The COVID-19 pandemic has changed almost every aspect of our lives and one of the greatest impacts has been on the way we work. Our offices have shifted to our homes and as per the latest trends, this change is here to stay. Most of us were caught off-guard. We never designed our homes to work from there. As the best interior designer in Gurgaon, we naturally started getting calls about designing home offices throughout 2020 and 2021.
We share our secrets of designing a productive home office here. We delivered on these lines to our customers and their offices served their purpose. Take ques from this list of expert tips and find out what your home office might be missing.
How home offices are more than kitchen counters and high-rise chairs?
Social media tends to give us the idea that one can easily work from the kitchen counter. Or, a bustling café in a picturesque setting. A few hours a day, twice a week, it is possible to work from such places but your productivity will take a hit soon if you just work from anywhere. You need a dedicated home office to get work done. And the best interior designer can gift you an inviting setting that will enhance your productivity.
10 Tips to design a productive home office
1. Location – the top priority
You must have guessed by now that the location of your home office matters. It cannot be a spare corner in the living room. Neither can it be the storeroom that is dark and dingy. You can either partition a large room or use the spare guest room as your home office where you will feel like working with minimum distractions. The best home office design always starts with the right location.
2. Ample natural light
Nothing increases productivity than a flood of natural light. It gets all the right hormones going. Plan your home office interiors to align the main desk by the window and position the artificial lights to receive diffused illumination at night. An occasional change of view out of the window while working will help your mood.
3. Say no to clutter
Even if you manage to keep your pets out and work away from your family members, clutter on and around your work desk can still keep you distracted and stressed. Strategise your home office décor to hide the electrical cords and place the plug connections just behind your desks and shelves.
4. Go for a vertical design
Unless you are converting the master bedroom into your office, we suggest you design the home office in a vertical arrangement. This means limiting your desk size to the standard measurement and using vertical shelves over it. Also, opt for custom furnishing to add strategic shelves all-around your work area.
5. Colour with your favourite shade
Technically, your home office is not your office and no home office interior ideas should ever convince you to paint the home’s work area like a cubicle. If you have a favourite colour, paint your home office in that shade. Or, go with the trending blue that tends to motivate and put you into action.
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6. Carefully select your office accessories
Sadly, you do not need whatever you see. And you need to keep the extras away to give the home office an organised look. Put the shelves to use and keep the desk top clean. The pen stand can sit on your desk but the plant has to stay on the shelf. The minimalistic workspace décor is the best approach for productivity.
7. Think twice about the seating
The main chair is where you will spend 8-9 hours a day. Invest wisely in this by prioritising comfort over look. Most home office interior design tips will recommend a corner couch for relaxation but we feel that a couple of office chairs opposite the main chair adds a more work-like feel. If the motive is to increase productivity, a couch can be counterproductive.
8. Plants help
Especially when you cannot place your work desk in front of the window. A little bit of greenery can liven up your home office and give it a vibrant feel. Go for plants that you can place on the floor or indoor plants that can easily stay on the shelf. However, be careful to not overdo it as the area still has to look like an office.
9. What do you want to see constantly?
If you have daily deliverables, you might want the planner in your direct visual range. Maybe the clock as well if you work on short targets. The painting can stay on the side view to break the monotony and the guitar can hang behind you. The best interior designer creates such décor so that you see exactly what you need every time.
10. Let it reflect you
In the end, your home office should reflect you. It should display what you love the most, what keeps you inspired, and what work you do daily. Design accordingly and allow the area to reflect your personality. Invest in posters, bookshelves, home accessories, and relics that mirror you.
