Whether you work out of your home or want an area of your home to serve
as a place to pay bills and keep your paperwork organized, these 7 steps
to creating a functional home office will help you get started.
Make it Your Own
First off, you want your home office to be a place where you want to be.
It doesn’t have to be perfect but decorate it with a few of your
favorite things. Add a few plants, motivating plaques and a few knick
knacks here and there, but just don’t overdo it. You want to figure out
how to design it with some thought and make it cozy.
Organization is Key
Your workspace doesn’t have to be perfect, but it needs to be a
functional home office, so decide what goes in and what doesn’t go into
it. A big part of having a well-functioning office is to keep everything
organized. Everything has to have its place, and you need to keep it
tidy to avoid having to look for misplaced items. Invest in paper trays,
labels, a good filing cabinet, and anything else you need to keep
everything organized.
Make it Look Professional
You take your job seriously, so your office space should reflect this.
It also helps to get you in the mindset of professionalism. Plus, if you
need to meet clients in a Zoom meeting, it’s best to have a neat and
organized office in the background that will make a good impression.
Customize
If you don’t have the ideal office space to work with, you may want to
hire a local contractor to help you design your space. A local
contractor can give you tips on how to design your office to make the
most use of the space and build shelves, cubbies, and even a desk to
make your office space more functional.
Keep it Office-Related
Decide what needs to be in your office. Besides a handful of “fun” items
to decorate your office and make it cozy, just stick to the
office-related items to avoid too much clutter and chaos. Think neat and
efficient, with limited distractions.
Gain Confidence With a Power Color
Even at home, work can sometimes cause stress, so be sure to pick a
paint color that is calming and considered a “power” color, such as navy
blue, burgundy, and dark green. These colors will make you feel in
control, emit confidence, and will make it look professional.
Lighting
Be sure to have proper lighting. If your office doesn’t have windows to
let natural light in, it is important to
get a desk or floor lamp and even get brighter light bulbs. You may even
want to get artificial lights that make you feel like you are in the
sunlight.
These 7 steps to creating a productive home office should get you
started but have fun as you decorate your space and what goes in and out
of it. You may find that you have to tweak a few things here and there
as you spend time in your office.
