You found our list of helpful work from home office ideas & suggestions.
Work from home office ideas are ways to structure remote workspaces where you can focus, work effectively, and be creative with minimal distractions. Some ideas for working from home include channeling your creativity, maximizing your space, and managing lighting. These tips aim to make working from home convenient and productive.
These suggestions fall under remote work tips and are ways to beat work from home fatigue and achieve virtual work-life balance. As a leader, you can pass these suggestions on to your team as a way to manage online offices more effectively.
This article contains:
- work from home setup ideas
- small home office ideas
- modern home office ideas
- work from home workspace ideas
Let’s get started!
List of work from home ideas
Working from home has both advantages and disadvantages, yet the benefits far outweigh the drawbacks for many workers. A workstation at home aims to have access to every resource or material you require for productivity. Below is a list of top work from home setup ideas and recommendations for working from home.
1. Get high-speed internet
High-speed internet is a necessity for a productive work-from-home environment. Fast internet ensures you can quickly communicate with colleagues, attend virtual meetings, access cloud-based applications, and download or upload large files without frustrating delays. A reliable internet connection reduces work-related stress and enhances overall efficiency and productivity. These benefits enable you to complete tasks more efficiently and meet deadlines without unnecessary interruptions.
2. Create a dedicated space
Ideally, your home office should be a distinct space in your house that is fully functional as a workstation. Generally, it is advisable to pick a modest room that can fit a desk, a computer, and a closeable to keep business and personal life separate.
While most workers do not have a spare room, some can use their guest room as an office and a space for visitors. Other small home office ideas include converting an enclosed porch, garden shed, or even a laundry room for dual use. If you do not have a separate room to work in, then try to locate a specific area far apart from the rest of the home.
Having a schedule and a designated workspace might help you transition from your personal life to business mode. Your remote office should be in a calm, distraction-free area, far enough away from your daily routine. This setting will make it seem like you have taken a break from the workplace when you leave for the day.
Even though you no longer commute to and from the same workplace every day, you should still include commuting in your daily plan. For example, you should distinguish between a “work” environment and a “home” space if you work from home.
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3. Customize the space to your taste
A small workspace can be functional and enjoyable. Ultimately, what matters most is how the space makes you feel. Since you do not want a dreary home office, try to create one that expresses your unique style and preferences.
The key is to arrange every item in the space correctly so that you enjoy the comfort while keeping things simple. Your home office should reflect your style while still being elegant.
For starters, you should store your essential work items in the corner of your desk so that they are easily accessible. Then, once you make your space functional, add objects that express your personality and bring you joy. For example, if you want a decently sized desk with a fancy chandelier hanging from the ceiling, consider getting that since it aligns with modern home office ideas. As long as you are happy with your workstation, you do not have to worry about other people’s opinions.
4. Get ergonomic furniture and tools
Creating an ergonomic workspace is essential for comfort and productivity. An ergonomic chair with proper support and an adjustable desk that allows you to maintain good posture are key components. Additionally, positioning your computer monitor at eye level and using an ergonomic keyboard and mouse can prevent discomfort and repetitive strain injuries. Investing in these ergonomic adjustments enhances your physical well-being and promotes better focus and productivity. Crafting the best home office entails finding supplies that help you work comfortably for extended periods.
5. Maintain privacy
Privacy is essential when working from home, especially if you share your living space with others. It is important to establish clear boundaries and communicate your work hours to family members or housemates to minimize interruptions. Consider using a “do not disturb” sign or system to signal when you need focused work time. If dealing with sensitive information, then invest in privacy screens for your computer monitor. In addition, practice good digital security hygiene to protect your work-related data.
6. Stock up on healthy snacks
Maintaining a supply of healthy snacks in your home office can positively impact your productivity and overall well-being. Snacking on nutritious options like fruits, nuts, yogurt, or cut-up veggies can provide sustained energy throughout the day, preventing energy crashes and helping you stay focused. Avoiding sugary, high-calorie snacks can also contribute to better health in the long run. This tactic reduces the likelihood of mid-afternoon slumps and promotes better concentration and creativity.
7. Utilize task management tools
Task management tools are pivotal in maintaining productivity within a home office environment. These digital platforms, ranging from simple to-do list apps to complex project management software, help you organize and prioritize your work efficiently. With task management tools, you can create, track, and update tasks and deadlines. This process ensures that you remember important assignments and have a clear view of your daily and long-term goals. Moreover, these tools often assist with collaboration with remote team members, allowing for easy communication and project coordination. By using task management tools effectively, you can enhance your time management, stay on top of your workload, and maintain a structured work routine. Digital organization contributes to a productive and successful work-from-home experience.
Check out these lists of task management apps and productivity tools.
8. Channel your inner creativity
While working at a desk, you may stare longingly at a blank wall and crave more visual stimulation. Although it is crucial to keep things simple in the workplace, little DIY projects may provide a personal touch. The area will look fantastic with work from home workspace ideas like:
- Try wallpaper or murals as an effective way to draw attention away from an untidy desk and play with the sense of space in a limited area behind the desk.
- If you are not a fan of wallpaper, then consider using a pinboard or clipboards hanging on the wall to function as a backdrop for your study space.
- Create a gallery wall with various art pieces on a wall arranged in a row. Depending on the arts you choose, a gallery wall might give your workplace a sophisticated and cultured feel.
- Have a segment of the wall devoted to a large number of photos. The arrangement improves the overall quality of your home office space.
- Consider framing and hanging a favorite phrase for motivation.
