Working from home guide: dedicated workspace

You may feel delighted to be working from home, but it may not be as glamorous as it seems. Spending time in PJs the whole day, sleeping in, or taking breaks to watch your favorite TV shows are some of the downsides and not benefits. Not to mention your partner, children, or roommate not respecting your working hours and demanding attention.

Creating a dedicated workspace can make you more focused on the tasks and send a clear message to your household members not to disturb you. Let’s see how you can achieve that!

Choose the right location

It's important to separate your living space from the home office to make a difference between professional and private life. You can set the dedicated workspace in the corner of the room, basement, attic, or even under the stairs. Look for the spot that can give you enough room and privacy to commit to daily tasks and video calls without interruptions.

If you have a small apartment and your home office has to be in your living room, use shelves or a folding screen to isolate yourself. A wall-mounted desk in the kitchen, hallway, or nook can is also a practical way to install your workstation there.

Keep it tidy and organized

Clutter is not good for the office since you need to concentrate on the work, and not search for items in the mess on your desk. Ensuring you have sufficient storage space is one of the ways to have a clean desk and easy access to the things you need. For example, shelves above the desk, a drawer or two, or a small cabinet may be enough to have a functional office.

However, this doesn’t mean you will have a well-organized work area. Make it a habit to tidy up your desk every day after work and dust at least once a weak. A clean workspace can boost productivity and reduce the stress that comes from misplacing items in the clutter and not having room to do your tasks.

Create a welcoming workspace

Your home office should be a place you want to spend time in even when you are not overly eager to work that day. To create a welcoming workspace, hang art on the walls, add a family photo, or use scented candles for decoration.

Plants should always have a place in your office since nature has anti-stress properties and encourages creativity. Oxygen-producing plants, like areca palm and weeping fig, can clean the indoor air and make you feel more energized to tackle the workload.

Invest in comfortable furniture

Having an ergonomic chair and a good desk may reduce aches in your back, neck, and legs. To protect your floors, use a high-quality plastic chair mat that will allow wheels to run silently and smoothly without leaving scratches.

Place a footrest under the desk to prevent feet from dangling and reduce the tension in your lower back. An adjustable standing desk is a comfortable solution to stretch the legs and change position during long hours.

Pay attention to lighting

Having natural light is the best option for your dedicated workspace since sunlight can improve your mood and give you a boost of energy. However, sometimes natural light may be too strong or you can have an office by the window. In that case, you need to illuminate your work area with lamps.

A desk lamp is the most common type of light in the office, but when you have limited space, it’s best to opt for wall-mounted ones. Installing separate lights for your dedicated workspace can make you independent from the rest of the household and ensure privacy.

Provide rest for the eyes

Besides using reminders to take breaks, you also need to pay attention to your eyes. Tired and exhausted eyes can make finishing the assignments harder and cause a headache. Posters of forests, waterfalls, or clouds can offer a perfect resting spot for the tired eyes.

If you have room, you can have a small Zen garden or a tabletop fountain to clear your mind and relax. Blinds and curtains may reduce the computer glare, but consider buying screen protection to prevent the reflection of any kind of annoying light.

Final thoughts

When you plan your dedicated workspace, think about what kind of space would inspire you to not bring your work to the living area. With this working from a home guide, you can separate private and personal life to remain equally productive as you would be in your outside office.

Emma Williams is an Australian writer with a master‘s degree in business administration, who has a passion for anything lifestyle and design related. She spends most of her time redecorating and participating in house projects.