Last updated: Jan. 14, 2022
There used to be a clearer definition between work and home life. Over the past few years, COVID-19 has turned all that upside down. Many of us are now working from home while also trying to be our children’s teachers, dance and music instructors while also managing increased levels of stress and social isolation. It feels like chaos most of the time, so tips for home office design can be helpful.
Just yesterday, I stopped into a friend/colleague’s home to pick something up. At the best of times, she is a busy mother of four school-aged children and runs her own company. Now, post COVID-19, she was feeding one child, helping another with a homework question, and on hold with a courier company to schedule a pick up! (and that was just during the five minutes I stood on her doorstep! Talk about multi-tasking!)
If you’re sick of looking at the same four walls day in and day out, here are a few tips to rejuvenate your home work space. Even just adding a few houseplants that thrive in low-light conditions will brighten up your space.
5 Tips to Create a Functional & Beautiful Home Office Space
Find a great office location
Consider privacy and traffic flow around your workspace. Find a space that is far enough away from your family to give you privacy while being close enough to hear the action and intervene when (not if) things get crazy with the kids. While it might be easier to find a unicorn over a rainbow, think outside the box. Perhaps you could empty out a rarely used closet in a spare room and set up a desk inside the closet, or think about using the corner of a heated garage, or transforming a rarely used space under the stairs?
Types of lighting for the home office
Access to natural light, as well as good general light and task lighting are important to your mental health and creating an enjoyable workday experience. Nobody wants to spend eight hours a day (or longer) in a space with dim lighting or a lack of natural light! Be sure your space is well lit, and add a desk lamp to avoid eye strain or headaches.
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Organize your home office technology
Technology has become our lifeline to the outside world, but the cords and wires associated with it are our enemies! Make an effort to disguise cords using adhesive cable clips (mounted onto the edge of your desk countertop), fabric cord covers, u- shaped channels or conduit to create an organized, neat appearance. Using basic binder clips is a budget-friendly solution to managing unsightly cords; simply attach the binder clips onto your desk counter and store cords in their arms.
Home office vertical & horizontal storage
If your home office is a small space, think of storage both horizontally and vertically. Traditionally, we store items horizontally inside cabinets or on shelves, but items can also be stacked vertically. Stacking cubbies or containers, baskets or carts can help you maximize the height available.
Function meets style in the home office
Your mental health and wellbeing is important. Creating a home-based workspace that reflects your personal style and taste preferences will provide you with daily inspiration so you can step into your zone of genius at work! Re-paint your office space in an optimistic colour or add wallpaper to create a feature wall. Paint and wallpaper are budget-friendly ways to add instant personality and provide inspiration for daily tasks. Wallpaper adds pattern, texture, sheen and colour. Many times, finding the right wallpaper is the beginning point for the design of your entire space. The possibilities are endless!
While the lines between home and work lives blur during the COVID-19 crisis, a well-organized and cheerful workspace that reflects your style and personality goes a long way to maintaining mental health and wellness.
