The perfect home office should be relaxing to work in and facilitate productivity, but trying to tick both boxes in a household with pets, kids or other distractions isn’t easy – if you want to strike a balance, you may need to step back, splash out and think outside the box. These are some of the best ways to breathe new life into your home office.
Lighting
It’s difficult to overstate the importance of lighting when trying to create an adaptable workspace. Evidence suggests that lighting renovations can significantly impact productivity and affect our energy levels. For the best results, you’ll need to maximize your natural lighting exposure – natural light helps your body to produce vitamin D, which can affect sleep patterns, mental and physical health. Try to angle yourself close to a window, or even consider working in the garden if the weather allows it.
In the darker hours, instead of natural light, you’ll be relying upon artificial light. This means you’ll need to pay closer attention to the light source itself. If you haven’t already, it’s worth looking into the effects of dim vs bright lighting. By experimenting with different bulbs, lampshades, and even monitor brightness settings, you may be able to identify your own ideal ambiance and adjust it for different times of the day.
Atmosphere
In addition to lighting, studies show that temperature, air quality, and noise are all essential factors affecting productivity. The good news is that, if you’re working remotely, you’ll likely get to decide your own office temperature and you’ll have more control over noise factors. The recommended temperature range for working conditions is between 72 and 74 degrees, although you should adjust your thermostat in correspondence to the time of year and weather conditions outside.
Noise can be a little trickier to get right, especially when you have other live-ins. The first and most essential step for creating a work-positive audio space is to purchase a good pair of noise-canceling headphones. If you can’t concentrate with music, there are many popular sound ambiances that can provide neutral or white noise as you work. Designating a separate physical and mental space will not only help improve your productivity but also help you to relax after the workday, once you’ve stepped away from your desk setup.
Decor
It’s easy to write off home decor as irrelevant to the work process, but the right background arrangement can help set the tone for a happy, productive day at the office. House plants are a great place to start – English Ivy, for example, can help alleviate breathing difficulties and clear toxins, aiding with relaxation. They also help your room to look fresh and colorful during Zoom calls and video conferences.
If you’re feeling claustrophobic, it might be worth investing in a mirror or two. Mirrors are excellent at creating the illusion of space and can help soothe anxiety – just remember that a mirror occupies a wall space entirely, barring it from other furniture. Sometimes, it makes more sense to declutter and create real space rather than just the illusion of it. Wall shelves and cupboards can make for a worthwhile purchase – they can help you to open up more room for breathing, thinking, and moving.
Boosting Your Home’s Value
The above home office renovations are a great way to add value to your home if you ever choose to sell, as many buyers are now prioritizing homes with offices. It’s a good idea to keep track of any work you complete by taking before-and-after photos and saving receipts.
It’s important, when working from home, to think about the space you’re in for the majority of the day. If you can get the balance right, there’s no reason you can’t enter and leave the workday feeling ready and relaxed, and you may even raise the value of your home.
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