Design Tips for Your Home Office

With the internet allowing increasing numbers of workers to operate remotely and the constant increase in new start-up businesses, more people are choosing to forgo the traditional office and work from home instead.

There are a number of pros and cons involved in working from home, some people may find it hard to concentrate and difficult to collaborate with others, but then your costs are reduced and the commute is pretty good to.

Just as in any workspace, if you’re setting up your very own business empire from the comfort of your own lounge, then design and functionality of the space is an important factor. So here are some tips on making the most of your home office and creating a somewhere conducive to success.

Choosing your location

Choosing the location of your home office is a crucial and sometimes difficult first step in setting up your desk space.

In cases where you’ve got a small room or study set aside, the decision is obviously a no brainer, but if you don’t have the luxury of a separate room, then you may have to be a bit creative to find the perfect spot.

Guest rooms can make great office spaces, giving you separation from the rest of the house while still retaining the function of the room. Consider installing a sofa bed to make the room feel more professional and less like a bedroom.

Another good area to consider is the space under the stairs. You can work your shelving into the design of the staircase to create something that looks good and works well.

A messy desk will make you feel disorganized and unprepared

Landings can also be utilized as office spaces, and even wide hallways could be used. Just remember that wherever you go, you’ll need enough room to manoeuvre without feeling cramped and without getting in anyone’s way.

Keep it organized

However well designed your work space is initially, if you don’t keep it clean and tidy, your carefully chosen décor will be buried under a pile of papers and an acre of rubbish.

An organized desk will also help to focus your mind and make working easier. Luckily, there are some design friendly storage solutions of the market, so look out for creatively built shelving cupboards and desks.

Get great furniture

As it’s likely that you’ll be spending a fair amount of time in your home office, getting good, ergonomic furniture is a must.

Try to ensure that everything is at the correct height so that you don’t suffer any aches and strains and you can work away without any painful interruptions.

Think about how you’ll use the space before you invest in any furniture, so you can choose items that are both beautifully designed and functional. Organise the most important tools and accessories so they’re easily available to you, creating your very own nerve center as you go.

A dedicated space with plenty of room and lots of light will make working from home a lot easier

Create a separate area

If you need to let your imagination run wild or you’re thinking about having clients visit you at home, try to create a separate space or area so you can get away from your computer and have a bit of a change of scenery.

This could be anything from allocating one end of your desk for ideas and meetings to separating off a whole new section and using furniture to define how the space will be used.

Without the restrictions of colleagues, bosses and corporate demands, you’re free to make your home office as whacky or as traditional as you like.

All that really matters is that you create a great place to work in, so you can grow your business, your career and your income.

Picture credits: Wikipedia 1 & 2

Author bio: BoConcept produce unique contemporary furniture, founded in 1952, their Danish craftsmen have gone on to build a company that now has over 250 stores worldwide.