You could decorate your walls like a living area but with fewer accents. Interior design might not be the priority, yet eye-catching art may keep you motivated and upbeat. In addition, there remains an opportunity to innovate, such as spray painting the walls, hanging art that speaks to you, or even crafting homemade items. You can either frame your gorgeous images and artworks or just develop unique DIY solutions.
9. Use cloud services to store your work
To make working from home seamless, it is advisable to utilize virtual desktops and cloud-based document storage. You can collaborate on files from any place with the aid of services like Google’s Business Suite and Dropbox. Being accessible and having access to work is essential to succeed in working from any location. With cloud-based solutions, you can be more readily available to your teammates, allowing you to be just as productive wherever you are. These digital file systems will also help keep your physical workspace free of clutter.
10. Arrange your workspace
Optimization is one of the most essential decorating ideas for work from home spaces. If your home’s office nook is cluttered, then having a variety of designs and even painting the office to your preferences will not make any difference. Messy areas are a productivity killer. You will have difficulty completing tasks or concentrating on your job if your workplace is messy with unnecessary papers and stationery.
If you find yourself in this situation, then you should try to organize items in your workplace properly. You may consider renting a storage container for your paperwork and other belongings. You can manage your work tools to suit your needs while maintaining a sense of order. If you can, then make the most of every square inch of your home office. You can try installing cabinets to store items, for example. You may even want to invite an organization expert to assess your area and suggest ways to keep it tidy long-term.
Here are work from home office setup suggestions.
11. Handle lighting
Working in the dark is hardly a good idea. You get sulky and depressed, particularly when working under lights 24 hours a day. Lightning, especially natural lights, often go unconsidered in home office setup. Lights that are not directly in your line of sight or reflect off your monitor are called “indirect lighting.” Workspaces should have enough indirect light to allow you to read documents and view physical items.
It would be best if you chose a spot in your home that is well-lit. The shining sun entering the room naturally brightens the atmosphere and your spirits.
Fogged window films allow you to keep your blinds up all the time. Once you raise the blinds, natural light can permeate the space and even feed the plants in the room. Your plants will thrive from the sunlight, and you will stay lively. A well-lit home office serves the purpose of liveliness and productivity.
12. Stop glare
Sunlight streaming from a window behind or to the side of your workstation can create glare on your monitor screen. You can use shades or curtains to soften natural light and prevent glare.
It is best to avoid putting a lamp next to a monitor since this placement will result in conflicting light sources and potential glare on the screen. However, there are times when an extra lamp may be necessary. The best idea is to position the lights so they do not create glare or block your vision line when working on a computer.
To avoid eye strain, make sure your monitor’s brightness is not too low or too high. A fair rule of thumb is that the monitor’s illumination intensity should be brighter than the ambient lighting, and this ambient lighting should be adequate to read paper documents without extra light. But, of course, the terms “too dim” and “too bright” are subjective. Therefore, make necessary adjustments to avoid eye strain as it may cause headaches.
Also, consider getting blue light glasses to further prevent eye strain and pain.
13. Keep your space updated
Introducing new décor ideas is good for your home office. Often, waking up to work in a space that looks the same every day might get boring. You might have exciting décor inspirations in other rooms. If the design is straight, you may adapt it to whatever works best for your workplace.
You can combine the design elements as much as you want. A good choice might be a unique blend of the ancient and the modern. If you cannot locate anything vintage, go to a market or antique shop. You can get some fusion by combining modern elements with a dash of the vintage. Keeping your workspace updated will make you feel like you are working in a tailored area rather than a standard work environment.
Pro tip: Set aside a small stipend for yourself to get one new decoration for your home office every quarter.
14. Use colors
Your work-from-home office could use a mix of sober colors. The more color you use in your home office decor, the better it will look. Adding black and white to your workplace furniture or artwork makes it more attractive. However, walls that reflect color variety seem much more stunning.
The key lies in choosing the right colors. You should avoid using too many bright colors in your designs. You will get a joyful and professional sense from those brightly colored walls. You will be more likely to work from your home office if you create an atmosphere that encourages you to get out of bed and complete tasks.
15. Go for comfort
Whether in the office or home, one element we all seek is comfort. It is challenging to remain in an uncomfortable environment and stay productive. Comfort should be the most critical consideration when setting up your work-from-home office, as it helps you stay focused on tasks.
You should sort items in your home office, including keeping books close by or maybe a snack cabinet in the storage unit to reach out to when hungry. To be effective, it is necessary to establish a balance between work and personal comfort. If you feel more comfortable working in your bedroom instead of your home office, try out this tactic.
Alternatively, you might make your workspace even cozier than it currently is. If you want to give your best at work, then prioritize comfort.
16. Ensure silence
When it comes to deciding on the ideal location for a home office, silence is a big consideration. You may have designated the corner room for your home office or the area next to the living room as your office space.
When you are in the middle of a project and the doorbell rings, it is easy to become sidetracked if your office is around a random location in the house. To avoid distractions from little matters, you should use discretion and choose a quiet spot in the home. If you want absolute quiet, you could soundproof the windows and doors.
If household noise levels are not within your control, then consider investing in a quality pair of noise-canceling headphones.
Conclusion
If you want a functional home office, then you will need to put in the effort. Since you will be waking up to work at the home office, you need to ensure your results fit your preferences and promote productivity. In addition, the design should be enticing enough to get you off your cozy sofa and into your own home office for the first time.
You can eliminate procrastination with a dedicated office where ideas, creativity, and expertise can all flourish. Your surrounding environment is what motivates you to go to work.
Next, check out these lists of the best remote work locations and business VPNs. You can find more advice in this guide to work from home policies.
