Your workspace can make or break your remote work experience. Trying to get work done from the couch or kitchen table means battling constant discomfort and distractions, which can leave you completely drained at the end of every day. Your workspace should be a place where you feel focused and energized! If you’ve decided that it’s time to give your home-based career some space to grow, check out the following tips from the Molly & Claude Team for setting up the ultimate home workspace.
Consider Moving into a Bigger Home
Has your home-based business or freelancing project outgrown your home? If your work-related products and papers are piling up around your house, it may be time to upsize. Whether you want to set up an office in a spare room, convertible garage, or finished basement, buying a new home is an excellent way to achieve the home workspace of your dreams.
Your first step is working with dedicated real estate agents like the Molly & Claude Team who will help you find the perfect home for your personal and professional needs. With a reputable REALTOR® by your side, you’ll have an easier time trying to navigate several important home buying steps, including calculating how much home you can afford, getting pre-approved for a mortgage, attending open houses, searching through online listings, deciding whether to buy an as-is home or a turnkey property, and how to negotiate an offer.
Something to keep in mind: If you decide to purchase a home in a new state, you may need to file some paperwork to make everything official. For example, if you’re a COVIDpreneur and registered your business as an LLC, you’ll need to look up information and state requirements to make sure your business stays legit.
Choose Function Over Form
When it comes to furnishing and decorating your home workspace, choose pieces that will accommodate your desired workflow. You want everything in your office to serve you and make your life easier. This is why it’s important to design your office space with your own work habits in mind instead of copying trendy ideas from Pinterest boards and home décor magazines. Think carefully about how much storage and desk space you need — essentially your working space requirements. Limiting yourself to a couple of floating shelves and a tiny desk is a recipe for unmanageable clutter! Be generous with your storage solutions and you’ll never run out of room for your office supplies and paperwork.
Choose Your Paint Carefully
You may not think that the color of your office walls matters very much, but it can have very important implications for your productivity levels. As Caroline Biggs notes on MarthaStewart.com, certain paint colors, like yellow and red, tend to make us more energized and alert while others, namely green and brown, produce feelings of relaxation and calm. That said, choose a paint color that inspires you. You may even want to paint an entire wall with dry erase paint, so you have plenty of room to jot down ideas and keep track of your professional projects.
Make the Most of Natural Light
Like paint colors, the lighting of your home office can also affect your productivity. Try to choose a room in your home with plenty of natural light. If you’re stuck in a dark den, basement, or windowless garage, find ways to make up for your lack of natural light. For example, Apartment Therapy recommends painting in bright colors, hanging mirrors, and lighting your office with full-spectrum bulbs designed to simulate daylight.
Add Some Greenery
A little greenery can also help make up for a lack of natural light and otherwise energize your space with life and vitality. Plants will make your office feel more refreshing and inviting. Many houseplants will even improve your indoor air quality by absorbing common household toxins and releasing oxygen into the air. At the very least, filling your workspace with lush greenery is bound to reduce your stress levels! If you haven’t been gifted a green thumb, opt for low-maintenance houseplants that are easy to care for.
Remember, your home office should be a space where you actually want to spend your time. Put careful thought into the room you choose, your furniture layout, and the decorations that you incorporate into the space. Every feature of your office should serve to make your workspace as functional and inviting as possible!
