If you are a small-business owner, or if your job involves working extensively from home, it is important that you have a separate work area in which to make and receive phone calls, keep your paperwork and files organized, and otherwise conduct business in a productive and comfortable setting.
The most important feature of a productive home office is functionality. This means having clear, uncluttered spaces in which to work. But it is easy to let our offices get crammed with supplies, paperwork and equipment. The following is a quick guide that will help you organize and maintain a professional home office in which to do your job well and stay on task.
1. Keep paths clear
Being able to move from one work station to the next, or simply being able to walk comfortably in and out of your home office requires clear pathways. Coffee tables and other such pieces of extra furniture can be cumbersome and hazardous if placed in the middle of your office. Move them out of the way or get rid of them entirely, and you will find that you are left with a lot more breathing room and a less cumbersome office that you can move through freely.
2. Make it a “business only” space
One of the most important things for creating an efficient workspace is to get rid of any objects that could prove potentially distracting. Your home office must be in a separate room in your house dedicated to matters of business only, which means no personal items allowed. Televisions, fridges, radios, home sofas or anything that might detract from a professional environment should be kept out of your office.
3. Clean up your desktop
Having a clear desk space is essential to a productive work environment. If your current desk is too small to hold all of your essential equipment (phone, computer, etc.) and still leave you with a comfortable space to jot down notes or do paperwork, consider purchasing a more spacious desk.
The next step is to clear your desktop completely. Much of the objects that accumulate on our desktops are things that don’t really need to be there. Take all of the stuff on your desktop down and then go through all of it one by one to see if it really needs to be there or if you can discard it.
Your computer, your phone and your pen-holder are probably going to stay. But do you really need that high-school football trophy taking up space? Go through all of the paperwork and objects on your desk and figure out which ones you need and which ones you don’t. You will be surprised at how much more workspace you will be left with once you de-clutter your desktop.
4. Give big equipment its own space
One of the best ways to make your home office into a more efficient work space is to give your essential pieces of big equipment their own area. Your printer and multifunction copier as well as your fax machine should have their own stand or storage space. Keep them at an easily-accessible distance from your desk.
Placing an additional, small table next to your existing desk is a great way to add working space to your office. You can put equipment or supplies there without encroaching on your actual desktop.
5. Use caddies and trays
There are all kinds of trays and caddies to choose from at your local office supply store, some that are specifically designed to fit drawers and other unique desk and office spaces. Compartmentalizing your workstation so that you have designated spaces in which to put your pens, letters, thumb tacks, paper clips, and other supplies will streamline your home office and make looking for a particular item quick and much less stressful.
6. Good decorating
The Canadian Center for Occupational Health and Safety recommends that every few minutes you look away from your computer and workstations and focus on more distant objects. This helps ease the strain on your eyes and fight fatigue.
Giving your eyes something pleasant to look at while they rest is important to keeping you upbeat and alert as you make your way through your workday. A painting or a poster that you especially like, a corkboard with pictures of family or friends, or (if room and setting allows) a live, indoor plant can do wonders for your home office.
7. Reposition your desk
Your desk is the center of work activity in your home office. Its position determines the entire design of the room. Consider realigning it so that it is as close to a window as possible so it can take advantage of the natural lighting provided by it. Repositioning your desk will also refresh the look of the room, giving you a whole new perspective and re-invigorating your work spirits
8. Paint it a different color
To further help distinguish your home office space from the rest of your house, try painting it a different color. Blue and other light hues are a great option. Go to your local hardware store and shop around for a color that fits your style. Go for something soothing that will keep your office looking light and fresh.
If you take all of the above steps, you will find yourself with a much neater workspace that also feels new. A clean, uncluttered workspace that lets you take care of business efficiently will improve your mood and your overall productivity.
If you don’t feel like changing the color or hue of your room, consider switching from solid colors to pattern designs. This quick and simple change can alter the mood of the room without requiring a whole new color scheme. Patters, depending on their design, can either suggest airiness and light, which is ideal for spring and summer, or coziness and warmth for fall and winter.
Plants are one of the most versatile tools of an interior decorator. They can hide ugly spots and fill in otherwise awkward empty spaces or gaps in a room’s design. Live plants add more oxygen to the room and can provide a pleasant fragrance. As for seasonal décor, what better than an appropriate, seasonal plant to go along with the changing weather?