Create the Perfect Home Office

Whether you work full-time at home or occasionally need to conduct business in the evenings or on the weekends, a home office is a great way to utilize an extra room in your home. A dedicated workspace in your home can be designed to increase productivity and comfort. These days, with telecommuting and many offices sending their workers home, it makes sense to build a home with a space designed specifically for use as a home office.

Here are five ideas to help keep your home office comfortable and productive.

1. Invest in a good office chair. Investing in an ergonomic chair for your home office is essential. You may be spending anywhere from 30 to 50 hours a week sitting in it, so your back will thank you. Purchasing one with multiple adjustments is ideal so it fits you just right – make sure it works for your desk height as well!
2. Splurge on quality lighting. Allowing as much natural light as possible will also help your eyes. Cheap fluorescent lighting has proven to be hard on the eyes, so make sure even your desk lamps and smaller lights us bright LED or halogen bulbs to prevent eye strain. If you notice yourself getting headaches after long hours in the home office, you may want to reevaluate your lighting.
3. Keep essentials in reach and organized. Nothing says productivity like a clean, neat workspace. Select a desk with a lot of storage or install creative shelving to keep items like pens, pencils, extra batteries, calculators, notepads, and more stored within arm’s reach. If you’re building from scratch, think of functional built-ins that will not only help make your home office neat and clean, but also help serve you with its functionality.
4. Decorate bright. Pick a color you love and use it to spice up the room. Use cheery yellow or red or relaxing tones like green and blue, instead of beiges and browns.
5. Aim for the view. If possible, place your desk so you are facing a window instead of a blank wall. Natural light can do wonders for staying alert and you can give yourself a short mental break when necessary by looking to the outdoors.