How to Create a Fun and Functional Home Office
How to Create a Fun and Functional Home Office
Incorporate Color
Energize your home office by integrating some vibrant paint, colorful textiles, and décor accents into your space. Doing so helps to create an uplifting area you'll actually want to work in.
Make It a Room with a View
A good view goes a long way in an at-home workspace. Take a cue from Martha Stewart's home office in Bedford, New York, and position your desk so it faces a window so that you can work in natural light; doing so has been linked to improved mood, alertness, and even metabolism. No window? Use LED bulbs that mimic daylight and take frequent outdoor breaks.
Personalize the Space
Why settle for a blank wall or sterile workspace when you can hang art and some of your favorite photos to help you stay inspired throughout the day? Human accents (a beloved painting, a beach-stone-turned-paperweight) take the 9-to-5 edge off by making you feel more comfortable and therefore less anxious.
Get a Grid
To keep your desktop uncluttered, hang supplies and folders from hooks and clips on an easy access grid. It provides a stylish place to hang folders, tools, and other office supplies—without taking up precious square footage on your desk itself. If the look is too exposed for you, hang shelves and stash your supplies in stylish boxes.
Carve Out an Office Nook
If you don't think you have the space for a proper home office, think again: Even the tiniest sliver of wall space can be transformed into a bonafide office nook with nothing more than a petite desk and a floating storage rack. This super small home workspace is proof.
Pick Stylish Desk Accessories
It's not all black-and-white notebooks and plastic pens. You'll feel better and more inspired when you're working with elevated supplies.
Create an Ergonomically Sound Workstation
If you aren't already hip to the power of ergonomics, then now's the time to learn all about it. Designed to improve comfort, health, and productivity, an ergonomically correct workstation can help protect your spine, back, neck, shoulders, and wrists from unnecessary strain. The first thing to do is adjust your chair so your feet are flat on the floor and your shoulders are relaxed when your arms are on the armrests. "Also keep your head centered and balanced over your shoulders for added comfort and reduced strain," says Jon Paulson, certified professional ergonomist and CEO of UPLIFT Desk. Next, place the monitor an arm's length in front of you, with the screen's top at eye level. "If your head is pulled forward off the shoulders it usually means your monitor is too far away," Paulson says. To avoid wrist paint, keep your wrists straight while mousing and typing to avoid over extension. "You may need to raise your chair or install a pull-out keyboard tray, which has back tilt adjustment to help keep your wrists perfectly straight," advises the expert. And finally consider a standing desk. "Standing desks are becoming the standard of an ergonomic office because they get you moving a bit more throughout the day (for improved blood flow), and they allow you to stand and sit at the perfect ergonomic height," Paulson says.
Add Natural Greenery
Never underestimate the power of well-placed houseplant in your home office. Not only will a pretty desk plant naturally purify the air in your workspace, research shows that by simply looking at greenery can boost your mood and productivity levels.
Foldaway Furniture
If you aren't already hip to foldout furniture, now's the time to smarten up. Whether it's a wall-mounted dropleaf desk or a storage cabinet that opens to reveal a table or bed, foldaway furnishings are great for maximizing a small space, says Sinclair.
Find Fun Ways to Store Clutter
Use cute and functional storage items that hide the necessary organization, Austin says. Think: big wicker baskets for things like sweatshirts, sweaters, and even paperwork. She also likes this under-bed storage solution from The Container Store.
Learn how to set up an at-home space you'll actually want to work in.