Does your office suck? The answer is “yes” if it is dull, boring and distracting enough to make you unproductive. When you are working from home, there are ways to make your office a comfortable place to be. Follow these five tips to turn your office from ho-hum to extraordinary:
1.Color
Method, the popular cleaning product company, recently moved into new office space in a historic section of San Francisco. What makes their space so special? Pops of color amid an all-white interior. The space, designed by the firm Garcia Tamjidi, includes beautifully-shaped desks and tables decorated with shades of aqua and spicy reds. You can do the same in your home office. Instead of forcing yourself to work in a bland environment, choose colorful accessories to liven up the space.
2.Light
Nothing makes an office more draining to the human mind than a lack of light. If you have the capability, let the natural light shine through. If you don’t have large windows in your home office space, choose incandescent lighting instead of fluorescent. Fluorescent light is irritating to many people, especially those who have to sit under it for long hours each day.
3.Paint
If stark white walls aren’t your thing, do a bit of research into the psychology of colors. Paint your walls with colors that will enhance productivity, not dampen it. Choosing colors that are too relaxing or too stimulating can be counterproductive. Pick lighter shades if your office is small in order to open it up. If your office is large, on the other hand, medium to dark hues can make it feel cozier. If you have a tough time deciding, neutral colors are always safe; color can be added through accessories.
4.Furniture
Ergonomic furniture is always the best choice for any home office. Functional, ergonomic furniture will keep you from being forced to deal with sore muscles and a stiff neck at the end of the day. Look for chairs that are supportive to the back and desks that are built to the proper height for the task at hand. If you don’t have the money to buy brand new furniture, look for pillows and other supports that can be added to the furniture you already own.
5.Life
In a study conducted by Texas A&M University, both men and women were shown to have more innovative thinking and enhanced problem solving when working in an environment that included plants. If you don’t have any life in your home office other than yourself, consider adding plants or freshly cut flowers. If you don’t have enough natural light to support flowers, consider installing an aquarium or even a pet Beta fish for your desk.
Your office doesn’t have to sap your energy. If you pay attention to how you decorate, your office can easily be transformed into a place that you love to spend time in. Following the tips above are guaranteed to make your space a more productive place to be.
Stacy Hilliard is a professional writer living in New York City. If you want to open your own business, you may consider enrolling in an online mba degrees so that you don’t have to quit your day job while you get your degree.
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