Whether you work at home full-time or just use your home office as a place to sit back with a cup of coffee and check Facebook, it’s important to have a spot in your home to relax and get work done. But when we think of home offices, we tend to imagine oversized desks, dark bookshelves, and drab walls.
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However, today’s home office is bright, cheery, and highly functional. Throw your ideas about this important room out the window and get ready to improve your work environment.
Here are five of our favorite easy and affordable ways to transform your space and make your home office awesome.
Clean, Organized Space
Start with a clean slate. After all, it’s impossible to evaluate the space you’re working with if it’s cluttered.
Purge your office of unnecessary supplies and old files. Box and store anything that you may need down the road (tax records, for example). Donate or throw away anything else that you haven’t used within the past year.
Remove everything from your desktop and start building your space back up with the absolute necessities, such as your computer, a lamp, and a writing station. While we all love a nice paperweight, if you don’t use it often, then it needs to go.
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Invest in drawer organizers to keep writing utensils, clips, notes, and other supplies neat and tidy. Consider buying or purchasing a separate shelf next to your desk to hold your printer and other large office equipment.
The Right Lighting
Natural light helps improve your mood and your efficiency. Therefore, it’s important to open curtains and blinds without hassle. Then, choose sheer curtain and install a tie-back to maximize your sunlight exposure.
In terms of other lighting, choose functional fixtures and install soft white bulbs to add a sense of calm and peace.
Photo by Natalia Bratslavsky on Adobe Stock
Greenery
While keeping a plant or two in your home office may seem unnecessary, this is hardly the case. In fact, a splash of green can give you a boost when you’re feeling stressed and overworked.
Choose indoor plants that require medium to low light and little maintenance like parlor palms and pathos. For a simple touch on your desk or end table, place a single bamboo shoot in a tall glass jar filled with water.
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Bright Splashes of Color
The right paint colors can energize and inspire just about anyone. But even if you prefer a light gray or even white walls, this doesn’t mean you must resign to a dull, standard home office. Splashes of color are easy to incorporate and do wonders for work ethic.
If you’re prone to high levels of stress and are always trying to find balance as you work, try painting a wall blue or green. To increase your creative juices, try a splash of yellow or orange.
Even if you don’t want to commit to painting a wall (or the room) a vivid color, try adding personal touches such as artwork, functional pottery, or throw blankets to liven up your space.
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A Good Place to Sit
You spend a lot of time at your desk, so make it work for you. Avoid cheap, uncomfortable chairs and shop for an office chair that fits your needs, budget and body type.
First, find a chair that adjusts to the height you need. Then, ensure you can sit comfortably in it for extended periods of time. Don’t forget to check the material, seat cushion, and armrest height to make sure it’s the perfect fit.
An office chair is a large investment, but it’s also a piece of furniture that will keep you comfortable and focused when you’re chugging along on a big project or relaxing after a long day.
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It’s easy to overlook the importance of making a home office beautiful and functional. After all, it’s not a room that many guests or visitors ever enter. But that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t work for you.
By cleaning and brightening up your space, adding some color and greenery, and investing in a quality office chair, you’re well on your way to productive days!
