Creating a perfect home office comes with its own unique set of challenges but is far from impossible. Whether you’re starting your own small business or made the shift to working from home, setting up the right home office is essential to balance both productivity and your current home environment. To help overcome these challenges and drum up some ideas and inspiration for your new home office, we’ve put together a list of 5 key steps to creating a perfect home office.
Find the Right Room
The first thing to keep in mind when creating the perfect home office is choosing the right room. At the very least, you’ll need enough room to be able to slide away from your desk and perform any tasks you might need to throughout your day. Consider repurposing a disused guest bedroom, formal dining room, or any other room you can spare. Dining rooms and spare bedrooms make for great home offices, and you can simply move your office to a new temporary location whenever it comes time to use the room for its intended purpose. If you want a more permanent home office but haven’t got the room for it, consider a home office addition or extension.
Choose a Spot with Plenty of Natural Light
Nobody likes working in a dingy room under artificial lights. Not only will natural light help cut down energy costs, but studies have shown it to be beneficial to both your mood and productivity when working. A definite plus! After all, one of the main advantages of working from a home office is that you get to escape dreary cubicles and office buildings, so make the most of it. Aim to position your desk or work area next to or parallel to a natural light source like a window or skylight. If you can’t sufficiently illuminate your workspace using natural light, consider adding daylight LED lighting to supplement it.
Choose the Right Colors
Choosing the right colors for your home office doesn’t just make it look nice. The right color scheme can improve your mood which, in turn, improves your overall productivity. It’s not just about picking your favorite colors, however. For example, while yellow walls may seem bright and cheerful, too much yellow can lead to frustration, especially when working with deadlines. So, choose wisely! Do your research and be sure to look up plenty of home office ideas online for inspiration. Pick a color scheme that best matches the type of work you do and the environment you want to create.
Don’t Skimp on the Furniture
One of the biggest mistakes new work-from-homers can make is not choosing the right furniture. While it’s possible to create an ad-hoc office using extra bits of furniture from around the house, you’re going to want to invest in some quality furniture if you plan on working in your home office long term. For instance, having a desk that’s wide enough to accommodate everything you need without piling stuff on top of each other can make a world of difference. In the same way, investing in a quality desk chair can do wonders for both your back and your productivity.
Don’t Forget the Outlets
Last but not least, be sure to pick a room with adequate power outlets for all your devices when creating a home office. This is especially true if you live in an older house. The last thing you want to do is run multiple power strips across your new home office or overburden old wiring. Not only can this harm your office equipment, but it can also turn into a safety hazard. Even though it might lead to a remodel, it’s worth routing new power outlets and hookups for your internet connection to ensure you can work safely and won’t have to rely on fluctuating Wi-Fi signals during important conference calls.
Get a Home Office Done Right with Kurmak Builders
Have a few ideas for that perfect home office? Or perhaps you’re still looking for inspiration? From conception to creation, Kurmak Builders can help you create your dream home office whether it be an addition, extension, or renovation of an existing room. Call us at 403-277-5525 or GET IN TOUCH with us online to book your free consultation