Working from home can be a great way to increase productivity and achieve success. But with the comfort of your own space comes the challenge of maintaining a professional atmosphere in your home office.
You want to create an environment that fosters productivity while still looking polished for any calls or video conferences you may have with clients or colleagues. So how do you make sure your work-from-home setup looks professional? Here's what you need to know about making your home office more professional.
Begin with measurements
The very first think that you should do is take measurements of your home office. With measurements, you can easily create a floorplan and work out how much furniture you can actually fit into your office. Take these measurements with you when shopping for furniture so that you can quickly work out whether an item is suitable or not. It is also handy to take the floorplan of the space so that you have a clear idea of where items can be placed to guarantee that windows and doors aren’t blocked.
Have a designated workspace
Having a dedicated workspace for your home office is key to creating a professional atmosphere. It doesn't have to be an entire room, although that's ideal; it just needs to be big enough so you can have all the materials and items necessary within arm's reach. It’s important to have a work-life/home-life separation, so try and avoid setting up your office in ‘relaxing’ home spaces such as the bedroom.
Start by finding a spot near a window with natural light or invest in lighting fixtures to make the space more inviting. Make sure your home desk is comfortable with plenty of storage and seating options available.
Cover the basics
Before looking at fancy gadgets, make sure that you have all the basics covered. Desks, chairs, and storage space should be the first priority when it comes to furniture. If you’re going to be holding meetings at your home, you may want to make sure that you’ve got enough chairs for clients, or check whether your dining table can be turned into a makeshift boardroom table.
When choosing the size of your desk, consider how you will use it. Larger desks suit those in creative jobs or who end up with plenty of paperwork covering the surfaces. If all your paperwork is stored on your computer, then you can easily work from a smaller desk, as it will be less cluttered.
Declutter and organise
It's important to keep your workspace tidy and free of distractions. Start by getting rid of any extra clutter that may be lying around, such as old notes or paperwork which you no longer need.
This will help create a more organised atmosphere in the office. Once everything you don’t want is cleared away, look for ways to maximise storage space – filing cabinets, shelves, drawers etc.
Having a designated place for things can save time when looking for items later. It also gives you a proper place to store things so that the clutter doesn’t build up again. Staying on top of your organisation will help to keep a space that feels clean, open and professional.
Decorate your space
Lighting is another important part of fostering a good home working environment. Having a good natural light source helps reduce eye strain from staring at screens all day.
If you don’t have access to natural lighting like a window, or you find your home doesn’t get a lot of natural light, consider investing in some lamps with adjustable brightness settings so you can modify the amount of light depending on how bright or dim you prefer it to be.
Finally, add plants or other decorations that make you feel comfortable and motivated; this could include pictures of family members or motivational quotes to stay positive throughout the day!
In Conclusion
Having a designated workspace, investing in an ergonomic setup and decluttering and organising your home office are all important steps in making your home office more professional.
It's also important to remember that having a professional home office isn't just about practicality; it should also reflect who you are as a person too. Add personal touches such as photos or artwork so that the atmosphere of your workspace is one which promotes creativity and motivation!