Creating Your Home Workspace

These days more and more people are working and schooling from home.  If your day is going to consist of working and/or studying, a pleasant environment is the place to be.  Since more people are working from home these days and kids are distance learning, a space for learning and working makes sense. 

First things first­—find your ideal workspace.  Plan ahead for all the things that you’ll need to work comfortably and efficiently in your home office and keep your project within budget. Start with proper temperature control and lighting. Your desk chair will be moving around in the space, so flooring should be a hard surface, at least near the desk. If you’re fortunate to have a window nearby, select window coverings that will allow you to control the light in your area. If you don’t have windows, then you will need to come up with good lighting sources for
your area.

This is your professional space. Your desk, shelves, and storage should serve you, not the other way around. If you have clients visiting your home office, keep things as professional as possible—be sure that they don’t have to walk into your office area and see all your professional documents laying about.  Consider the privacy of your work. If clients will be waiting for an appointment with you, provide comfortable seating, a reading light, and interesting literature. Consider your workflow and what items you need at your fingertips before investing in furniture, and then look for pieces that are both beautiful and functional.

Let’s not ignore the office chair.  You spend hours parked in your office chair; a beautiful, ergonomically correct, comfortable seat is worth every dime. Don’t skimp, your back and shoulders will thank you.

Position your desk so you can look at something more interesting than a blank wall when you need a brief break.  A beautiful view, whether it be the ocean, the mountains, your garden, or the blue sky, will always make you feel better about your day. A window’s natural light is ideal, but if you’re in a windowless space, hang a pretty picture above the desk, or position your chair to face the door. Facing a corner is never a good idea when forming a home office.

There’s not much you can do to beautify the computer, printer and phone, but you can hide unsightly cords. Tame the cord jungle on the floor with cord winders, tubing, or a wire organizer that’s attached to the desk and lifts the cords off the floor. Electrical cords can become a tangled mess inside a drawer or desktop. Use a small, stylish storage container to store and hide all the wires.

Probably the most important piece of furniture you will have will be your desk or work surface. Whether you select a custom-designed desk or use two file cabinets with a door stretched across them, it should be large enough and the right height to comfortably do your work.  To make the most of the limited space, have shelving installed behind your desk so books and supplies will be easy to reach.

By planning your home office space, getting it organized, and decorating it to express who you are, you’ll enjoy it more. Your work will be better, you’ll appreciate being at home, and you’ll have the perfect place to work: your home.