How to Get the Home Office of Your Dreams!

Last year, many of us found ourselves unexpectedly working from home. If you didn’t already have a home office, you may have quickly thrown one together out of necessity’s sake. But whether you have an entire room to yourself or a just corner of the dining room, there are small changes you can make to enjoy your space and improve your workflow. Read on for five tips that will have you working smarter, not harder!

 

Location, Location, Location!

Think about how you use your space and how you work. What is the traffic flow like in your home? Are you easily distracted? Do you like to be surrounded by activity or do you work best in silence? Answering these questions will help you determine where you will work best in your home. Give yourself adequate room and rethink your space if needed (don’t squeeze your desk in a corner of the living room to keep a rarely-used guest room intact!) You’ll be spending many hours in your home office, so make sure your space is the right fit for how you work.

Location, Location, Location!

Think about how you use your space and how you work. What is the traffic flow like in your home? Are you easily distracted? Do you like to be surrounded by activity or do you work best in silence? Answering these questions will help you determine where you will work best in your home. Give yourself adequate room and rethink your space if needed (don’t squeeze your desk in a corner of the living room to keep a rarely-used guest room intact!) You’ll be spending many hours in your home office, so make sure your space is the right fit for how you work.

 

If possible, position your desk near a window. You’ll enjoy natural light (and some vitamin D!) and you’ll have something interesting to look at when you glance up from your screen. To avoid eye strain, it’s a good rule of thumb to look away from your computer every 20 minutes and focus on something distant for 20 seconds. If it’s not possible to be by a window, hang some beautiful custom-framed art or photos above your desk and throughout the room so you’ll still have something nice to look at. FastFrame has lovely custom frames sure to enhance your walls.

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Make it Feel Like Home

Many people make the mistake of creating a home office with boring beige walls and corporate-looking decor. Your home doesn’t have to look like a cubicle—this is your space, it should reflect you! Start by painting your walls a fun color, whether that’s a bright, energizing shade or a calm, soothing hue. Next, consider how you work and what you need at your fingertips, then find stylish and functional furniture that fulfills those needs. Finally, add a personal touch with custom-framed art and photos that will keep you inspired to do your best work. Visit FastFrame for unique custom frames to put the finishing touch on your home office.

Take a Seat

Most of us would rather not admit how much time we spend sitting at our desks! But the truth is, if you spend hours sitting, you need a high-performance office chair. An ergonomically correct office chair can prevent back pain, neck strain, and a whole host of other issues from sitting improperly. The good news is that today’s office chair options are not only functional, but also well-designed and—dare we say it—stylish! When shopping for a chair, think about lower back support, seat cushion comfort, and which features are adjustable. It may take some trial-and-error to find the right office chair for you; try them out in person or shop online from stores with generous return/exchange policies.

Corral Cords

A tangled mess of cords is not only unsightly, but also problematic when you need to unplug something or find a spare outlet. Cord management products will solve those issues and keep your home office looking stylish. Try encasing cords on your desk in a fabric cord cover and guiding them through a desk grommet (a hole in the desk for cords) or clipping them at the back of the desk with adhesive cord management clips. Tackle the jumble of cords on the floor using cord tubing, winders, or an organizer that attaches to the desk and lifts the cords off the floor.