How to Make Home a Better Place to Work Remotely?

We are currently going through really troubling times. There’s a pandemic sweeping across the world. The United States alone has seen it’s fair share of confirmed cases…and even death. Fortunately, there are two solid ways to protect one’s self: first, to practice social distancing; and second, to follow quarantine procedures.

We still need to continue earning, though. So the challenge is this: how can you work from the comforts of your home? Simple. In this article, we are going to share with you some tips on how to make your home a better place to work in and turn this new home office into a stylish space. Excited? Then let’s get started!

The Perfect Space

The first thing that you must do is to dedicate a space in your home specifically for work. You have two options depending on the space that you have available:

• For those who have a lot of space, we recommend converting a guest room or even a closet into a home office. We suggest choosing a location that offers a lot of natural light and silence.
• For those who have limited floor space, especially those without any extra room to spare, you can simply get a work desk instead. You can let it face the wall to minimize visual distraction, but silence and natural light are still recommended.

 

Your chosen space will still depend on your priorities, though. For instance, stay-at-home parents would probably prefer setting up their work desk in the living room where they will be able to monitor the kids while working as well.

What’s important is that you have a separate space to work in. While you can always place your laptop on your lap and work in bed, or even set it up on your dining table, doing so will significantly hurt your productivity.

Home Accessories

Anyway, now that you have a home office, we can move on to decorating it. Doing so will let your space reflect your personality and turn it into a fun space that you’ll actually enjoy spending time in! Don’t underestimate the motivating power of carefully curated home interior accessories. Here are some pieces that we want you to consider:

Lighting

According to a study done by the University of North Carolina, it was found that lighting actually plays a crucial role in one’s productivity. Apparently, bright and cool-toned lighting promotes more focus and mental clarity. On the other hand, warm-toned lighting promotes more creativity.

It’s definitely something to consider when you’re choosing a light fixture to use in your home office. Aside from that, though, here are a couple more tips that you can keep in mind when it comes to choosing the right lighting:

• Choose a decorative piece. The best thing that we like about light fixtures is that they can function as decorative pieces as well. Choose one that matches the aesthetic of your workspace and something that can serve as a focal point or accent piece.
• Take your surface space into consideration. The first light fixture that usually comes to mind when it comes to lighting up work spaces are desk or table lamps. However, we also recommend floor lamps for those who have limited desk space, or even pendant chandeliers for those with limited floor space!

Wall Art

Speaking of limited surface and floor space, you can also add some style into your workspace through wall art. Here are some ideas:

• Prints. The fastest (and most affordable) way of sprucing up your wall is by creating your own prints. It can be as simple as an elegant typography of a quote you have found online. It doesn’t need to look cheap, though. You can certainly invest in the look of your chosen frame instead. According to the interior design blog Style Curator, having your favorite quotes on your walls can even give you that extra boost of inspiration you need to get you through procrastinating.
• Art. Pictures speak louder than words, so if your favorite quote is not enough, then you can certainly hang your favorite art pieces as well. We suggest choosing pieces with muted colors, though, to avoid visual clutter. Contemporary and minimalist works are the way to go. If you do choose to display family pictures, you can add some drama and reduce visual clutter by creating a black-and-white version of your favorite photos. Choosing slim black frames with a white matting is a classic choice that never goes out of style.
• Accent Wall. Finally, whoever said that your wall art should be in a frame? Create an accent wall with printed wallpaper that complements your interior’s existing paint. Doing so also helps in framing your work area as a separate space especially if you’re sharing it with another area like your living room or bedroom.

Office Chair

Here’s another factor that can affect one’s work productivity (and more so, health). The office chair. In fact, according to one study, it is a large factor that causes musculoskeletal disorders in adults. Just as how lighting fixtures can serve both function and flair, here are some stylish office chair ideas:

 

• Invest in comfort. According to interior designer Laura Umansky, getting a comfortable chair will allow you to take your breaks (literally) sitting down, without the need to leave your home office that can disrupt your workflow. It doesn’t even have to be an office chair. It can be an accent chair, dining chair, or any other piece as long as you find it comfortable and relaxing to use.

