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Best Tips to Create a Productive Home Office
Published: 09/30/2024
- Categories: Office -
Featured Products: Watson Office Chair & Vancouver Office Desk
Working from home or in a hybrid setup has become the new normal for many in recent years.
According to Data from the UK Office for National Statistics early this year, 40% of the workforce worked from home at some point in a given week, compared to only 12% in 2019.
In this post we'll explore how to optimise your home office to help you get focused, productive, and energised, even on the most challenging cold mornings!
From the best furniture choices for comfort and concentration, to optimal lighting, colours and layouts for those small office spaces, we’ve got everything covered to help you create the ideal work from home space to keep you motivated and doing your best work.
How home office design affects work performance
Does working from home increase productivity? Opinions are still divided on that.
What we can be sure of is that a big part of productivity comes down to the design of your home office.
There’s a reason why corporate interior design is a huge industry. It's no secret that uncomfortable furniture, clutter, and dark spaces don't make for an inspiring place to work, or a productive workforce. Companies (at least the smart ones) know that elements like ergonomic furniture, proper lighting, optimised layout and other thoughtful and creative details are critical to help employees stay more alert, focused, calm, and creative.
If these aspects are important for the traditional workplace, they’re even more crucial when carving out a workspace at home—the place where your brain is accustomed to ‘switching off’.
Intentionally designing and optimising your home office space for comfort and focus is crucial if you want to be able to quickly transition from relax mode to max productivity mode (of course, getting out of your pj’s and having a good morning routine helps too!).
Fortunately, designing an optimal home office space doesn’t mean you need to fork out thousands for an interior designer. Follow our tips below, invest in a few key home office furniture items to boost your productivity, and you’ll be A-for-away.
Let’s dive into the details.
Featured Product: Carl Office Chair - White
Improving productivity with ergonomic furniture
Ever tried to do a day’s work on the sofa? Got a bunch done, did you?
Investing in proper home office furniture is the biggest factor in creating an optimal work from home environment.
Let’s start with the heavyweights—your desk and chair.
While a bar stool at the kitchen counter might be fine in a pinch, it’s not going to cut it long-term. A decent office chair is probably the most important piece of office furniture you need to invest in for productivity, and sanity.
Your home office chair needn’t be a drab, corporate style eyesore. There are plenty of luxe and stylish options available that will do the job to help you do your job.
Look for ergonomic chairs that are height adjustable, and offer good built-in lumbar support. This ensures good ergonomics by allowing you to sit at the right height in relation to your desk, with feet flat on the floor and arms parallel to the floor. Lumbar support is also crucial for maintaining a healthy posture. Even with a supportive chair, you’ll still want to work in regular breaks to take a stretch.
Wheels are usually a standard feature with office chairs, making it easy to move around your space from one task to another. Also consider breathable upholstery, and armrests for extra support if needed.
For the desk, make sure it’s a good height that allows your arms to rest parallel to the floor when typing. The desk size should have ample space for your work setup, but not so much that it invites clutter.
If you spend long hours sitting, adjustable-height desks offer a fantastic hybrid solution if you don’t want to commit to a standing desk.
Investing in stylish home office storage solutions is also key to staying organised and keeping your desk and mind clutter-free. Shelving is always a good option to save on floor space, while a bookshelf can double up as a handy room divider if you’re working in a shared space. Coordinate furniture colours and materials for a pleasing, polished look that will set your mind at ease.
Maximising Your Layout for Productivity
Now that we've covered the core furniture pieces, how should you arrange them?
Let's look at some layout tips based on the size and shape of your home office:
- First, start with your desk. If you’re fortunate to have a larger office space, try positioning your desk centrally—this has the uncanny effect of helping you feel mentally unhindered, and more in charge of your space.
- For smaller spaces, try to place your desk near a window to take advantage of natural light. You’ll also benefit from taking in the view and giving your eyes a break from your screen every so often.
- For small and narrow spaces, think vertical and multifunctional. Floor-to-ceiling shelving units double as bookcases and room dividers. A dropped leaf or stowaway desk is also an option to open up floor space when you need it.
- Make sure to allow enough space between furniture for comfortable movement and flow. The general rule is to have at least 90-120 cm around your desk chair.
The best paint colours and lighting options for home office productivity
Choosing your wall colour
Wall colour can dramatically impact the atmosphere in your home office. Colour is very subjective, so experiment with what feels best for you and your type of work.
- In general, cool tones like blues, greens and greys tend to promote concentration and calm, while warm neutrals like beige, taupe or light yellow can have an uplifting effect.
- Bold, bright hues can tend to feel over-stimulating, but creatives might find a more vibrant or funky colour palette to be inspiring.
- If you enjoy some colour but don’t want to feel overwhelmed, experiment with a single feature wall, or use a few well-chosen accessories—or even a colourful chair—to add some flavour.
Optimal lighting for mood and energy
Lighting is often overlooked as a critical aspect of any comfortable and productive workspace. Proper lighting keeps your energy up, helps you stay alert, and reduces errors caused by eyestrain.
- Try to make the most of natural light which is stimulating and mood-boosting. Window screens or blinds are a convenient way to control bright morning light.
- If you tend to work more at night or don’t have enough natural light in your space, then try to use more customised lighting versus harsh overhead lights. Focused task lighting will cause less eye strain, and make your space feel more inviting.
- Position floor and desk lamps so they directly illuminate your working area without causing glare on your screens.
Home office accessories that reduce stress
Now for the fun part – accessorising your home office. Adding the finishing touches to your home office décor is not just a personal indulgence. Accessories also have a key part to play in demarcating your workspace and flipping your brain’s switch to ‘work mode.’ Of course, certain accessories like lamps, special stationery or pin boards can be highly functional, while others can help to boost your mood and reduce stress.
If you’re decorating a home office on a budget, you only need a few key accessories to make your space feel personal and inspiring.
- An interesting paperweight or a few personal mementos may be all you need to create a warm and quirky workspace that’s relaxed and clutter-free.
- A corkboard or chalkboard provides a convenient place to pin up or jot down ideas, and gives you an excuse to take a quick stretch break or get creative for a few minutes with some coloured pens.
- Don’t underestimate the power of pot plants! Having three to five plants in your office can significantly improve the air quality and help you feel more connected to nature and the outside world. Choose a few hardy varieties that won’t require too much special attention.
- Adding a little luxury to your space can make a world of difference to help you feel in your comfort zone. Add a textured floor rug for some extra foot love, or pop a beanbag in a corner to create a cosy reading nook.
The choices are endless when it comes to personalising your home office space. Tap into what makes you feel happy and inspired to put your best foot forward.
Top tips to create a stylish home office in the UK
There you have it - your blueprint for creating an inviting, stylish and productive home office. To recap our top tips:
- Invest in office furniture that optimises comfort and productivity, especially an ergonomic office chair and well-proportioned desk.
- Carefully plan your layout, starting with your desk, based on the shape and size of the room, and natural light sources.
- Choose paint colours according to your preferences to boost your mood and improve focus.
- Opt for customised task lighting to supplement natural light.
- Add the finishing touches to help you stay focused and stress-free with a few well-chosen accessories such as pot plants, pin-up boards, personal mementos, or a touch of tactile comfort.
Design Your Dream Home Office with inspiration from Cielo
Ready to plan or upgrade your home office furniture and workspace design?
Cielo’s online furniture store has everything you need to create a stylish and productive workspace, at affordable prices, with plenty of design ideas to help you get inspired.
Browse our wide selection of stylish desks and ergonomic office chairs, contemporary storage solutions, lighting, and décor accessories online today.