Imagine yourself sitting in your home office. As you look around, what do you see? Do the things surrounding you inspire you to be better; encourage you to work harder? Or are they distracting and not contributing to the purpose of the room? Even though it may not seem like that big of a deal, your home office can play a big role in how productive you are throughout the day. Now that you are out of college, it is time to take charge of your destiny. Here are seven dos and don’ts to follow to help make sure your home office is helping you be the best you can be.
DO Make Sure You Have Plenty of Natural Light
Any lighting is better than none, but natural lighting is the best thing for you. Its natural happiness-inducers will help you think clearer and keep you in a cheerful mood. Just make sure to get some nice window blinds so you can maintain your privacy in the evening hours.
DO Include Real Plants in Your Decorating
Although they may be hard to care for if you are lacking a green thumb, plants serve many purposes when it comes to decorating. First, they add warmth to your space and will help your office appear more inviting to your clients. Houzz.com adds that plants are also important because they help clean and filter your air. If you have to sit inside all day, you may as well breathe fresh air!
DO Choose Your Paint Colors Wisely
The color of your walls can play a big role in how productive you are. It has been proven that greens and blues tend to encourage efficiency, making them ideal colors for a home office. If you don’t feel like making all the walls the same color, you can always opt for one or two accent walls. According to living.msn.com, if you stick with lighter shades on your walls and floors your space can look larger, creating the illusion of a vast work space.
DO Make Sure Your Desk is Sized Appropriately
It is very important that your desk is large enough for everything you need to get done. If you are the kind of person that just works on your computer, a small desk will suffice. However, if you like to spread out papers and look at a lot of things at once, go big. Don’t limit your capabilities by choosing the wrong desk.
DON’T Settle for Any Old Artwork
The wall art that surrounds you should be a source of inspiration, according to Houzz.com. Don’t just buy something because it is a good deal or it will work in the space. In your home office, you need to find artwork that inspires you because we all know there will be plenty of times you will need motivation to get through the day.
Photo of home office by …lovemaegan via Flickr.
DON’T Skimp on Your Desk Chair
Few things are more important in your home office than the chair you will be spending so much quality time with. A comfortable and properly fitted chair will help you work longer hours and enjoy your time in the office, while an uncomfortable chair can cause you pain and be distracting. If you’re going to splurge anywhere in your home office, this is the place to do it!
DON’T Forget to Organize
The key to efficiency is to know where everything is and being able to access it easily. The only way to do this in your home office is with proper organization. Stock up on the baskets, boxes and labels, and get to work putting everything in its place so you can then get to your real work.
– Created by Paula
Paula left her job as a buyer for a major retailer to raise her children at home. She enjoys blogging and helping friends choose everything from window blinds to upholstery fabric in her spare time.
