A Step by Step Guide for Creating a Home Office
There was a time when working from home was a luxury; only a handful of people could afford. But, today many large scale organisations across Australia and even smaller businesses throughout Hobart and Tasmania, have made WFH permanent. The research says that working from home increases employee productivity (something which companies are digging right now).
However, to establish a permanent routine and sustain that higher levels of productivity, you may need to build a home office. Such a measure is essential to compensate for a psychological need and build continuity with the daily routine.
Even though you are moving from room to a dedicated table, it brings some kind of satisfaction that you are working. More importantly, a home office helps maintain a work-life balance.
But, how to build a productive, soothing, and good looking home office, follow this guide. You will find pointers to build effective storage solutions, desk set up, making up for the office space, and clearing some space.
Choose a dedicated area
Do you like to change the seats in your office every hour? No, right? Similarly, working from home means that you do have the option to sit in any corner of the house and start working.
But that is not the most productive thing to do. Having a dedicated space (preferably with a lock and door) is one of the first and foremost things about setting up a home office.
More importantly, setting up a dedicated space also depends on your work profile. If you expect to meet several clients during the day, it is best to set up the office near to the main door.
If you have a lot of meetings and calls, it is best to be in a room that has the best internet connectivity. Similarly, different job profiles have a niche set up requirements. Try to imitate the work conditions of your corporate office and imitate them at your home.
Create your own space
Not everybody plans to build a home office before buying a house. For some of us, this is something new necessitated by a global crisis that has led to an alteration in the work culture.
However, creating a home office is somewhat necessary now as your own space to work with full concentration. Since you are at home, the urge to adapt to a laid back attitude is common. That is why it is essential to have your own dedicated space (more on this later).
For now, you must focus on preparing an area on the house. Figure out what space is best to be used as a make-shift office while keeping a few things in mind. It can be light, concentration, proximity to the other more happening areas of the house and so on.
Setting up an office in an already congested space can be painstaking. But there is always a solution. When it comes to clearing out some stuff, you can try to look for a self-storage unit to store your stuff for the time being. You will find many affordable self-storage units in Hobart that are guarded with e-surveillance systems 24/7. Mobile Storage provides an easy, cost effective solution to clearing out your home office space.
Comfort is your best friend
One of the work from home advice accorded by the local government of Tasmania is to build a comfortable workspace. Since you are not in the office, a reclining chair might replace the office chair. Or a chaise lounge can replace the office table.
But these kinds of desking options are not conducive to a 40 hour week. Sooner or later, you will be at the mercy of your lounge chair to give you a comfortable seating position without causing a strain on the back.
Looking for ideas on Pinterest or other such references can only work as long as you are keeping the ultimate comfort in mind. Also, how will you be productive without sitting on a comfortable chair that ensures an upright posture throughout the day?
Therefore, where an ottoman or a sofa seat may seem fluffy and comfortable, they are not good for a home office.
Set up your desk near natural light
The office cubicle systems have forced us to work under artificial light 24/7. Well, if you are a manager, you may get the corner office (good for you, but not for others).
The good thing is that you need not develop a similar environment at your home. Instead, try setting up the desk near to a window from where you can enjoy natural light and fresh air.
Light plays a vital role in enhancing work productivity, alertness, and relaxation. Ensure that you are sitting in an area that is blessed with both warm and cold light.
Even better, natural light helps reduce the strains on the eyes that are always glued to the computer screen.
Going one step forward, you can also try ideas to renovate the home office with some plants and greenery. A couple of plants in your office can bring freshness to the room. Research on these lines states that keeping plants in the office will increase your productivity and make you happier.
Implement Smart Storage Solution
It does not matter that you have a tiny room or lesser space for your office in the home. Implementing innovative storage solutions is the key to creating a home office.
Even though technology has allowed us to store and sort the files with precision, a home office can have plenty of files and loose paper everywhere.
Even though we may not need everything, having all the stationery items already set up on the table does look good. If not the table, go for some wall-mounted racks or magazine racks. They are space-saving and also help organise the stuff accordingly.
Ready to rip the charts with productivity?
Ok, let’s see. We have cleared out some space from a dedicated area in the house. You know that it is beneficial to place your desk near a window or someplace from where you can peep out occasionally and get some fresh air.
Moving on, it is a good habit to work among the plants (they are amazing listeners) as they spread freshness in the room. Lastly, it is good to store some of the stuff that you do not use in self-storage units and declutter the home for your office.
If you want to enjoy work and life together, creating a home office is rather essential. With it, you can maintain your work habits and have a separate area to think, innovate, work, and be productive.
If you need any help with an easy and convenient Mobile Self-Storage solutions, feel free to email us or phone us on 1300 223 000 for a quote. Alternatively, you can get an instant quote and book online here.