Five Home Office Ideas for Increased Productivity

Five Home Office Ideas for Increased Productivity

If you operate a business or work from home, you probably enjoy many benefits, including the convenience of accessibility, gas savings, reduced commute time, less wear and tear on the car, and more. But how exactly do you maintain a work-life balance in your home office without feeling like you need to get the laundry done, answer the door, fend off distractions like TV, or take the dog out for a walk? A huge solution to office productivity lies in the way your office space is designed. Here are five home office ideas to increase your productivity.

1. Learn how to set up a home office

If you have a work-from-home job, chances are you’re spending several hours in your chair. It’s important to set up your home office to be both comfortable and productive. So, what do you need for a home office? Be sure to invest in a comfortable chair that provides good back support.

Also consider your workflow and decide which items you need within reaching distance to be as efficient as possible. The best office setup for productivity depends on what you need most frequently: Organize your desk, printer, shelves, files, and storage in a way that makes work easier for you.

2. Choose colors that increase productivity

How do you increase productivity? Step one is to create a space that you actually enjoy being in. Forget the traditional “office beige.” There’s science behind the idea that certain colors create certain moods and even affect our brain function!

Think about what vibe you want to set: yellow is a positive color and can stimulate creativity; blue is seen as logical and efficient, and can help you focus. These are both great choices for your home office design. Green is harmonious, and is a good choice if you work a lot and need to create balance. Learn more about color theory in our interior design course.

3. For bright ideas, consider good light

Lighting is one of the most overlooked and important factors in home office design. Forget neon overhead lights and super-bright LEDs. The modern home office avoids eye strain with plenty of natural light, so open those curtains and let the sunshine in! Just make sure to position your computer monitor so there isn’t any glare from your windows.

Not enough natural light? Use a lamp on your desk for indirect lighting, or a floor lamp that shines light upward and diffuses it throughout the room. Avoid direct, overhead lighting, or lighting that is set up behind you, as these will cause glare.

4. Declutter your home office to work faster and more efficiently

If you’re looking for home office setup ideas to help you get more work done, this one may surprise you: A simple office cleanse can help you work faster. After all, your perfect home office is a space that you love. Take a look around. If you find things haven’t been used in a year and can’t think of the next time you will need them, it’s time to do an office cleanse.

Empty, shred, and rid your office of the things you no longer use. Don’t overlook the knick-knacks — if they’re covered in dust, they are also fair game to remove! Try to avoid using your office space as storage, and resist letting family members do the same. You will find that it’s easier to get into a focused work mode when your workspace isn’t surrounded by junk.

5. Establish a professional boundary for working from home

Try to create a routine work schedule at home, just as you would if you were going into a corporate office. Studies show that if you set specific “opening” and “closing” times, as well as routine break hours, you’re more likely to stay on track and less likely to procrastinate. One of the toughest boundaries to create while working from home is between your professional life and family. Make sure your office has a door and consider making a sign to hang on it during your busy hours to avoid disruptions.

We’ll admit it: Working from home is pretty great. But if you run your own business out of your home, rather than working for someone else, there are some other things you should consider. We can help you learn how to start and operate your own home-based business, including basics like copyrights, licenses, and taxes. And courses like our digital marketing suite will help you learn how to achieve your marketing goals. Don’t stop with creating an amazing workspace — create an amazing business, too.