 

• Refurbish an old favorite. Do the descriptions we have shared above remind you of an existing piece at home? Then you can certainly reupholster and repaint this chair to breathe some new life into it and use it in your home office.
• Choose a minimalist piece. In The Spruce, interior design firm, Jessica Buckley Interiors, suggests using a glass chair for your home office. It minimizes visual clutter and elevates the style of any workspace. You can simply add seat cushions and blankets, later on, should you find it a bit uncomfortable.
• How about a bar stool? Finally, you can also explore unconventional seating arrangements and furniture as your office chair. For instance, you can use a bar stool to serve as the perfect pair for your standing desk. Its long lines also create an illusion of space and height.

Flowers

Your home office is probably starting to look complete by now. However, as you step back, it seems as if it’s missing something that you can’t put your finger into. We know something that can fill the void. Fresh flowers! Your home office needs some life and a pop of color.

 

Adding potted plants and flowers into a space can also help bring nature inside your house that can ease up the cooped-up feeling that quarantine may give. Unfortunately, also thanks to the quarantine, getting your bouquet from an actual florist might not be an option right now. Don’t worry, here’s a quick guide on how you can arrange flowers straight from your own garden:

 

 

• Choose the foliage. This will serve as a backdrop for your flowers. All that green will also help in tying the look of your arrangement together.

• Put the tallest stems in. Add some interest in your flower arrangement by adding flowers of different heights and colors. Start with those that have the longest stems and put them in the center of your vase.

• Add the focal point. To make your arrangement pop, you can add the flowers that you really want to highlight in your arrangement. They will serve as your focal point. They must be cut in a medium length.

• Add your fillers. Finally, to make your arrangement look full and more vibrant, you can fill in the lowest part of your vase with smaller and shorter flowers that can serve as fillers.

 

 

Now step back and take a look at your finished arrangement from afar. Keep in mind that while there are some rules to floral arrangement, you can certainly follow your style instincts especially since it’s you who will benefit the most from it.

Elevate Essentials

Finally, complete the look and functionality of your home office by adding in your essentials. Here are more ideas:

• Start with your storage. Don’t just settle in using the usual plastic bins to hold your office supplies. You can definitely invest in pieces that look chic by themselves, such as handwoven baskets for a bohemian and rustic aesthetic, glass trays for a luxurious appeal, or clear acrylic pieces for a clean and minimalist look.
• Get fancy stationery. Your office supplies can serve as decorative pieces too. For instance, there’s something sophisticated in leather-bound journals and fountain pens. Or how about a color-themed stationery set? Pink and gold are incredibly feminine whether you’re buying notebooks, pens, or even something as small as paper clips. You might not recognize the style contribution of gold pins sitting on a glass saucer, but combined with other themed stationery, they can certainly add up to a more complete and polished aesthetic.
• Stay savvy with technology. There’s certainly nothing appealing in a humble of wires. Plus, they’re a fire hazard! Hence, we usually go wireless when it comes to investing in office equipment. They look more stylish too.

 

While you have certainly noticed us prioritizing style in our tips above (after all, this is a decor guide), we still recommend getting office essentials that serve the functionality that you require. In the end, what’s more important is for your tools and gear to maximize your work efficiency and overall productivity. Their aesthetic appeal is just an added bonus.

Conclusion

So you see, there really are ways to make your home both conducive for working and relaxing especially during this time of crisis. For your reference, here is a quick summary of the tips we have shared with you above:

• Having a well-lighted space specifically dedicated to working is crucial for your productivity.
• Home accessories like lighting fixtures and wall art can add some interest to an otherwise boring desk.
• A comfortable office chair is good for both your work efficiency and health.
• Flowers and indoor plants help bring the outside in and breathe some life into any space.
• Finally, office essentials like storage and stationery don’t have to be boring. They can also contribute to the overall look of your home office.

 

 

 

Author: Leila Amber

Leila Amber is a Design Trend Setter at KnotHome and a passionate writer, home decor and

design enthusiast. She has a keen interest in the content that inspires her to dig deeper into the

practice and create helpful design and decor guides.