The work from home era brings with it numerous benefits. I’ve been working from home for the last 7 years now, and my home office has moved space, and style a few times during that time. Cutting out commuting time, improved work/life balance and the ability to spend all day and every day in your pyjamas are three of them. Actually scrap the PJ idea, it doesn’t work for me, unfortunately!
For one thing, if you are working from home it essentially means part of your home has turned into – well – work. And if you’ve spent long hours and plenty of money creating your ideal living space, the invasion can seem incongruous at best or, at worst, it can completely ruin everything you’ve worked so hard to achieve.
What’s the answer? Perch all day on the sofa with your laptop, like a square peg in a round hole? Shut yourself away in a hidden cupboard, like the dirty family secret? Neither sounds ideal. Here are pointers towards making a home office look the part and fit in with the rest of your décor.
Wireless all the way
Nothing screams “office” live a spaghetti of wires spilling off the back of a desk and round a room. It’s really not necessary these days, so leverage the power of wireless as much as you can. Even devices like printers, that used to be very “cable heavy” are now available in wireless form. They are super cheap, and given that you can buy discounted ink cartridges from printerinks.com, a new one will pay for itself in no time, so it’s well worth the modest investment.
Wood is good
Wood is incredibly versatile as a material, so use it to your advantage. From shelving to window shutters, it creates a clean, professional backdrop, which is important if you are frequently on skype calls or video chats, yet at the same time, can be blended to match with the rest of your interior décor theme using varnish and paint.
Get the light right
Never underestimate the power of lighting in setting the tone and atmosphere in a room. Natural light is perfect, and is good for the physical and mental health, but it’s not always practical if the sun is shining directly into your eyes or on your screen. Blinds or shutters add style as well as function to the room, and in this modern age of low cost, energy efficient LEDs, there is no excuse for stinting on the lighting.
A desk lamp can be a useful addition for working late at night, but dare to be different with the mood lighting in the room. Spot lights in the floor or skirting board can create an interesting effect, and will lift the mood of the room and whoever is in it.
Don’t forget, it’s still home
The home office doesn’t have to be all functionality. At work, people tend to personalise their office space with pictures, ornaments and the like, so accessorise your office just as you would any other room of the house. Make it a welcoming, but at the same time professional environment and it won’t just blend in with the rest of the house – it will also be a place where you are pleased to spend your time in happy productivity.
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