You don’t need us to tell you that your workspace has a direct impact on your mood and productivity. Creating an office that balances aesthetics and functionality is a challenge — especially when you have limited resources. But it is possible to create a dream home office, no matter your budget!
For many entrepreneurs, creating the perfect home office can be more difficult than starting a website or blog. In the latter scenario, you can use a website builder like Wix to bring your vision to life. All you need to do is enter a few prompts and let AI do its magic. But creating the right workspace requires a bit of styling flair and design know-how. And that’s where we come in 😉
From lighting and colours to artwork, we cover the top things you need to know to create the space you want to work in. So, what’s your workspace vibe? Sleek and minimal? Cosy and creative? A high-tech powerhouse? Let’s make it happen!
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Create the perfect home office for optimal productivity
According to a recent survey, employees who are satisfied with their home office setup tend to feel more productive and less burned out. As the researchers note, home office hardware and environmental factors, such as the indoor temperature, influence our ability to get things done.
A well-organised workspace can also reduce distractions and improve mental focus, leading to better performance. Plus, it creates a healthier environment that may help prevent neck and back pain, fatigue, eye strain, and other issues affecting office workers.
Not sure where to start? Here are some tips to level up your home office for optimal comfort and productivity.
Get rid of clutter
Office clutter can hamper productivity and take a toll on mental health. In the long run, it may lead to emotional exhaustion and stress, making it difficult to keep up with work, relationships, and other aspects of daily life.
With that in mind, set time aside to declutter your workspace. A good starting point is to sort documents, office supplies, and other items into three piles.
- Keep: these are the items you want to keep at hand, such as your laptop, phone charger, pens, and favourite pens
- Sell/recycle/discard: these are office accessories and other stuff you no longer use or need
- Belongs elsewhere: store these items in a cabinet or drawer.
It’s also a good idea to digitise whatever you can, from invoices to sticky notes. This step alone can reduce clutter and free up space.
Plan your office layout for efficiency
Aim for a U-shaped configuration when organising your office space. For example, you can position your desk in the centre, with a printer on one side and a whiteboard on the other. Keep everything you need within reach to minimise unnecessary movement.
If you don’t have a dedicated home office, place your desk in a quiet area. Use room dividers to delineate your space and create a sense of privacy. Stick to a minimalist background to avoid distracting others in virtual meetings.
Make it cosy
While it’s important to prioritise functionality, you shouldn’t sacrifice comfort or the ‘feel-good factor.’ Make your workspace fun, cosy, and welcoming by adding a touch of personality.
For instance, you could get a couch and coffee table for those moments when you want to chill. Colour-changing accent lights, artwork, plants, rugs, and other small but significant elements can change the vibe of the room. Check out our list of top 50 items of home decor for even more ideas.
Your workspace should ultimately match your personality and style.
If you’re the minimalist type, you may only need a wooden desk, a comfy chair, and office essentials to feel cosy. Opt for a monochrome colour palette and hidden storage solutions to minimise visual clutter, or take inspiration from this Scandinavian-style creative workspace.
Tech enthusiasts, on the other hand, may appreciate a dark, modern office with a motorised desk, a dual or triple monitor setup, a cool gaming chair, and smart lighting.
For a calm, inviting atmosphere, use bookshelves, plush rugs, wooden textures, soft lighting, and a warm colour palette. You could also add a playful vibe with a bean bag chair, a magnetic whiteboard, or colourful artwork.
Decide on your must-haves
Make a list of gadgets, office furnishings, and other items you can’t live without.
First, cover the basics, such as a laptop or PC, headphones, microphones, multi-port hubs, and lighting fixtures. Next, think about the small things you need to work more productively.
Home office must-haves:
- an ergonomic chair
- a dual monitor
- a laptop cooler
- cables and chargers
- a portable storage drive
- a desk lamp.
What this list will look like depends on your lifestyle and individual needs.
For example, if you have back pain, you may benefit from a lumbar pillow and seat cushion. An under-desk bike, a balance ball chair, or a standing desk would allow you to exercise more, leading to better fitness and higher productivity.
Invest in ergonomic furniture
Most adults spend over 10 hours per day sitting — and this number is even higher among office workers.
Prolonged sitting can affect mental and physical health, making it difficult to stay productive. Think about how you feel after spending an entire day in front of the screen: your back hurts, your vision is blurry, and your mind is foggy.
Given these aspects, you’ll want to create an ergonomic workspace that supports proper posture, reduces eye strain, and encourages movement. The whole point is to feel comfortable physically and mentally so you can perform at your best.
For starters, get an ergonomic chair with wrist rests and lumbar support. A gaming chair should work, too. Ideally, choose a sit-stand desk or one that can be height adjusted.
Also, look for a dimmable desk lamp with multiple light settings, an ergonomic keyboard, and blue light screen filters. If you use a standing desk, consider buying an anti-fatigue mat to prevent foot aches and relieve pressure points.
Apart from that, switch to a wireless ergonomic mouse and a laptop stand that elevates your screen to eye level. The latter promotes good posture and may help reduce neck strain.
Let there be light
Lighting might be one of the most overlooked aspects of office design, despite its role in productivity and mental health. This factor has a direct impact on our mood, alertness, energy, cortisol levels, and other aspects of work performance.
For example, prolonged exposure to artificial light can raise the stress hormone cortisol levels. The result? Increased fatigue, difficulty concentrating, bad sleep, and heightened anxiety.
Natural light, on the other hand, can boost your mood and improve sleep quality. That’s why you should place your desk near a window and work when the sun is up rather than late at night.
Alternatively, use a smart lighting system or daylight-mimicking LED bulbs. It’s also a good idea to add mirrors throughout the room to amplify and distribute the natural light available.
Turn your home office into a productivity hub
Working from home can be highly productive when you create a dedicated space for work, away from noise and distractions. After that, style it to your liking and make adjustments as needed. For instance, you may realise that you focus better with music or ambient sounds in the background. If that’s the case, get a portable Bluetooth speaker or leave the TV on a nature channel.
No idea is too crazy as long as it works. Your home office is your personal space, so go ahead and turn it into a productivity hub, whether that means adorning the walls with artworks or buying the latest tech.
We hope these tips on how to create a dream home office help you. Is there anything we’ve overlooked? Post your question below and we’ll get back to you asap!
