10 tips for creating your own home office

Whether you’re a business owner, contractor, self-employed, or, are adapting to working from home during the time we’re living in, creating your own home office is an important task.

We specialise in the new build planning London professionals need, building regulation services London has to offer, and also those fire risk reports London needs, too, so we know the best way to go about designing that new home office when the time comes.

From building regulations to designs and more, there’s plenty of think about. We’ve rounded up the top ten tips for creating your home office, so if you’re looking to create that perfect professional haven and need an interior design consultant, read on.

Keep it separate to the rest of the home

If you’re working from home, it’s so important to keep home and work life separate, for the sake of your sanity over anything else.

Design your home office so you’re able to switch off at the end of each day, but get motivated properly at the beginning of each day, too. If your home office isn’t a separate room (as so many of us living in London will be familiar with), make sure you can pack up your equipment and keep it somewhere else to get back to home and family life as soon as the clock signals the end of the working day.

Choose the right room

It’s all about the room. Whether you do or don’t have the luxury of a completely separate room, try and pick the place you feel both relaxed and motivated, which has enough space to do your job with ease.

Keeping away from distractions is also important – if it’s a proper office in a room, make it somewhere you can shut the door and get your head down for a few hours without others in the house feeling as though you’re blocking them out.

Get the mood right

Lighting, Feng Shui, it’s all about getting the mood right for any workspace. Decorate – make it yours, and if you’re sharing with someone else, make it suitable and comfortable for both of you.

Natural light is a must for concentration and feeling rejuvenated, otherwise you risk feeling as though you’re going into a hole to work. Rooms at the top of the house help with this, and make it easier to play music if you wish, too.

Ensure it’s tidy and clean

A messy office is unlikely to result in a productive day. Keep on top of your cleaning when it comes to a home office, and make time to tidy at the start or end of each day. This could be just organising your paperwork, or doing a full wipe down of your workstation. Whatever it is, make sure you keep the area free of clutter.

Connectivity is everything

If you’re an online business, connectivity is oh-so-important.

Wi-fi at home is sometimes notoriously worse than in a big office, so whether it’s a permanent fixture or something for the next few weeks or months, ensure your connectivity is as good as it can be to avoid frustrations and unproductive days.

Of course, this also helps with meeting deadlines, which is another essential when it comes to any job.

Invest in tech

Again, as an online business investing in the right tech in your home office is essential.

Slow connections and poor technology can result in the same sort of work, and with enough distractions when working at home, investing in the right tech is a must.

If you work for a company, make sure they’re aware of what equipment you have, so if you need to upgrade you can put in a request. Or, if you’re a contractor, or self-employed, treat yourself to a new computer if you need to – it’s an investment after all, and you’re using it every single day.

Make it comfortable

Comfort over everything. This could be the surroundings of your home office; a sofa in the corner which you can go and relax and think on for a few minutes when you need some time away from the screen, or the office chair itself.

Being comfortable will increase productivity, drive motivation, and make the office a more enjoyable place to be day in, day out.

Make the workstation safe

Not just comfort, but safety, too.

Make sure your monitor is at the right height to avoid eye strain, and your mouse and keyboard in the right place so you’re not risking wrist strain. You should also invest in a decent office chair which doesn’t put your back at risk.

If you don’t usually work on a computer, establish the same sort of rules for your workstation, whether it’s a design board or anything else. Your posture will thank you for it at a later date.

Be conscious of space

If you don’t have much space to work with, playing with the design of the room can be a real benefit.

If it’s a small, dark room, avoid anything which makes it seem even more cramped, such as moody colours or too much office furniture. Let the light flood in, and experiment with lighter décor which creates the illusion of space, even if you don’t have much of it.

Interior design is key

Last but not least, investing in the interior design of your home office is a sure-fire path to success.

Create a space you enjoy going to every day – you have to imagine you were leaving the house and going somewhere different if you’re used to doing this; a change of scenery. There are many different interior design tips to make your home office that little bit more special, and we can help with this.

So, if you’re looking to develop your home office further, or it’s a brand new personal project, whether that’s short term or long term, we’re happy to help. For more on interior design, as well as the building regulations Gerrards Cross has to offer, a structural engineer London-based company, or info on new build planning permission London, get in touch.