5 Tricks to Creating The Perfect Home Office

Location is key

Working from home can be tricky, especially if you have kids that are home during the day. The key is to select a space where you can see yourself working. Select a space depending on the time of the day that you plan to work. If you require silence to work, find a space that is away from the daily flow of traffic and distractions of your household. 

Give yourself breathing room

Allow yourself enough space to work comfortably. When designing a home office, a rule of thumb often used by designers is to allow at least 60” (150cm) in width and 84” (210cm) in depth to make a workspace functional. Consider your workflow - Will you be at your desk all day or do you often get up, move around and need a second surface to work or room to unwind in between tasks. Be sure to give yourself enough room to feel comfortable and at ease.

Think Ergonomics

Selecting the right desk and chair for your home office is essential to your workflow and comfort - Keep in mind ergonomics! Select a desk that is wide enough for your computer and anything else you may need to work. The minimum desk width should be 48” (120cm), however, the wider the better; a desk that is 60” or wider is more comfortable. Since it isn’t always practical to have a desk that adjusts heights in a home office, ensure that your desk is at least 28” - 30” in height. Try out different chairs for size! Look for both great aesthetics and ergonomics - the standard chair should be 14” from seat to floor. Remember to support your neck and back!

Organize Vertically & Horizontally

Now that you have your desk and chair in a workable space, where do you keep all your stuff?  Don’t overlook storage needs - since it heavily affects your productivity. Consider your workflow - What comes in? Where will you store it while working on it? Where will it go once it's completed? Keep current work at arms reach, on your desk or near it. Have a filling system nearby and if you work off of reference materials, such as magazines, create a shelf to organize those items.

Make your office your happy place

One of the best parts of working from home is that YOU get to decide how the space looks and feels without having to accommodate others. Think about what inspires you! The best way to create a homey office space is to really give attention to the personal touches. Pick out an art piece or wall paint colour that makes you happy, calm and even inspires you. Working at home in a well designed home office space that is decorated with features that appeal to you is a sure way to brighten your work day. 

Bonus Design Tip:

Add greenery and light to your space!

A great way to brighten up your home office is to have your desk facing a window, if you have one. Facing a window will ensure that you get to be part of the sunny days and even motivate you to work better so that you get to go outside and experience it for yourself. Also, adding greenlife in your home office, a single plant will do, will breathe some life into the space and help you want to stay longer.

I hope these tips help you to create the perfect “working from home” environment. If you’d like to receive these tips and additional resources, click here.