How to Design Your In-Home Office for Optimal Workflow

Whether you work from home full-time as a remote employee for an outside company or you run your own business from your in-home office, it’s important that your office is a productive space. Depending on the size of the room, the amount of items that are necessary for your work performance and other factors, including whether anyone else will be using or accessing the space, there are a lot of considerations when planning the design of your home office.

One thing’s for certain: If you just put a desk against the wall without any other planning, you could run into issues with your use of the space down the line.

Planning Ahead with Design Saves Time and Frustration

One of the best ways to maximize the potential of your home office space is to spend time thinking about what, exactly, you will need to do in that space to perform your job optimally. Do you need a computer? What about a landline phone or a fax machine or printer? Do you need space for physical file storage, or a work bench, or a space to store tools? You should carefully consider how often you need each item and plan the layout of the space accordingly, with the items you need and use most being given closest proximity to your working space, whether that’s a tabletop or a desk.

Avoid Clutter, But Allow for Personal Touches

While you don’t want your office space overflowing with your craft projects, your kids’ sports equipment, or your exercise machines, you also don’t want an empty, sterile space. The area should be comfortable, with furniture that fits your work style and decorations that make you feel inspired and ready to work.

A few pieces of art, books that are relevant to your work, and perhaps a few other decorations should be enough to make you feel at home while still keeping your mind focused on the tasks at hand when you enter your home office. Try to keep the space open and clean, so that you don’t lose yourself in distractions when you’re trying to work.

Be Willing to Change if Something Doesn’t Work

Maybe you thought that having your desk by the window would keep you alert, as the sunshine would perk you up. Now, however, you’re just staring into your backyard, wishing you could be outside instead. In that case, it’s time to move your desk. Figure out what is working and what isn’t and be willing to change the layout of your space, as well as what’s in it, to help you maximize your productive time in your home office.

Featured photo source: Pixabay.com