Some people work remotely or opt for a home office to save on traveling or leasing office space. However, it can be hard to get work done or keep focus when working from home and needing more space to work. Even if you work from home, you can regain focus and get more done with a well-thought-out design and an organized, useful layout. You will find it easier and more enjoyable to focus on the job and feel comfortable doing it if your surroundings offer a good, ergonomic working environment.
As a result, it is critical to remember to plan for a home office when building your custom home. If you have an adequate place to work at home, you can avoid being distracted by things around the house and concentrate on your work. In this article, we compiled a few tips and tricks for setting up your home office and ideas you can consider to create an efficient and functional space.
Ways To Set Up A Home Office
Working from home has a lot of benefits, be it saving money on transportation or promoting a good work-life balance. While many people think that working remotely may think that you are working on a couch, in the garden or backyard, in bed, or at a coffee shop, you may find that you are most productive and focus more when you have a proper workspace.
Setting up a home office gives people who work from home a place to do their work. The best home offices are quiet, well-lit, and different from the rest of the house. This helps people who work from home find a good mix between work and life. However, one can easily get overwhelmed with all the options, including layout, wall color, finishes, or interior design. But no matter how you design, set up, or furnish your home office, we have some tips that will help you make it a place that helps you be successful at working from home.
Look for the Best Location
Some people find it easy to decide where to put their home office; it can be a real “office” or a spare room that can be used as one. But only some have that much space in their homes. When you do not have much room or spare space in your custom home, you must get creative with allocating areas as your office space.
For example, you can utilize a part of the kitchen table as a workspace if you do not mind cleaning up your materials for every meal. If you find that a hassle, you can check out empty places in bigger rooms, large closets that need to be used, and even the space under the stairs. If you feel you need a much bigger space solely dedicated as an office, then you must tell your custom home builder during the planning phase of your project.
Create a Multi-functional Home Office Space
If your custom home’s size restricts you, and yes, this can happen depending on your budget or your available space, you can consider creating a multi-functional home office space. These spaces offer the flexibility to be used in any way. For example, it can be an office during the weekdays or work hours, an evening gym, a playroom, and an entertainment area on weekends.
Add Privacy
If you are lucky enough to have a separate room for your office, consider placing solid doors that close and walls that go all the way to the top. This makes it easy to find peace and have a quiet environment when you are trying to focus or having a meeting.
You can also add a room divider to your home office to give yourself some privacy if you share the room with someone else. You can get floor-based standard dividers. You could also put a curtain on a rod or hang it from the ceiling.
Think About Who Else Uses The Space
Consider who else will use your home office as you set it up and choose the space and furniture properly. Will the kids do their homework in the office, and will your partner also work from home? Think about a partner desk, where two people can simultaneously work at the same desk. If you expect clients to come by, ensure you have meeting rooms or waiting areas in your home office.
Include Space for Your Equipment and Supplies
A home office should have a desk, space for a computer, and storage for files, reference materials, and supplies. Standard kitchen drawers can be turned into a desk or a bookcase with shelves, giving you a lot of ways to store things.
Home Office Ideas To Think About When Designing Your Work Space
As mentioned earlier, you need enough room for a desk, workspace, and storage, and you also need a place that makes you feel motivated and focused and helps you get things done.
Built-ins for your home office, such as a custom desk with shelves, drawers, and cubbies, can make your space look more professional and help you get more done.
You can work with your custom home builder to create a visually pleasing yet functional design to help you create a home office that meets your needs or demands. In this section, let us look at some home office ideas you can incorporate for your custom home.
Focus on Good Lighting
Having natural light in your space can help boost your mood and productivity. If your office is dark and dreary, getting work done can be upsetting and hard. Make sure your workspace has a lot of windows. This will help improve your happiness, mental health, and physical health. It is a simple way to reduce stress and make a place you will feel comfortable in every day for many years.
Your home office’s lighting must be well thought out for maximum efficiency. You can also use different kinds of light to create a mood that makes you feel good. Put lights on the ceiling to fill the room with light. Or, you could use beautiful chandeliers or modern ceiling lights in your home office to do the same thing.
Create A Functional and Efficient Layout
Ensure you have enough room for all the furniture, storage, seating, and technology you will need to work from home easily over time. As mentioned earlier, evaluate your needs, like checking if the space is adequate, if you are sharing it with someone, or if you are expecting clients or will be holding meetings.
Think About The Colors
In recent years, colors such as deep greens, mossy greens, golds, and dark grays have become popular for home offices as they create a relaxing atmosphere. However, it would help if you thought about what colors you like seeing in your office that will help you focus.
You can always use neutral and muted tones and add a splash of color as an ornament instead of painting the whole room the same color. Or, if you are feeling very brave, wallpaper with big patterns and bright colors is coming back in a big way thanks to the maximalism style.
Add A Charming Window Seat
A handmade bench can be used for storage, and the cushioned seat can fit extra guests or be a good place to take a coffee break.
During the day, window seats are also a great place to think, read, and get some much-needed natural light. It can be a place you can go to if you need a 15-minute break away from the keyboard.
Consider Glass Doors
Having a door, you can close during online talks is very helpful. Especially if your partner works from home or if your kids are at home while you are at work. It will let them know if it is okay to interrupt you or if you are having an important meeting.
Most of our clients choose home office doors with glass, like French doors, which look great with a Craftsman-style house, to make a dramatic entrance to the office while still being able to see what’s happening in the house.
Add Built-In Storage
Adding built-in cabinets, shelves, crown molding, and decorative wall molding allows you to make it your own and meet your specific storage needs while showing off your style. With the right home office storage spaces, you can keep your papers in order and keep your desk clear and free of stress.
Use Different Textures
If you do not want a room that looks sterile and boring, think about adding a variety of patterns to your space. If you have wooden floors in your home office, you can add color and softness with a beautiful, washable rug. Textured wallpaper, wall panels, bead board, shiplap, or ceiling beams are other ways to add physical interest.
Prioritize Comfort
When you spend more than 40 hours a week at your job, or eight hours a day, you quickly realize that you need a comfortable chair that ergonomically supports your body. Test out chairs and support pillows, and move and raise your computer screen to make it as comfortable as possible.
Add Some Greenery to Liven Up Your Space
When you bring plants into your home office, you bring the outdoors in, making the space feel more natural and cozy. In terms of the environment, adding an air-cleaning plant to your area can make it smell better and fight bacteria and toxins simultaneously. It can also liven up your space, making it seem brighter.
Show Off Your Style
Put things you like around your office and in the background of your video meetings. This includes flowers, art, photos, and, of course, books. If you style your background, your coworkers and clients can learn more about you and what you care about outside of work.
