you as soon as possible!
This is all about you: focusing on you and your family, your office, your home and your vacation retreat. With 20+ years of experience, Diane Rosen helps you create a beautiful, energy efficient, environmentally friendly space that you can call your own. From Design Guides™ hourly consultations to whole-home renovations, together we can create a complete plan for your home and/or office space, working with your budget, your vision and your timeline.
