Whether you’re looking to conquer clutter or manage your time more effectively, there are many delightfully simple ways to transform your home office space to improve your daily productivity.
Click below to explore our guide and discover.
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Decluttering your home office desk is a key part of keeping your working day on track - 69% of people who choose to tidy do so to maintain peace of mind, which definitely helps to keep your work ticking along. If you’re still drowning in papers, try to digitize your office cabinet or use online tools for desktop tasks. Monthly interventions are also a simple way to keep on top of the trash. Mark three boxes as ‘keep’, ‘archive’ and ‘toss’ and be strict with yourself - streamlining your space is the first step to a more productive work environment. Be sure to include your inbox in any intervention too - operating a ‘zero inbox’ policy, with time allotted at different points throughout the day to sort and reply to messages, reduces stress and allows you to concentrate on the work at hand.
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With our digital devices and hectic lifestyles, working on the go is a reality for many of us. But when you do get the time to buckle down to some desk-based work, you need to look after yourself if you’re going to be as efficient as you can. Find a home office chair that supports your back, rest your feet on the floor and adjust your seating position so your wrists and forearms are parallel with the floor. To protect your eyesight, your screen should be an arms length away, with the top of the monitor matching your forward-facing eyeline. Finding the right office chair for the layout of your workspace is key. As many as 60% of adults suffer from back problems each year, so consider the adjustability of the design and how it can support your posture and your work.
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83% of people feel more productive in an organized space.
According to a study by the American Society of Interior Design, as many as 68% of office workers find the lighting in their offices a challenge. The benefit of a home office is that you don’t have to please everyone - you can design the space to best suit how you work. Utilizing natural light is hugely important. Your desk should be oriented to make the most of the available sunlight, without it negatively affecting your work. For artificial light, 65W light bulbs are ideal - available everywhere, and with an intensity similar to daylight, they can counter the need for multiple artificial light sources. Position your office lamp to reduce glare on your screen, and you’re all set for well-lit working - whatever time of day.
More LessStudies have shown that fresh air can boost workplace responsiveness by up to 131%.
Frequent heavy computer use can cause sleeping problems and depression - mix it up by taking calls away from your desk or work standing up.
Alongside brightening up the place and oxygenating the room, houseplants can also - as unlikely as it may sound - help you to be better at your job. A global study found that workers in ‘lean’ office spaces became 15% more productive, simply with the addition of houseplants. Office landscaping has quickly become a key concern of HR teams across the world, but when you’re looking for home office ideas, it’s the simple process of finding a format that fits how your work and keeps you motivated. Low maintenance, adaptable specimens are a good bet - ferns, cacti and the occasional peace lily make for perfect office space companions.
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The jury is out on whether music prevents or enables you to be more productive. Some believe that listening to music can boost recall - a practice known as the Mozart effect. A study by the University of Wales found that music, both liked and unknown, and varying sound levels had similar impacts on productivity. Silence, or a level amount of background sound, proved to be significantly better for getting work done well. But don’t despair - some studies have found that test scores can vary person-to-person, so there’s always the possibility that music may work for you. It certainly boosts your mood, which can itself have a positive impact on your workplace efficiency.
More LessMany of us claim to be multitasking experts - but have you considered that it might not be helping? Research has found that persisting with a pluralist approach to working can damage productivity by up to 40%.
Natural light is believed to be the best for productivity, but if you need an alternative, go for cool, light colors, reminiscent of daylight - warm light colors are associated with night and relaxation, so do not support productivity.
We all want to use our time at work more efficiently, but how can changes to your home help? First and foremost, configure your bedroom for a full night’s sleep. Losing just an hour can cause significant ‘cognitive degradation’ - as many as 70% of us don’t get enough rest, and making time for sleep, and investing in creating comfort and calm around you, ensures that the working day is unimpacted by fatigue. When you’re working, position a wall-mounted clock in the room, away from your line of vision but still prominent - to help mark out the deadlines of your day. Undertake your most crucial tasks first where possible, and don’t be afraid to be flexible if you’re finding work challenging - as with design, a change can make a big impact.
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We all know that working through our lunch hour isn’t good for us - but it might not even be good for your workload, either. As many as 54% of us regularly work through our allotted free time, but taking the opportunity to grab some brain food and get out for a walk is far more beneficial than any inroads gained by remaining tethered to your to-do list. Breaks help you retain information, relax and concentrate on structuring your day more clearly - respect them and make the most of them. Your work will definitely benefit.
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Need office decorating ideas? Choose the right colors to suit your work. Blue and green are calming and effective base colors to build on - accent with warmer reds and yellows to boost creativity or passion.
A strategically placed mirror can help you to extend natural and artificial light into untouched corners of the room - making the most of your space.
In conventional office spaces, finding the right temperature for everyone can be near-impossible. But in the home office, there’s only you to please. The temperature commonly understood to be the most conducive for work is between 70 and 72ºF (around 21 - 22ºC). And there’s no need to get too fancy with your tech - set up a simple thermometer near your home office desk to keep track of variation throughout the day. You can then adjust your central heating accordingly. Regulate with fresh air in summer - and find the balance that suits you best.
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Dr. Craig Knight of the University of Exeter has been studying the influence of art and decoration in workspaces for 12 years. “We have never found that lean offices create better results” he says, “the more involved people are in the enrichment process, the more they are able to realize a part of themselves in the space.”